Ten years ago, I was called to pastor my first church. At the ripe old age of twenty, and with zero pastoral experience, I moved to possibly the most beautiful area in all of Texas—San Saba. I had looked forward to this day since I was eight years old. I was attending Criswell College during this time, preparing for the ministry and was very eager to walk in the path of my calling. Finally my dream was a reality—I was a pastor. However, the dream that was blue skies and chipper birds quickly faded into the grim reality that God had called me to pastor a church at war. Like kids who clean their rooms, the church hid their mess well. I had no prior knowledge that there was an internal conflict wedging the church in two.
Needless to say, I did not survive long. They did not run me off or let me go, but the stress and the burden was unlike anything I had experienced before. Ultimately, I resigned due to the condition of my health. Physically and spiritually I was withering away. During my nine-month stint, the church more than doubled in size. We saw many people come to Christ, but unity and harmony were always missing. Most of the discord was found within the committees of the church. There was a committee for everything and some members held multiple chairs. This worked to their advantage on the council, for they then had multiple votes. From committee meetings to deacon meetings, unity in Christ was never found.
This story might sound slightly familiar to some who read this, because you may be going through something similar, but to the others who have never experienced such difficulties in ministry—don’t worry, you will. However, as you are going through these difficulties, or even before you go through these conflicts, have a proper perspective as to what the conflict truly is—spiritual.
I want to offer four things I have learned during this brief pastorate and now, being removed from it ten years, what I have learned afterwards. I cherish the time I was there and though ministry can be painfully overwhelming, there is no more great or wonderful calling than to shepherd God’s people. Read more
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