8 maneras de perseverar en el ministerio

Por Steven Blake

Recientemente, devolví una llamada de un pastor local. En unos minutos, la conversación cambió de la razón inicial por la que había llamado. Simplemente pregunté cómo habían estado los servicios dominicales. Lo que sucedió después me sorprendió porque no nos conocíamos bien. Comenzó a compartir su desaliento y frustración en el ministerio. Mientras hablábamos, pude sentir su dolor, porque yo también he estado allí. No es el primer pastor con el que he tenido este tipo de conversaciones ni será el último.

En los últimos dos años desde que COVID-19 llegó a su fin, hemos visto a varios pastores sentir la dolores y presiones del ministerio de una manera más pronunciada. Aunque un estudio reciente de Lifeway Research encontró que muy pocos pastores decidieron dejar el ministerio en los últimos años, la mayoría de los pastores dicen que están de guardia las 24 horas del día (71 %) y su papel suele ser abrumador (63 %). La mitad de los pastores (50%) dice que las demandas de su trabajo a menudo son mayores de lo que pueden manejar. Muchos dicen que se sienten aislados (38 %) y enfrentan expectativas poco realistas de su iglesia (23 %).

La mayoría de los pastores dicen que están disponibles las 24 horas del día (71 %) y que su papel suele ser abrumador (63 %). ), según Lifeway Research. Clic para tuitear

¿Cómo mantenemos un sentido de estabilidad en el ministerio en medio de todas las presiones que enfrentamos a diario? Aquí hay ocho principios de vida que me han ayudado a lo largo de los años.

1. Manténgase cerca de Jesús.

Demasiados pastores usan la preparación de su sermón como su tiempo con Dios. Si bien Dios habla a nuestros corazones durante el tiempo de preparación de nuestro sermón, no es lo mismo que el tiempo diario a solas con Dios sin una agenda. Jesús nos recuerda la importancia de nuestro tiempo con Él. “Yo soy la vid; ustedes son las ramas. El que permanece en mí y yo en él, produce mucho fruto, porque separados de mí nada podéis hacer” (Juan 15:5, CSB).

Si bien Dios habla a nuestros corazones durante el tiempo de preparación de nuestro sermón, no es lo mismo que un tiempo diario a solas con Dios sin agenda. — @stevenblake Clic para tuitear

Permanecer cerca de Jesús es vital para nuestra salud espiritual y nuestro ministerio.

2. Recuerda tu llamado.

Ser ministro es un llamado, no una elección. No nos despertamos un día y decidimos al azar que queríamos ser ministros. Me encanta escuchar cómo Dios llama a los ministros. Cada historia es única y extremadamente personal. Me gusta la forma en que Pablo lo dice a los de Roma, diciendo: «Los dones y el llamamiento de la gracia de Dios son irrevocables» (‭‭Romans‬ ‭11:29,‬ ‭CSB).

Thinking back on our own calling reminds us why we do what we do. ‬‬

3. Don’t neglect your family.

Many of us in ministry serve the Lord at the expense of our families. I have at times paid the price when for putting ministry over family. Leading our families well should have priority over ministering to others. After all, family is our greatest ministry opportunity.

By caring for our families, we care for ourselves and our ministry to others. Even Paul realized the importance of this. “He must manage his own household competently and have his children under control with all dignity. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?)” (1 Timothy‬ ‭3:4-5,‬ ‭CSB).‬‬

4. Be content where God has placed you.

Just as God has called us, He has also placed us in the location and role where we are serving. Longevity in a place of service is more effective for God’s kingdom than constantly moving from place to place.

Longevity in a place of service is more effective for God’s kingdom than constantly moving from place to place. — @stevenblake Click To Tweet

When we move too quickly from where God has called us, we may be saying God has made a mistake by putting us there. You have heard the expression, “Bloom where you are planted.” For us in ministry, I feel it’s more appropriate to say “Bloom where you are called.” 

5. Avoid the trappings of comparison.

We’ve probably all found ourselves caught up in comparison at one time. We hear of a church that is bigger and appears better than the place where we currently serve and believe we would be a good fit there. Remember that bigger is not always better (and presents its own set of challenges). Remind yourself the grass is not always greener somewhere else. If we attempt to move when God is not moving us it will not be good for us, our families, or the church.

In Acts, Paul speaks concerning his own calling, saying, “But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace” (‭‭Acts‬ ‭20:24‬, ‭CSB‬‬).

6. Develop relationships with other ministers. 

I cannot overemphasize the importance of this. I am a part of a group of pastors that we call our “Roundtable.” We meet every couple of months to talk about things concerning our churches and ministries. We also pray for each other on Sundays, and I know without a doubt I can call on any one of them at a moment’s notice for prayer and support.

54% of U.S. Protestant pastors say they personally know and spend time with fewer than 10 other local pastors, including 5% who aren’t connected with any area pastors, according to Lifeway Research. Click To Tweet

A 2020 Lifeway Research study found slightly more than half of U.S. Protestant pastors (54%) say they personally know and spend time with fewer than 10 other local pastors, including 5% who aren’t connected with any area pastors and 8% who only have relationships with one to two other ministers.

7. Have accountability partners whom you trust. 

We need a few close relationships with men who can hold us accountable as needed. This one goes deeper than the “Roundtable” I mentioned. We need men in our lives who not only have permission to ask us hard questions, but are also the ones with whom we can share our hurts, challenges, and even our temptations. 

8. Suffering is a part of serving Christ. 

When I sensed God’s call on my life to ministry, my pastor told me that if I was able to do something other than ministry, I should do that instead. You may be been told something similar. Ministry is difficult and challenging.

Many Sundays it may seem no one is hearing anything we have preached. We face sleepless nights as we toss and turn praying over needs, concerns, or challenges of ministry. But in all this, remember suffering comes with the calling. I am reminded of what the Lord told Ezekiel, “But the house of Israel will not want to listen to you because they do not want to listen to me. For the whole house of Israel is hardheaded and hardhearted” (‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭3:7‬, ‭CSB).

Ministry is hard and even disheartening at times, yet the reward of service can far outweigh the hardships if we will remain steadfast. — @stevenblake Click To Tweet

Jesus stated it this way. “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:11-12,‬ ‭CSB).‬‬ 

Ministry is hard and even disheartening at times, yet the reward of service can far outweigh the hardships if we will remain steadfast. Let’s finish the course God has set for each of us.

For more, read “12 Ways to Help a Pastor Stay in Ministry” with practical steps pastors and churches can take to improve the odds of perseverance.