Storms of ministry

Every minister will face various storms during his or her ministry.  A sudden accident, a medical test that doesn't come back the way you wanted, a spouse leaves, a child rebels, a disgruntled church member that causes the minister to be terminated, a series of bad choices that lead to moral failure, and a host of other issues can create storms.  When Jesus taught on the two men who built their houses, one upon sand and the other upon a rock, He taught us that it is never if a storm comes into one's life; it is always a matter of when the storm comes.  No matter how well things may be going today, storms do come into every life.  This isn't being pessimistic; it's being realistic.  What do you do to prepare yourself for those storms?

While traveling to a church meeting yesterday I listened to the latest CD of Pastor to Pastor by H. B. London, Jr.  The title of the CD is Storms of Ministry.  I have subscribed to these CDs ever since they became available, and this may be the most helpful one I've heard.  H. B. interviews three individuals who have weathered major storms in their lives.  One pastor of a mega-church developed a disease that nearly killed him.  He was unable to swallow for months and needed constant care from family members.  Doctors never properly diagnosed his illness.  Although he had to resign as senior pastor he remains on the staff of the church he served as he continues to recover.  The second minister was involved in a motocycle accident that led to him going through multiple surgeries and an extended stay in the hospital.  The third pastor's storm was of his own doing as he entered into a relationship with another woman that led to him leaving the ministry.

Listening to each of these individuals talk of their experience, their challenges, and the things that got them through their storms was inspiring, and I have to admit, challenging.  As I listened I wondered if I could have come through their situations as well as they did, and it was encouraging to hear one say that we should not worry about that: God gives us the grace we need at the time we need it.

You can get a free download of this edition at parsonage.org  I would encourage each of my readers to do so.  If you do, please let me know how listening to these stories impacted you.