Pastoral Ministry and Fame
Don’t Play the Comparison Game
I've been serving at my church for eight years now, and in the first three years, we lost 150 people, which brought us down to about ninety people. So my best sermon was heard by ninety people. Over the last year and a half, we've doubled back again—we're up to 220 people or something like that.
So we're a smaller church surrounded by big churches. On my worst day, I can think that I don't count. Notice even the way I said, "My best sermon was heard by this many people." It can make me feel as though I'm not really making a difference the way I'd hoped.
I think any of us in smaller churches can feel that way if we're comparing ourselves. The antidote I need is to remember that each of us has been called with different gifts. Jesus told the story of the talents. Some of us have this, some of us have that—we're called to different places.
The Imperfect Pastor
Zack Eswine
Written in a compelling memoir style, Eswine reflects on the failures, burnout, pain, and complexities that come with pastoral ministry—helping readers find significance in the ordinary through honest conversation and theological reflection.
I just need the grace to remember—and I encourage you and our friends to remember—"Hey, the Lord loves this little church and the community that it's in." And sometimes I need this kind of help when I wake up in the morning, "Lord, can you remind me why you're here? Can you remind me why you love this place so much? I mean, it's not really talked about much in the world. Why are you here? Help me see that again."
That simple reminder can call us out of the struggle that we have to compare ourselves.
Related Articles
How Celebrity-Pastor Culture Impacts Pastors
We wrestle with this invitation to do a truly great thing by serving the least, while inside of us and outside of us, we're pressured to make much of ourselves.
How Should a Pastor Handle Ministry Success?
Though the Lord doesn't often do large, famous, and fast things, he sometimes does.
One of the deepest fears an earnest pastor has is that he is going to let God down.
