On the one hand, church leaders should correctly preach the Word of God; on the other hand, they should do a good job in church administration and public relations. Church pastors should also be engaged in the practical needs of believers’ lives. Therefore, we have to admit that the ministry of church pastors is indeed strenuous work.
As church pastors, how can they improve and recharge themselves? Recently Pastor D in East China shared how he improved himself to serve the church better.
The first suggestion is that pastors should commune with one another, encouraging and caring for one another.
Pastor D shared that he was lucky to have several like-minded pastors and friends. For example, he would meet and communicate with them at regular times twice a month, mostly for Bible study and discussion. Through such fellowship, they encouraged, cared for, and prayed for one another, thus leading the church to break through difficulties more powerfully.
Second, pastors should adhere to daily spiritual practice.
D stressed that daily spiritual practices should be taken very seriously. His spiritual practices are divided into two parts: reading and writing. And the reading part is further divided into fast reading and intensive reading. His favorite books are Genesis, John, Romans and Revelation, which he would choose to read intensively. The fast reading part is to read the books of the New Testament one by one. Every time he reads, he selects a passage and write it down for personal meditation. He believes that by reading God's Word itself, the Lord is speaking to him, and he has to respond to this Word.
Third, read widely every day.
Pastor D also keeps on reading many different kinds of books every day, including spiritual, theological and academic books. He would set aside an hour for reading and writing down what he had learned and appreciated every day. He would also actively share and apply them in the following ministry such as sharing them in the pastoral fellowship.
Fourth, keep praying every day.
Pastor D also stressed the need to pay attention to prayer. He would offer prayers for the needs of the church, co-workers, and believers. Through prayer, he would also constantly discover his lack and needs to be pitied by God, thus making his ministry often in a state of humility and hunger before God.
Under the three-year pandemic situation, many church pastoral co-workers are faced with the dilemma that it is difficult for the church to have new pastors. Some co-workers are burdened with mortgage loans, and some have no social security, so their children couldn't go to school. These real difficulties often distract pastors from serving the Lord attentively and efficiently.
We believe that many pastors would also use some other methods flexibly to feed themselves in their own situation. No matter what the method is, the point is that we should see pastors' need to be shepherded and cared for more. I also hope that more pastors can have time to be alone, and they can bring vitality to the church and the people they serve and witness the name of Christ through fellowship, daily spiritual practice, reading, application, and prayer.
- Translated by Stephen Huang
作为教会领袖，一方面要正确宣讲圣道，另一方面要做好教会行政的管理和公共关系，教会牧者还要殚精竭虑地参与信众生活实际需要中去。因此，不得不承认，教会牧者的事奉本身的确是一种消耗型的工作
作为教会牧者该如何提升自己，给自己充电呢？近日，笔者采访到了一位华东牧者D牧师，他分享了自己是如何提升自己，从而更好地事奉教会。
一，牧者彼此团契，相互激励关怀
D牧师分享说，他幸运的是有几位志同道合的牧者朋友门，比如一个月有两次固定时间见面和团契，大多数是以查经和研讨为主，通过这样的团契彼此激励，彼此关怀、祷告，从而更加有力量地带领教会突破艰难。
二，坚持每日灵修
D牧师强调要非常认真对待每日灵修，他的灵修分为读和写两个部分：在读的部分，分快读与精读。他特别钟爱的经卷有创世纪、约翰福音、罗马书和启示录，这些书卷他会选择精读。快读的部分是从新约开始按卷来读。每一次读的时候，他会写下一段选好的经文，用于个人灵修和默想。他相信，通过读神的话语本身，主在对他说话，他也要做出对这段话语的回应。
三，每天广泛阅读
这位牧者也会坚持每天读许多不同种类的书籍，包括灵修类、神学和学术类都有。他会每天为此预留一个小时的时间，用于阅读和之后记下心得和受用的部分。在接下来的事奉中，在牧者团契中，他也会积极地分享和应用。
四，每日坚持祷告
同时，D牧师也强调要注重祷告，他会为教会的需要、同工们和信众们的需要献上祷告。透过祷告，他也不断地发现自己的缺乏，和需要被上帝怜悯的部分，从而使他的事奉在神面前常常处于谦卑和饥渴的状态。
在长达三年的疫情处境下，有很多教会的传牧同工面临着教会很难传道新人的困境，有的同工背负着房贷，有的同工因为没有社保，孩子无法顺利入学等问题。这些真实的艰难往往让传道人无法专心有效率地服侍主。
相信有许多牧者除了这些充电方式，也在自己所在的处境中灵活地使用各种方式来自我牧养。不管方式是怎样的，根基都是让我们看到牧者更需要被牧养、被关怀。也盼望更多的牧者能够拥有独处的时间，藉着团契、每日灵修、读书与应用和祷告，让自己所事奉的教会和信众愈来愈有新的生机、新的活力，见证基督的名。
访谈｜作为教会牧者，关于如何提升自己的四点建议
On the one hand, church leaders should correctly preach the Word of God; on the other hand, they should do a good job in church administration and public relations. Church pastors should also be engaged in the practical needs of believers’ lives. Therefore, we have to admit that the ministry of church pastors is indeed strenuous work.
As church pastors, how can they improve and recharge themselves? Recently Pastor D in East China shared how he improved himself to serve the church better.
The first suggestion is that pastors should commune with one another, encouraging and caring for one another.
Pastor D shared that he was lucky to have several like-minded pastors and friends. For example, he would meet and communicate with them at regular times twice a month, mostly for Bible study and discussion. Through such fellowship, they encouraged, cared for, and prayed for one another, thus leading the church to break through difficulties more powerfully.
Second, pastors should adhere to daily spiritual practice.
D stressed that daily spiritual practices should be taken very seriously. His spiritual practices are divided into two parts: reading and writing. And the reading part is further divided into fast reading and intensive reading. His favorite books are Genesis, John, Romans and Revelation, which he would choose to read intensively. The fast reading part is to read the books of the New Testament one by one. Every time he reads, he selects a passage and write it down for personal meditation. He believes that by reading God's Word itself, the Lord is speaking to him, and he has to respond to this Word.
Third, read widely every day.
Pastor D also keeps on reading many different kinds of books every day, including spiritual, theological and academic books. He would set aside an hour for reading and writing down what he had learned and appreciated every day. He would also actively share and apply them in the following ministry such as sharing them in the pastoral fellowship.
Fourth, keep praying every day.
Pastor D also stressed the need to pay attention to prayer. He would offer prayers for the needs of the church, co-workers, and believers. Through prayer, he would also constantly discover his lack and needs to be pitied by God, thus making his ministry often in a state of humility and hunger before God.
Under the three-year pandemic situation, many church pastoral co-workers are faced with the dilemma that it is difficult for the church to have new pastors. Some co-workers are burdened with mortgage loans, and some have no social security, so their children couldn't go to school. These real difficulties often distract pastors from serving the Lord attentively and efficiently.
We believe that many pastors would also use some other methods flexibly to feed themselves in their own situation. No matter what the method is, the point is that we should see pastors' need to be shepherded and cared for more. I also hope that more pastors can have time to be alone, and they can bring vitality to the church and the people they serve and witness the name of Christ through fellowship, daily spiritual practice, reading, application, and prayer.
- Translated by Stephen Huang
Four Suggestions for Church Pastors on How to Improve Themselves
