I have never been good at the whole patience thing. Sitting still isn’t easy for me (even as I type this I am bouncing my leg…it makes it hard to type sometimes). When I started seminary I knew I was preparing for full-time pastoral ministry. I had mapped out what my ministry future would look like in my mind, and I was anxiously moving forward to it, but it took some unexpected turns to say the least.
While taking classes during my second year at Southern I got a call from an old friend inviting me to come and serve as a pastoral assistant at a church in southern Ohio. I had great conversations with the pastor (who is now my best friend) and he had made known to me that he was interested in going into academia and that he would like to groom me to take over his ministry when he does. It was a dream job for a young seminarian. The congregation reflected my theological convictions, and while I saw the need for growth in certain areas of discipleship I was excited, ambitious, and…naive. After six months in what seemed like a dream job things took a turn for the worse and the congregation turned on their faithful pastor of 21 years. We sat through horrendous “business meetings” (i.e. gripe sessions) as the congregation lambasted their pastor, and me along with him. We witnessed power-plays, and heartbreaking betrayals by leadership in the church. The pastor eventually resigned and I was left wondering what happened and what I was going to do now?
I have had a number of remarkable experiences in my short ministry career. I have helped to smuggle Bibles into foreign countries, trained pastors and those desiring to go into mission work. I have taught in academia, developed ministry programs, led worship, preached regularly for churches, been a published contributor, and done consulting work for others. I have worked alongside two church plants and participated in a number of social outreaches and gospel missions. I have, however, never officially been a senior pastor. So with my resume in hand I began to parade myself around to churches who were looking for their next pastor.
The process for seeking out a senior pastor is ridiculous in most cases. And I have come to the conclusion that most churches don’t have the slightest idea how to go through this process. I have witnessed, first hand, churches burned by pastors who claimed to be on their resumes what they were not in real life. I have also seen good men overlooked because their resumes did not reflect what the church thought they needed. I have sat in interview meetings wondering when legitimate questions were going to be asked, and I have checked my e-mail for months waiting for some kind of response from the churches that expressed interest in me (only to never receive such responses). I recall, recently, that one church waited until I finally contacted them again to inform me that they had merged with another church and were no longer interested! It’s a ridiculous process, like I said.
When I came to my current job, following my mentor, and former pastor, to this church staff I assumed it would be a temporary transition. I was grateful for the offer of the job, and grateful for the opportunity to learn new things and experience new things on a mega-church staff. But it was understood, at least in my own mind, that I would only be at this job for roughly six months…tops. That was now almost three years ago, and much has changed.
I am no longer interested in leaving and moving away. I have not only come to love this church and its mission, but I believe that this is where God has called and placed me. I believe that Portsmouth, OH is the mission field that God has equipped me to reach. I don’t know what that means for the future of my ministry, but I believe in the God who called me here, brought me through crazy situations, and constantly closed doors in my face. I believe in the God who has changed my heart, my mind, and my plans. This part of my crazy journey has only just begun, and that is something I love!
Sparrow & Heart Soul Care 