TOGETHER: Pray for the ministers in your church_40405

Posted: 4/01/05

TOGETHER:
Pray for the ministers in your church

Almost 3,000 Hispanic young people erupted in applause and celebration at Congreso when I shared the news that the Baptist General Convention of Texas has added 1,024 new congregations during the past five years. Those congregations represent the ethnic and racial diversity that is today's Texas–83 ethnic congregations, 223 African-American, 296 Anglo and 422 Hispanic.

Then I asked: “Who will be the youth ministers, the worship leaders, the future pastors of these and other new churches? They will come from the people in this room.” Again they cheered.

Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

I rejoice at what God is doing in and through our Hispanic youth. These young people want to be leaders in their churches, in their homes and in their society. They want to be great fathers and mothers, giving themselves to raising their children. And some of them will be pastors and ministers in churches for years to come.

Texas Baptists are committed to help call out the called and encourage and support those who have answered God's call to ministry in the local church.

I trust you pray for the ministers in your church and for their families. Have you ever thought about what might be a good prayer for a minister?

Consider the task God has called your ministers to do. They are to be both ministers and messengers of reconciliation. They are to offer their lives as living sacrifices to God. They are to bring people together in a unity of the Spirit so they might be effective witnesses of God's redeeming grace. They are to be strong leaders who are led by God's Spirit and live under the authority of God's word.

The BGCT's new values statement says: “We value servant leadership that models the ministry of Jesus as he called people to become his disciples and to serve all the interests of God's kingdom. We are committed to the ongoing nurture and development of courageous servant leadership in our churches.”

One of the best descriptions I know of the task of a preacher is that the afflicted be comforted and the comfortable be afflicted. Jesus was familiar with that job assignment.

Every pastor would be blessed if you would pray: “Lord, help my pastor to be both wise and courageous.” See James 1:5 and Joshua 1:9 for the importance of both qualities in the life of a leader. The minister needs wisdom lest courage become foolish and courage lest wisdom become useless.

Pray that your pastor may be a courageous servant leader, and then follow your pastor's leadership. Be grateful for leaders who are willing to lead. It is not easy to do. They need your prayers, and they need your willingness to follow where God is leading your church.

Those who have a difficult time allowing your pastor to exercise leadership, consider this: The only thing worse than having a dictator for a pastor is having a pastor who won't lead. Help your pastor be a leader.

Jesus said this about leadership: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. … The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28).

We are loved.