Okay, I realize that this blog is becoming a bit of a broken record with all my “insights” into pastoring. I promise to move on to other subjects over the next few days.
However, I have to comment on an email I received today from a friend in ministry. He has been pastoring longer than I have been alive. He has served faithfully in many different church situations. He is a good man with a passion to touch the lives of people.
Today, his church announced that he, along with the other paid staff, have had their positions terminated. The church simply cannot afford to pay them any longer. Their debt, over a mortgage that is out of control, is too big. It eats up all their finances, leaving them with nothing left for salaries. As a result, this man, who has served in churches for more than 40 years, is now unemployed at age 64.
My heart breaks for him. As it does for another pastor friend of mine who has been “forced” to retire after over 50 years of ministry. He has nothing to fall back on — all he’s ever known is being a pastor.
As I read my friends email, I said to Heather, “If I fear anything, it would be retiring on a negative note. I hope I am able to retire from whatever church (hopefully Bikers’ Church) on a high. The thought of knowing that the church I am retiring from is about to close, or fail, or whatever, is such a sad thought.”
I know of ministers who retired from pastoring only to become apartment building superintendents or greeters at WalMart. Now, there’s nothing wrong with those jobs, but if you’ve spent 40+ years preaching, teaching, ministering, motivating, caring, etc. for people, only to have to do those other things simply to survive in your old age, well … that’s sad. And yet, it is the sacrifice made by so many in ministry.
So, why do they (we) do it? Well, perhaps it’s partly because of what I said to my friend in reply to his email today. “How great it is to know that our rewards are eternal and we have no fear of moth or rust (or debt) destroying them … God sees your heart, your service, your compassion. Those things he never forgets. He will be by your side.”
Thank God that this life is not all there is. Thank you, God.
