FROM COLORADO SPRINGS

“preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4:2)

For several years I’ve subscribed to a weekly newsletter from Focus on the Family (located in Colorado Springs, CO) entitled, “The Pastor’s Weekly Briefing.” Most of you will recognize that Focus on the Family was founded by Dr. James Dobson and holds to some very conservative political positions including advocating the legislating of morality. There’s a WHOLE lot more to Focus on the Family than right wing politics, however. “Focus” has offered outstanding resources to parents and families in crisis for decades. “Focus” also has a focus (pun intended) on pastors and their wives. H.B. London, former Nazarene pastor and first-cousin of Dr. James Dobson heads up the ministry to pastors and their wives. “The Pastor’s Weekly Briefing” is a helpful resource and I’ve enjoyed reading it each week for at least two years. Most of you know the church I was pastoring closed and so technically speaking I’m not pastoring anywhere right now but I’ve elected to keep receiving “PWB” as they call it.

The March 19 issue which arrived at my “in box” today had the responses of pastors to a two question survey they asked a couple of weeks ago. I’m going to take the liberty of reproducing that here. (If you’d like a copy of the full March 19 PWB just e-mail me and I will forward it on to you.) I can tell you from attending Assemblies of God ministers’ meetings, mixed evangelical ministers’ meetings and EVEN some meetings with more theologically liberal clergy, the concerns the pastors express here ARE exactly what today’s pastors are dealing with. They’d LOVE to communicate this to their lay people but often they feel frustrated because the lay people won’t listen or just think they’re whining. I hope you’ll read this thoughtfully and prayerfully. I’m very grateful for the few families and “die hards” who stuck it out to the end at First Assembly of God of Framingham, but I can tell you, the issues listed here affected us at First AG Framingham as they affect most churches. YOU could make a positive difference in your church. I hope reading the following will motivate you to do that!

Here is it, straight from the Pastor’s Weekly Briefing electronic newsletter:

TWO-QUESTION SURVEY RESPONSE

A couple weeks ago, in the March 5, 2010, issue of The Pastor's Weekly Briefing, I asked for a reader response on two questions. We received several hundred very interesting replies. I asked one of our staff members, Dale Wolyniak, to put into capsule form the essence of those responses. Here is what we found:

Question 1: What do you feel is the greatest challenge to your ministry?

* It was evident that apathy within congregations was a primary concern. This was also reported as a lack of commitment and help in ministry, a certain lukewarmness — which may stem from being too busy with wrong priorities — plus, distractions in our congregants' homes.
* Some pastors noted that church was seen as an event, rather than a place of being the Body. This was reflected with a view of the church being more of a club, with a consumer approach to 'serve me.'
* A high percentage of comments indicate that the church has lost its sense of urgency to spread the gospel because of being more concerned with tradition, programs and activities rather than personal evangelism and discipleship.
* Another indicator was the cultural tolerance for sinful practices. And, within the church, a lack of discipline to live up to biblical values. This fusion of postmodern values and a liberal approach to life can leave the church without a prophetic voice.

Question 2: What one thing presents the greatest challenge or threat to you and your family or marriage?
* Respondents spoke most frequently about the need for balancing time and resources of ministry with that of the pastor's marriage and family. A few phrases that frequently occurred were "emotional exhaustion," "energy depletion" and "excessive activities" that seemed to plague the ministers' lives.
* One comment was that there was a "rising tide" of evil in the world that is seen in the public schools, TV, movies and the Internet. In speaking of the cultural influence on our children, one pastor commented that we need to "keep a Christ-centered focus in our homes, despite the tsunami of temptations around us."
* A challenge that creates high stress is the unfair expectations of church members toward their pastor and his or her family. A major concern was that a pastor's spouse and children needed to be given adequate time and attention in spite of busy ministry lives.

It is obvious that we may need new wineskins with new wine to awaken hope in the church and to reach this generation with a relevant and spirited message. Also, another question might be, "What is your greatest blessing in ministry?" I am sure there are more blessings than negatives.

Perhaps we need to sit down with pen and Bible in hand and ask what activities we should be doing. One thing we learn from the survey is that things in the church have not changed much since the last time we asked those two questions nearly 16 years ago. In fact, they may be getting more difficult.

BE ENCOURAGED!

We know that God is still calling faithful ministers and their families. They continue to present Christ, and His truth is being lived out in a pluralistic and often skeptical society. So, keep the faith, my colleague, you are making a difference.