Posts Tagged ‘Pastoral Ministry’
We Need More Pastors
A few years ago, George Barna published a study called “The State of Pastors.” The study revealed that the average age of pastors in 2017 is 54. “Only one in seven pastors is under 40, and half are over 55. The percentage of church leaders 65 and older has nearly tripled, meaning there are now…
Read MoreThe Unique Nature of a Pastor’s Work
Ed. Note. In the most recent installment of this series, Pastor Sweatt discussed areas of pressure unique to pastoral ministry. In this post, he describes aspects of pastoral ministry that can add to a load of worry and care. The nature of a preacher’s work opens the door to depression. What is a preacher’s work?…
Read MoreThe Unique Pressures of Pastoral Ministry
Ed. Note: In the first post in this series, Pastor Sweatt introduced the topic of affliction and depression in Pastoral Ministry. Many issues may be the immediate cause, God’s grace is sufficient, but the preacher will need to turn to God for that grace. In this installment, Pastor Sweatt identifies areas of pressure that are…
Read MoreA Transparent Approach to Gospel Ministry
2 Corinthians 4:2 When you set out to shine the light of the gospel to nonbelievers and believers alike, you may not anticipate the adversity that may come your way as a result. The apostle Paul himself experienced adversity to an intense degree in his teaching ministry. His candid response to this adversity provides us…
Read MoreThe Peculiar Pressures on the Pastor
The failure of pastors is sadly too much in the headlines in recent months. The reasons are many. Our culture is increasingly hostile to our message so that many are skeptical of organized religion. Even church members, hurting from their church experience, create discord by careless criticism and self-serving divisiveness. These and many more factors…
Read MoreThe Life of a City Pastor’s Wife
Tirrell Van Gelderen Before we came to our present city pastorate, my husband and I ministered in a small town church on the western slopes of Colorado. The thought of coming to a big city and a large church frightened me. All kinds of thoughts flashed through my mind. I was especially concerned about my…
Read MoreThe Life of a Country Pastor’s Wife
Gloria Arnold A pastor’s wife-ugh! What a drab, dull life! They never have any excitement or good times. They’re perfect, and I feel very uncomfortable around them. That was my concept of the life of a pastor’s wife-uneventful and humdrum. I never wanted to be one. Well, here I am, a pastor’s wife in a…
Read MoreDr. Ed Nelson On The Ministry In His Own Words
Dr. Ed Nelson is a man with a long and varied career in the ministry. He has been at the forefront of many aspects of fundamentalism since entering the ministry full time in 1949. He currently sits on the Emeritus Board of the FBFI, has been a well-respected participant in many of the events that…
Read MoreMatthew Henry: Serious Self-Examination before Ordination (4)
Mark Minnick Part One ♦ Part Two ♦ Part Three ♦ This is Part Four Pastor Minnick offers us Matthew Henry’s thorough meditation of self-examination on the occasion of his ordination. Part One dealt with the question, “What Am I?” and Part Two dealt with the questions, “What Have I Done?” and “From What Principles…
Read MoreMatthew Henry: Serious Self-Examination before Ordination (3)
Mark Minnick Part One ♦ Part Two ♦ This is Part Three ♦ Part Four Pastor Minnick offers us Matthew Henry’s thorough meditation of self-examination on the occasion of his ordination. Part One dealt with the question, “What Am I?” and Part Two dealt with the questions, “What Have I Done?” and “From What Principles…
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