Focus

An open letter to encourage young pastors who may feel frustrated by the committees, boards, and organizational jungle. Just insert your name where I have written "Timothy."

Dear Timothy,

You have only been in ministry leadership for a few years. You are doing well: growing personally, increasing your ministry, discipling young believers, in short, growing the kingdom of God.

Nevertheless, you are facing occasional obstacles to what God wants you to do. No doubt some of those problems come from people who truly oppose the Gospel. Some hindrances come from your overseers. That can be discouraging. It might even tempt you to give up.

I want to remind you that you only have One Master. Ultimately, you are only answerable to One Person, Jesus, the Lord of the harvest.

Your Zone Coordinator may make expectations. Your District Superintendent, Bishop, advisory boards, committees, sub-committees, Regional Director, and others will almost certainly relay their expectations. You will feel pressure from them.

But you only have One Master, One Overseer, One Person to whom you must give account, Jesus, the Lord of the harvest.

They also feel similar pressure. They have reports which they must complete. They feel pressured by others, on up the ladder of the denomination to fill out reports and fill in blanks. Your DS, Bishop, committee heads, et al., they also have only One Master. But as the requests for reports and results mount, it is understandable if they sometimes might get distracted. The demands they feel might trickle down and could also distract you.

Resist that temptation. If you face resistance in one direction, find a way around it. Keep following the vision God gave you. Seek the Holy Spirit’s creative options. But never let the committees or the boards distract you from the goal God has given you.

But as for you, use self-restraint in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Tim 4:5)

Dear fellow servant of Jesus, please know that I pray for you that you will have the courage to follow your One Master. Follow Jesus. Follow the Holy Spirit who is leading you. Stay on track; do not get distracted.

Praying for you,

Glenn