3 years later, 2 years in: The Things I’ve learned
A few things I’ve learned through ministry
This post is a tad long, and also a long time coming.
It’s been about 3 years since I graduated from Southern Seminary with an M.Div, and 2 years into my first ministry position as English Minister /Youth Minister at Tri-Valley Chinese Bible Church.
There’s a lot that I could say about my first stint in the role as a pastor, about the struggles and difficulties, joys and accomplishments in ministry. But for this post, I want to give thanks to God for blessing me abundantly in a few specific areas.
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1. A Vision for the Local Church
Before seminary, I did not know what I wanted church to look like. All I knew, was that I did not want it to look like my home church with all its aches and scars.
During seminary, I experienced a fairly ideal picture of church. While it was not perfect, it did give me an expectation of how the local church should biblically function. I am grateful for my home church (where I was converted & called to ministry) and also for my seminary church. Through my experiences at both, and as I began my first ministry position, I was confronted with the need to clear about what I wanted to see in my local congregation.
This is not to say that I had it all figured out. I don’t think any particular seminary class did it. But it really was the culmination of the theological vision I received from Southern and the Spirit of God that opened my ministry eyes to discern the direction that I wished “my” church to go in.
Before you start any pastorate, it would be really helpful to have a vision for the local church. If you don’t after a year or two in, you probably won’t find it for a while.
2. A vision for the pastorate
This brings me to the issue of the pastorate. I was convinced from seminary and from the Scriptures that there are two offices in the church: elder and deacon. Yet I also knew from my church experiences that every local church confuses the roles and responsibilities. To this day, I still sit in on board meetings discussing toilets and termites (among other less tedious deaconal matters). While my church may not be working out the biblical offices to textbook standards, I know I am clear with my role and my responsibilities as a shepherd of sheep.
The pastorate should be regarded with significance by the pastor, and by the deacons and the church members. At the very least, when everyone else may not think that leading, feeding and protecting the sheep is the job, I as pastor must believe that it is the very essence of the position.
3. The place of care
As the church grows, it is impossible for the pastor to visit everybody. Even as a small congregation of some fifty people, I need to be strategic with who I “visit” and meet up with. And even my definition of what a visit is differs from other leaders.
Yet I am convinced that the care of the church members should primarily be provided in the community of our church—in the small groups of people that meet regularly. This way, everybody’s needs are cared for, and a system of small group leaders and coaches can be developed to report to the pastor.
This way, the pastor actually does know about the important needs that the church requires care for—even if he does not minister himself directly with individuals. Somebody will always be in contact with the one in need of care, and the pastor will always be informed about the general (or specific) issues facing the congregation.
Secondarily, the pastor shall make time to care for individual members on a strategic basis: especially to develop friendship with leaders, to welcome new members, to care for the special cases and love on those on the fringe.
Furthermore, churches need a regular routine of classes to care for the sheep. Some churches call these “redemption groups”; other churches give workshops on counseling one another. Whatever the case, training /seminars /workshops provided regularly will effectively care for a larger number of sheep at one time.
I am grateful for books like Community that really drive at this.
4. The gift of administration
The Apostle Paul sys in 1 Corinthians 12:28 that “God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.” If somebody confronted me and asked if I was charismatic, I would say yes. And I’m convinced that I have the gift of “administrating”. Early on in ministry, there were many things I needed to do—first of which, was to figure out what I needed to do. Nobody knew what I specifically should be doing day-to-day, but everybody knew that something needed to be done about everything.
I am grateful to God that I actually don’t cringe at getting my ministry organized. I enjoy planning for the long-term growth of my church. I thrive at setting the vision and mission of my ministry. I find it a beautiful thing when I can set the big picture goals of discipleship for my congregation. Just like in every job, you have to get organized. And in my job, I was at first forced into it by necessity. And now, I readily and naturally do it—especially because it keeps me sane, and most certainly because I would freak out if I didn’t have the plan on paper.
Thank God for giving me the gift of administrating.
5. The need for Discipleship
This is something that God developed in me through seminary, through good and bad experiences of Sunday School and Church. Discipleship needs to be transformative. It cannot only be about knowledge, nor just behavior modification. Transformation is normally only accomplished by the gospel. On the heart of a regenerate disciple. This transformation takes place when we apply the knowledge of God in life and use the truths of the gospel through life’s ups and downs.
And this transformation takes time. Lord have mercy on me when I am discouraged and don’t see the fruit. In those moments, I need to trust the Lord in a greater measure for the gospel fruit that He will bring about.
6. The priority of the Bible
As a “Bible” church, this is a given. With a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, I lived and breathed this during my studies. And yet, to actually make it a priority requires using the Bible. In expository preaching; in Sunday School; in fellowship and Bible Study; through the worship service and during times of song.
And just because a church may be “Bible” centered does not mean that it will bring about gospel priorities. I have heard enough sermons (some even from Guest Speakers in my pulpit) that are the epitome of “moralistic therapeutic deism.” I am well are that sermons, classes and Bible studies that end up never connecting to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I am grateful to my God for convincing me of the need to always be preaching the gospel of grace in Christ. Salvation through judgment. In private and in public.
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In conclusion, I don’t know where the next year(s) will lead. As long as the Lord calls me to stay here in my current church, there I will be. Wife (and soon baby!) beside me; Bible in hand, lifting high the name of Jesus. I am just grateful that God has equipped me for every good work that I could possibly do (2 Tim 3:16-17). And thank God He has carried me through these last 2 or 3 years.
