As you might expect, a person's perception of life as a pastor does not always match the realities of ministry. This is not to minimize the thrill it is to serve the Lord. At the same time, there are many complexities in the ministry that may be unexpected.

We refer to the first year in ministry as the honeymoon period. You are excited to work with people and the church is excited to have someone who loves the Lord and desires to serve within the church. As time goes on, people get used to having a pastor. The pats on the back may come less often. You find out that everyone does not appreciate nor agree with your particular style of ministry, and that the Board may not always approve your particular requests. In the midst of it all, it is easy to get discouraged.

It can also be very difficult for a minister who is working with minimal staff. The responsibilities to teach every week, spend time with people, develop a leadership staff, meet with leaders and counsel can be overwhelming. At this point, many men find it appealing to either quit the ministry or move to another church where they can start the honeymoon period over.

We have a desire to help pastors in both the joys and sorrows of ministry. We do not pretend to have all of the answers, but we do believe that God's Word is sufficient for everything we face in this life. We will gladly pray and offer counsel and resources for those who would desire help. We are available by contacting us by clicking here. We also offer an annual training conference for those committed to both pastoral ministry as well as lay leadership.