Practical Pastoring, Book Five: Ordination Conclusion

As pastors, part of our job is to study. Pastor Dan studied Spanish in order to help him in his ministry. At the beginning of your ministry you should immerse yourself in the Word. Fill your reservoir so that rivers of living water will flow out of you and bless your listeners.

As you grow in your pastoral experience, you will sense the leading of the Holy Spirit more clearly. You will find yourself drawn to particular topics to study. Remember that we preach Jesus and we attempt to have our listeners choose to go on with Him each time we minister.

Along your journey, your circumstances may change suddenly. Pastor Dan and his wife and children found themselves leaving Havre, Montana, to pastor a church in Minnesota. Then they wound up in a totally different set of circumstances. God was faithful to the Semsch family, but it was a hard season for them.

When Karrie and I left Shepherd, Montana, for the Ark Church in Havre, Montana, our circumstances went downhill quickly. God was faithful to the Barsotti family.

God does not love the Semsch family or the Barsotti family more than He loves your family. Have faith that His favor is for your lifetime. He wants you to prosper and be in health. He has solid plans for you. Do not give up in the middle of the battle. The Bible teaches us that if we falter in times of adversity our strength is small. We are victors and we overcome even when we do not feel victorious.

In counseling, we say that we have to act “as if.” This means that we train our minds to think the way God wants us to think. I can be generous even when my wallet is not overflowing with cash. I can exercise even when I struggle getting out of bed and lacing up my shoes. I can serve even when I do not feel like serving.

Believe good is going to happen to you each day of your life. Proclaim the favor of God over your family and your church. Believe that God has wonderful things for you in this life and in eternity. As you change your thinking and your prayers, both you and others will notice a difference in your life. Celebrate the blessings of God on a person’s life.

Your neighbors and your church will notice when God is flowing through you and blessing you. You will become a blessing to others. You will minister to God and to others. There will be an anointing of the Holy Spirit upon the work of your hands.

You may have to tell the enemy to take his hands off your blessings. I told my congregation that I want everything God has for me at the right time in my life. I do not want it too early or too late. I do not want to hold on too tightly to the many blessings He has given me, but I want to be a good steward of all He has given.

Pray for the gift of encouragement and then encourage others. Ministry is seeing a need and meeting the need. When the Holy Spirit puts someone on your heart, pray for them. When He instructs you to call someone, call them. When God presents a giving opportunity, embrace the opportunity.

You do not have to be a millionaire to help others. You have a call on your life to feed, lead, and protect the flock God has put in your care. Embrace that call. The Holy Spirit will give you discernment for each situation. Ask Him to show you how to respond to each potential ministry opportunity.

Pastor Dan closed his last update letter with a request for peace and health as well as praying that we might be vigilant and prepared for Christ’s return and all He has in store for us. Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart throughout your pastoral journey. Do your part to remain healthy. Walk in balance between expecting Christ’s return soon and recognizing that it is quite possible that we will die before His return. Expect God’s best during each year that you minister.

Some Christians become out of balance and delay making earthly plans because they believe that Jesus is returning extremely soon. I hope they are correct. I plan as if His return could be sooner, later, or even after my time on earth.

God is patient and long suffering with us or He would not delay the return of Jesus. Be wise and continue to make good choices about the direction of your life. Spend your life in the service of the King of kings and Lord of lords. You will not be sorry when you appear with other believers at the judgment seat.

Kevin Barsotti

Ark Church

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This article is part of “Practical Pastoring: Mentoring Growth Letters from a Senior Pastor to a New Pastor, Book Five.” The author responds to his pastor’s letters to him from twenty years ago when he began his pastoral journey.