October is Pastor Appreciation Month. As a PK, this was one of my favorite months as it meant lots of savory treats and gift cards to our favorite restaurants. Now that I’m older I’m starting to see the true significance of this month.

You see, ministry is hard. It can be very hard. Pastors are around people all day long who are struggling, hurting, grieving, confused etc. They counsel with people who have been through or going through unimaginable circumstances. It’s hard not to carry the weight of that. The images you can’t get out of your head. They sit with people as they are taking their last breath. For every wedding they officiate, there’s 5 more funerals waiting for them.

Most of them have their own families which is one of the most important mission fields for them. They are also constantly dealing with the people in the church who think they own it. They “mark their territory” all over their church. They write anonymous letters to make their stench known. Pastors deal with the constant pressure and mumblings throughout the community because God’s word goes against everything culture tells us is acceptable. They see their names slandered but they listen to God and stay silent. It’s hard. 

Now granted, there are so many times of rejoicing; The prodigal child returns home or someone accepts the mercy of Jesus for the first time. The mountaintops of ministry are like none other but those valleys are tough.

I left the church for many years and even tried to deny God’s existence because of things I witnessed in the church but thank God for his mercy and constant tugging. I know now how Satan tries to sneak his way into the church. How he uses everything he can to distract from God. Satan distorts the truth to bring chaos and confusion. The same religious people that condemned Jesus are still in the church today. That is why it is so important for God-fearing Christians to take a stand within the church so the love of Christ overpowers the distractions thrown by Satan. There is not a single church not fighting the same battle. We are all human and will make mistakes but we must be quick to turn our eyes to Jesus. Everything that Satan does to destroy, God will ultimately use for His glory! 

When I slowly got back into church I promised myself I would not get too involved. Then the Holy Spirit started tugging because when you are in the will of God, He will get you to serve. I started serving in different compacities in the church but said I would NEVER work on a church staff. Guess what….God had different plans and I now work fulltime on a church staff.

I have now been on staff just 2 months shy of 2 years and it has been the biggest blessing! For starters, this church staff has been the most supportive and encouraging church staff I have ever seen. To witness daily the hearts of all the Pastoral Staff and Support staff is overwhelming. Every single one of them is leading the way to minister to others. Leading the way by example. I see these Pastors leave church to go directly to a funeral, hospital, or a church kids game or concert because they invited them. I see them running out to fill someone’s gas tank and opening up their homes to lead different Bible Studies. I’ve seen them scrub toilets and vacuum the hallways when no one is watching. I’ve seen them stop what they are doing during the work day to watch a child in the office while that child’s mom attends a Bible study or biblical counseling.

  I often wonder how these Pastors have time to sleep because they can not stop ministering. It goes against everything in them to not minister to others. They cannot just shut that off. I hear the daily devotions as a staff and the prayers. We have rejoiced together and we have wept together. 

It is truly an honor to do ministry with this staff and I’m so grateful I get to see firsthand the hearts of these Pastors. To see them radiate Jesus every day. I am so thankful to God for them. I’m thankful they look to the word of God instead of the chatter on social media. They are fixated on souls not numbers. They realize they are not the head of this Church but that God is the head of this Church.

I am so appreciative of every Pastor on staff here at First Baptist Church Lenoir City and thankful for what God is doing through them for His glory!