Pastoral Ministry. Маттс-Ола Исхоел

      Opening

      Jesus is the role model for all ministry. He introduced and demonstrated a leadership style that sometimes shocked His contemporaries, but forever set the standard for the Christian church. He also knew that the future church could only manage if it had devoted and qualified leaders. He therefore spent much of His earthly ministry transferring His leadership principles to His disciples. This emphasis on leadership training is an example that the church should always follow. To train new generations of competent and devoted leaders is perhaps the single most important factor for the survival and growth of the church. Every generation of Christians needs leaders who have learned the same leadership lessons that the twelve men whom Jesus trained had to learn, and have the same heart and affection for God’s kingdom as they had. Society changes every day, but the leadership principles Jesus taught remain forever.

      This book is about the ministry that we usually call pastor. The New Testament mentions different leadership ministries in the church. For example, in Ephesians 4:13 Paul speaks about apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. All of these represent different functions in the body of Christ. In other places we find other terms that also describe leadership positions; for example, bishops (1 Timothy 3:1–2), elders (Acts 14:23) and deacons (1 Timothy 3:8). The way these terms are used and the purposes they serve will today differ from denomination to denomination. There are many ways churches are organized, depending on their theology, culture and history.

      Though these biblical terms are used with different meaning, there is broad consensus that when we today use the word “pastor” we are talking about the leader of a local congregation. This is the person who leads, feeds, guards and cares for the church members. This is how I use the word “pastor” in this book. There can however be many different pastoral functions inside a local church. Besides the senior pastor, we also use terms like second pastor, associate pastor, youth pastor and children’s pastor, describing different areas of ministry. In addition, there can be many church leaders who function in a pastoral responsibility, without having been installed as pastors. Everyone who helps in children’s ministry, every youth leader and home group leader, shares in the pastoral care of the church. It is my aim that this book will have something to say to all these levels of leaders.

      It is however impossible to cover all aspects of pastoral ministry in one book. The work of a pastor varies from preaching and teaching to personal counselling, planning and administration. My aim has been to write as concise as possible, focusing on the main issues of pastoral ministry and trying to avoid getting lost in details. The book is divided into four parts, emphasizing four different areas of the pastoral calling. The first part is about preparation for ministry. The second part deals with the motives of the pastor and his relationship with the people he serves. The third is the most practical, speaking about how to lead and develop a local church on a daily basis. The fourth brings up the dynamic aspect of ministry, focusing on creativity, courage and boldness.

      I assume that since you have decided to read this book, you feel called to be a leader. Let me tell you, the need for leaders has never been greater than it is today. Challenges of liberalism and secularisation surround the church in many places in the world, while at the same time new and amazing doors are opening up for the Gospel. The church needs to recruit and train leaders who are not only zealous for a cause, but well trained to handle the various challenges of today’s society.

      Both as a youth pastor in Norway, and as a pastor in Russia for over 20 years, I have seen churches started and churches closed down. I have seen growth and decline, unity and church splits. I have seen revival movements springing up with great enthusiasm, but leaving little lasting results behind. But I have also seen churches that seem to have the ability to overcome all kind of challenges, and continue to influence their society and win souls for God’s kingdom.

      This has made me reflect a lot on what seems to be good leadership, and what seems not to be. To begin is good, but as ministers we need to go all the way. To preach well is great gain, but without good organization and leadership training, all the good fruit can be lost very quickly. Zeal has great reward, but can also vanish fast without strong character. Faithfulness is important, but without the ability to adapt to an ever-changing culture, you can quickly find yourself faithful but very alone in your church.

      Ministry has many different sides, and with God’s help we must learn to manage all of them.

      Whether you are a bishop or a pastor, a youth leader or a home group leader, it is my prayer that this book will lead to a deeper understanding of the pastoral ministry and serve as a practical guide in performing your daily duties.

      May God bless you in all you do for Him. Your willingness to serve God is the hope of the world.

      This book can be used as study material either individually or in a group of leaders. My recommendation is to read the chapters one by one and take time to reflect over the content. After every chapter there will be some questions for meditation and discussion. It may be beneficial to share thoughts and experiences with others as you go through the material.

      Part I

      The disciple

      Introduction

      Andrew, John and Peter. These are some of the most common names not only in Russia, but more or less all over the world. These famous names go back to a group of men who 2,000 years ago decided to follow Jesus wherever He would lead them. Today we know them as the twelve apostles of the Christian church. They became the first leaders in Jerusalem, and later all the way to Rome. They wrote books in the Bible and guaranteed that the gospel was correctly established and handed over to new generations of believers. The wall around the heavenly Jerusalem will have twelve foundations; each foundation will be named after one of these men.

      They are the giants of church history.

      But they all began as disciples.

      A book about the ministry of a pastor has to begin with God’s calling and the times of preparation that follow. Nobody steps straight into ministry. We begin by being disciples, by learning and practicing, guided by the Holy Spirit. When Jesus called His twelve disciples, He knew the future of each of them. They would be shepherds and pioneers in His kingdom and they would be examples and heroes for all generations of Christians who would follow. That is why He spent most of His earthly ministry training them.

      They followed Him, watched Him, listened to Him and imitated Him. From Him they learned everything about being a spiritual leader. They wrote down His speeches and recorded His miracles. When they became too eager, He had to calm them down and make them understand that they had more to learn before He could send them into the world. But finally the day came when He returned to the Father and could say to them “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15) and “Tend My sheep” (John 21:16). Because they had followed Him all this time, they were now ready to fully be what He had intended them to be from the first moment He called them.

      This must also be our story. The pastoral ministry begins with following Jesus. Only he who is willing to humble himself and be formed by the Holy Spirit can one day serve as a useful vessel. To be a disciple is never wasted time. Every day Peter and John spent with Jesus gave them something significant for the future, and He still works like that with us today.

      Chapter 1

      The calling of God

      “God… who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”

      When I was a child and people asked me what I was going to be as an adult, I only had one answer: “I’m going to be a pastor.” The conviction I had inside was both strong and personal. I just knew that this would be my future.

      Many children