Thank you, God, for colleagues in ministry.
When I first started brainstorming, I was thankful for the other pastors I have the opportunity to work alongside—pastors who have become mentors and pastors I have essentially grown in ministry with. I love it when we get together and brainstorm about ministry.
It isn’t all cupcakes and roses, though. I remember when I was student teaching, and the teacher I was under told me never to go to the teachers’ lounge. At the time, I wasn’t sure why, but now I understand. In the teachers’ lounge, the lunchroom, or anywhere colleagues gather, one of two things can happen. The first is what I am grateful for: uplifting conversations that encourage and inspire. The second is colleagues griping about any number of things.
Let me be clear—I am thankful for the colleagues who are excited about ministry and walk alongside me in this calling. I’ve been in ministry long enough now that I sometimes have the privilege of being asked to mentor others. If not mentoring directly, I serve on boards that help credential new pastors. These are some of the most life-giving conversations in ministry. In fact, I had a couple of those conversations just this morning. There was excitement, fresh ideas, and a mix of new, different, and tried-and-true ways of thinking about ministry.
As I reflect on my original brainstorming and the conversations that happened today, I wonder how to make all of this into something people would read to the end. The answer is simple: my colleagues in ministry include all of you. Especially those of you who get excited about ministry—who are interested in trying new things, revitalizing old things, and simply keeping things going. We are the Church together.
I see this as one of the most important parts of my job. I want the Church to be so strong that ministry continues to thrive, whether the pastor is present or not. In a way, my goal is to make myself obsolete. And yet, I also recognize that everyone needs a pastor—myself included.
So, THANK YOU for being in ministry with me.
What gets you excited about ministry?
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