As we celebrate Pastor Appreciation Month, we’re sharing some of the ins and outs of professional ministry work. In our multi-part series, pastors share their hearts about serving the Lord – including challenges and things they wish people knew.
"We have an enemy, and it's not flesh and blood. There's temptation that comes to pastors. Often we see pastors falling into sin. The temptations are real. And somebody one time told me 'new levels, new devils.' "
Today, we ask Dean Miller, lead pastor of Front Range Baptist Church, Fort Collins, Colo., about the rigors and joys of being a minister (Rather listen?)
Pastor Dean, what would you say are the biggest challenges that a pastor faces?
“Well, I think first of all, I would say the spiritual burden of just shepherding souls. A pastor who understands his role knows that God has called him to shepherd souls. He's to watch for souls, and that's a major burden, that spiritual burden carrying the weight of other people's struggles, and then the responsibility of sharing the truth with them and speaking truth into their lives. Sometimes it's not comfortable and popular and a pastor bears the weight of that. So just the spiritual burden of the shepherding aspect. I would say.
Number two, the expectations that are placed on a pastor. I think we know those expectations and trying to live up to those things and balance the expectations of the congregation, the criticism that comes with not meeting those expectations and yet trying to stay faithful to God's word. And that's overwhelming.
And then family, just the family tensions. You're a husband and you're a dad. And even in some cases a pastor is a son and he has the cares of maybe his parents, maybe they're getting older or whatever. But there's just that family struggle. And ministry demands a lot on the family and it creates stresses in the spouse and the children. And ultimately I think some of that, just the spiritual burden, the expectations, the family tensions. The devil's number one tool, I think, in a pastor's life is discouragement. And Elijah went through that. Moses went through that. And just being overwhelmed with the responsibilities and the burden, and then maybe not seeing the fruit that you expect. And so discouragement is a real, it's a thing.”
So, when you might feel discouraged about something, what is your solution to it?
“Well, it may sound cliche, but my first response is to pray about it. I go to the Lord with it. Sometimes my discouragement is self-inflicted. I'm living maybe under the weight of my own expectations, and I think I should see better results in something. And I'm not getting those. But I pray about it. I talk to my wife, she's my helper, and God has given her specifically to minister to me, and she's my encourager and helper and a good sounding board. And so talk to her. And then I've got a group of men in the church that I confide in. These are spiritual men, these are strong men. And so I go to the Lord, I go to my wife, and then I get some other men around me that speak into my life and help me."
And in virtually any church situation, what would be a good way for people to pray for their own pastor?
"That's a great question. And I think first of all, actually pray for him. Really spend time in prayer and pray for his spiritual protection. We have an enemy, and it's not flesh and blood. There's temptation that comes to pastors. Often we see pastors falling into sin. The temptations are real. And somebody one time told me 'new levels, new devils.' And I've been a senior pastor now for over 20 years, and I have seen the weight of temptation that the devil really targets at a pastor. So pray for spiritual protection and pray for wisdom. Pray. Pray for God to give him wisdom in his preaching and his counseling decision-making, and pray for his family's health.
Pray diligently for his marriage, pray for his parenting. He's got those burdens of raising children as well. Just pray for his family life. And then I tell you, I've got a group of people in our church that pray for something. They pray for fruitfulness in my life. They pray for spiritual fruit to be realized in the preaching of the word. They're praying that God will give me an unction of power as I preach. That would have effectiveness. And of course, the word of God is effective in and of itself, but they are praying for, I guess that unction that would really bring about fruitfulness in the ministry that God has given me."
And prayer, of course is need number one, but in a practical hands-on way, there are ways people can show appreciation for their pastor and family. You can hear Pastor Dean Miller’s valuable tips for your pastor in our complete podcast interview just below:
Is there anything going on right now that God has been doing in your church - or your life - that is clearly God intervening?
"Absolutely. We're seeing the gospel have a really powerful effect in people who are unreached and unchurched. God is stirring in our church family to share the gospel more courageously, and we're seeing results with that. We're seeing visitors and guests coming into our church every week with our church family. They're bringing friends and coworkers and family members. They're hearing the gospel, they're coming to Christ. And we're really seeing a desire for truth. And our church is awakening to that. And they're really not just allowing me to preach it in the pulpit, but they're carrying it into the street and God is blessing that in a great way."