It is official. For the first time since graduating college in 2005 I will not be paid to be a Pastor. I will still be a Pastor, because it is who I am, I just won’t get paid to do it. I will still be giving Pastoral leadership to LifeStation Church, I just won’t get paid to do it. Ok I think you get the point.
Over the past 10 years God has showed me so much about myself. Finally I feel like I can embrace the fact that I am a Pastor. So why am I leaving my paid position as a Pastor? Over the past 10 years I have unknowingly bought into the idea that the best way God can use someone who has a desire to impact people for Jesus is for them to be in full time ministry in some capacity. But God has been burdening my heart with the idea that no matter where our lives are stationed, followers of Jesus can and should have an impact. Wherever followers of Jesus are light should shine in the darkness. I think I believe that….but maybe I don’t believe that one is important as the 99.
Over the past year God has been showing me that as I share my faith and life with one or two the impact can be just as significant as the message that I share with hundreds. I am learning that my presents in the world, as a Pastor, matters just as much as what I do. As a paid Pastor I had the tendency to get caught up in what I got paid to do. Often this distracted me from being with God and others. Being paid to be a Pastor put a burden on me that made me feel like I had to produce. I had to show my self worthy as a faithful servant. I had to produce results. I think this often lead to me missing the 1 for the 99. I looked at peoples gifts and abilities and what they could do for the church and often missed them.
I am learning that as I spend time being with 1 the impact still happens. As I love and care for the 1 that God puts in front of me, God some how works in my life and theirs. He encourages us and then multiplies this effort. The 1 often goes and spends time with another and the cycle repeats itself.
Yes I am no longer going to be a PAID Pastor, but I believe that God is setting me free to love and serve people like never before. I believe God wants me to see and experience the fact that no matter where my life is stationed, as I am aware of the people who God places in front of me, I will have an impact for Christ. I will encourage others to follow Jesus as I spend time with Him and reflect His light into the world.
WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING?
Starting January 1st, 2015 I will be an employee of General Construction Management based out of Mt. Joy. Several years ago my dad took over ownership of this company and he desires it to be a company that God uses for His glory! I am going to join his team and do my best to learn the business. In more ways then one I am stepping out of the boat and trusting God to give me the wisdom and understanding I will need for this new season of my life. I am trusting God to help me, a Pastor, to use my other gifts and abilities to increase my influence for Jesus.
I am thankful for LifeStation Church and the support of me on this journey. I am thankful that we are standing together to declare a different way to live life.
This year I believe God is asking me to draw closer to Him then ever before. As a “Paid” Pastor some times my drivers was marked by shame and failure. I wanted to have an impact. I wanted to produce. This year I am walking out of the darkness and into the light. This year I want to walk into the HOPE OF LIFE and the FREEDOM Jesus won for me!
NOTE: I do not believe that I was wrong to be a paid “Pastor”, actually I think full time “paid” pastors are important, but God is showing me that I need to believe that He can use me wherever my life his stationed.
