I have just returned from two months of pastoring a dual parish in Devils Lake and Lakota, North Dakota. I had a wonderful time with these people. It is surprising how after just two months I was able to connect with as many of them as I did. As I was serving my Lord Jesus by serving the people and proclaiming the Gospel to them, I found something my vicarage supervisor said to me in 2008 down in Tennessee to be very true. He said to me, "People won't care what you know, until they know that you care [about them].
Christ gave us the command to Love our Neighbor as ourself. While any command comes through to us as law, we can't accomplish this love without the grace of our Lord and the help of the Holy Spirit. In Christ, we are freed from our former hatred of God to love him with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength and if we are able now to love God, we are also able to love one another.
It is hard for some Pastor's to go into a new parish and begin to minister. Some go into a new parish and see what they believe is a lot of wrong and they try to make sweeping changes to quickly. Usually its because they see the negative things as being something that will prohibit them from ministering as they think they should.
One of the things I remember from my Seminary training is being told to go in and meet the people and get to know who they are. Pastor's are shepherds and the only way they can effectively lead their flock is by getting to know them. Sheep are needy of a leader to take them where the grass is lush and green and water is plenty. Where they can lie down and rest without fear. Sheep are not used to drastic changes. They need slow changes that they can adapt to over time, but if the flock has been put in danger by improper leadership of a former shepherd, the new shepherd must then change the direction first and then proceed to teach them why it was necessary.
Those cases happen from time to time because Pastors are people who do sin just like everyone else. Some follow the Lutheran Confessions rigidly and others very flexibly. It is usually the more rigid follower who feels the need to tighten things up if he sees the flock splitting off in directions he feels may be dangerous to them. However, he often finds the sheep are not likely to trust and respond if they feel he went too fast.
This is why it is important to go in and meet the people and get to know them and teach them scripture. In getting to know them and build rapport with them, you earn their respect and they will want to learn from you because they know you care about their spiritual welfare and want only the best from them. Of course not all of them will willingly follow even in the best circumstances. There will always be one or two people who are rebellious against the Spirit of God and his will.
I know that I am only speaking in regard to what I believe to be true and what I hope God will give me the opportunity to do should I receive a call this coming October. I pray for a congregation to serve who is open to hearing God's word and going on a journey together that will be life changing. .
I pray that all Pastors going into their first call and for that matter any call, go in with a spirit of patience and a desire to love the people, get to know them and proclaim God's word in all they say and do.
In Christ,
AMEN
Christ gave us the command to Love our Neighbor as ourself. While any command comes through to us as law, we can't accomplish this love without the grace of our Lord and the help of the Holy Spirit. In Christ, we are freed from our former hatred of God to love him with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength and if we are able now to love God, we are also able to love one another.
It is hard for some Pastor's to go into a new parish and begin to minister. Some go into a new parish and see what they believe is a lot of wrong and they try to make sweeping changes to quickly. Usually its because they see the negative things as being something that will prohibit them from ministering as they think they should.
One of the things I remember from my Seminary training is being told to go in and meet the people and get to know who they are. Pastor's are shepherds and the only way they can effectively lead their flock is by getting to know them. Sheep are needy of a leader to take them where the grass is lush and green and water is plenty. Where they can lie down and rest without fear. Sheep are not used to drastic changes. They need slow changes that they can adapt to over time, but if the flock has been put in danger by improper leadership of a former shepherd, the new shepherd must then change the direction first and then proceed to teach them why it was necessary.
Those cases happen from time to time because Pastors are people who do sin just like everyone else. Some follow the Lutheran Confessions rigidly and others very flexibly. It is usually the more rigid follower who feels the need to tighten things up if he sees the flock splitting off in directions he feels may be dangerous to them. However, he often finds the sheep are not likely to trust and respond if they feel he went too fast.
This is why it is important to go in and meet the people and get to know them and teach them scripture. In getting to know them and build rapport with them, you earn their respect and they will want to learn from you because they know you care about their spiritual welfare and want only the best from them. Of course not all of them will willingly follow even in the best circumstances. There will always be one or two people who are rebellious against the Spirit of God and his will.
I know that I am only speaking in regard to what I believe to be true and what I hope God will give me the opportunity to do should I receive a call this coming October. I pray for a congregation to serve who is open to hearing God's word and going on a journey together that will be life changing. .
I pray that all Pastors going into their first call and for that matter any call, go in with a spirit of patience and a desire to love the people, get to know them and proclaim God's word in all they say and do.
In Christ,
AMEN
