...by
David Mays
|
I
sometimes think of pastors according to the following word pictures. These pictures apply to all church leaders,
but for simplicity we will speak of the pastor. The Pulpit Pastor The
pulpit pastor stands in front of his congregation and looks out over his
flock. He sees their hopes and
aspirations, their talents and skills, their income and their possessions,
and particularly their needs and their pain.
The pastor’s capacity for leadership and comfort is completely filled
by the needs of his congregation and he devotes himself to the people in his
church. The Steeple
Pastor In
my mental picture, the Steeple Pastor, climbs up into the steeple of his
church and looks out over the neighborhood.
He sees the adults and their children, their habits and routines,
their relationships and institutions, and especially their social and
spiritual needs. This pastor is moved
by the sheep without a shepherd throughout his whole neighborhood. His heart longs for them to find the peace
and fulfillment that Christ can bring. The Helicopter
Pastor In
my mind, I see the Helicopter Pastor climbing into the local news helicopter
and flying over his city and the surrounding area. He sees the inner city neighborhoods with
their hurting and desperate people, and the suburbs with their busy and
fragmented lifestyles. He sees how
people fruitlessly rush from activity to entertainment, how in their search
for peace and happiness they have no time to get acquainted with the only one
who can fill their empty hearts. This
pastor can picture these people flocking to his church to find hope, joy, and
peace. He longs for them to learn to love
and serve God and others as they grow in the fruit of the spirit. He aches to reach them. The Satellite
Pastor The
Satellite Pastor goes into his prayer closet with a globe. Like a man in a satellite, he gazes down at
the slowly rotating ball between his hands.
As each continent passes slowly by, he reflects on the countries and
peoples. He recognizes nations and
peoples who are in bondage to false religions and totalitarian governments, who
are ravaged by grinding poverty and famine, who are struck down by natural
disasters and diseases. He sees the
nations where churches are lifeless or few and where Christian workers are
not heeded or not allowed. He sees
where the church is rapidly growing, where it is terribly persecuted, and
where it has yet to be planted. And he
prays with great intensity for the people and nations as they pass before
him. Eventually
his own country comes into view. He thinks of the vast hoard of wealth and
resources in his nation. He thinks of
the talents, skills, experience, resources, and influence available within
his own church. He considers the great
needs of the world and he prays, “Oh God, please help us make the greatest
possible impact on the world for Your Kingdom!” |