In looking back at my years of being a lead pastor, one of the hardest issues to handle was when an individual or family would leave.
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Thirty-eight years ago this month I was installed as senior pastor at Fellowship Missionary Church. The church was a small plant and met in a YMCA. And I was as green as grass!
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I was recently asked, “What were the most difficult moments you faced in your 40 years of ministry?” I had to ponder the question for a moment as dozens of memories came flooding back.
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Many pastors have very few true friends. Frankly, it’s made many of those in the ministry among the most lonely of people. In part one of “The Friendless Pastor,” I offered some of the reasons why pastors struggle in this area. However, having identified those, how do we change that situation?
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It's ironic that pastors, those who talk the most about the need for community, often experience it the least. Our days and nights are filled with calls, meetings, and interactions. But despite lots of people contact, we have few trusted peers.
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Every pastor knows the feeling. The news may have come via email, phone, or second-hand conversation. A key family is leaving your church. They may already have found another church, or they may just be beginning the search process.
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After 40 years of pastoral ministry, I’ve come to see that these two realities are inevitable: 1. People will leave the church. 2. It will hurt when they leave.
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