Pastors are often in a position where they are needed, as believers seek their help when they face challenges. But what should pastors do when they are overwhelmed by long-term pressure or face problems they can't overcome? During my visits to diverse churches, I’ve encountered several pastors who have crossed this difficult threshold in different ways, as well as learned about some ways to support them.
Walk With the Lord While Affirming the Path of the Cross
Pastor Huang from northern China, who has been in full-time ministry for over 20 years, deeply resonates with this idea. He once said, "We must realize that Jesus walked the path of sacrificing, emptying himself, and giving. Yet, it is also a road of love and hope. If we always live inside our own fantasies and are unwilling to accept reality, then ministry can only become a burden for pastors."
Facing many challenges along the path of service, ministers must be prepared in advance. It is a good step to develop a good habit of spiritual discipline. Pastor Huang strives to use fragments of time in his daily life to read the Bible, meditate, or pray. “I used to think that spiritual devotions and ministry were separate, so I always wanted to set aside time for devotions. But as my responsibilities increased, I found that living by this principle was not very realistic,” he added, suggesting that ministry can also be part of a pastor’s spiritual practice.
“I can gain an accurate and deep understanding of God’s words in these ministries, such as preparing sermons, leading meetings, or visiting believers. Through ministry, I can also more deeply realize my lack of understanding of the word, which drives me to seek answers from God’s words,” he said.
Seek Help From Mentor
A senior pastor at a downtown church shared that she met a mentor during a gathering, and they hit it off straight away. Since then, they’ve stayed in touch. When she encounters problems she can't handle, she seeks help from this mentor, whose character has also deeply influenced and strengthened her.
A middle-aged pastor from a rural church in Nanning, Guangxi, is very grateful for the older pastor who founded the church, saying that this elder mentored him like Jesus taught his disciples. When he became the church leader, the elder pastor’s experiences in problem-solving helped him overcome difficulties. More importantly, he learned from this elder how to rely on God.
A younger pastor who also has a mentor believes that a wise person should seek out a mentor who can strengthen his faith.
If there is no personal mentor for support, going out to learn can also open up new paths. A young pastor living in an area where ministers are not well-supported realized during a study trip that churches that prioritize supporting their pastors tend to have thriving ministries and experience revival. After returning, he worked hard to push for change, and his church began to look completely different. Now, he is working to promote this idea to other churches in his region.
Self-Study
A pastor in central China, who has worked in the church for more than 40 years, was once severely hit during her ministry and took two years to recover from a low point, as she almost gave up serving in the church. During this time, she worked hard to learn, which helped herself out of the predicament.
In the early 1980s, after graduating from seminary, she began her full-time ministry. At first, she learned from an older pastor, gaining many valuable insights. After the elder retired, she became the chair of the municipal TSPM and the senior pastor of the central church.
At first, she managed to work under pressure. However, some believers were hurt due to a particular issue and many left the church, which devastated her. She chose to study related topics to heal herself, using the knowledge to assist her fellow church workers.
Li, a pastor born after 1985, also broke through his difficulties by self-study—particularly in how to improve spiritual lives of believers. After graduating from seminary, he was invited to a church with fewer than 100 members, where he was the only full-time minister. In actual ministry, Li realized that the knowledge he gained from seminary was far from sufficient, so he turned to thick commentaries. Three to five years later, he felt that his vision and capacity had broadened, and his pastoral ability had improved significantly. He then led several staff workers and believers in the church to tackle thick systematic theology books.
Team-Building Activities Organized for Church Workers
A pastor with many years of ministry experience realized that church workers need breaks to release pressure and regain strength. Every year, her church arranges a three- to seven-day trip for over 100 workers (including volunteers), with expenses covered by the church. During these team-building trips, she gave short sermons but leaf most of the time for them to relaxa and communicate. Initially, all staff workers went out together, but later they found it more effective to split into small groups since the relationships between them were closer there.
A central church in a city of Liaoning holds one or two outings for its workers every year. I participated in one where everyone went to the seaside for swimming, and barbecuing. People put down their burdens of ministry, and the church leaders and workers built closer relationships.
Support From Believers Is Also Important
Pastors are often in a position of giving, but in fact, they also need feedbacks from believers. Sometimes positive feedbacks from believers can give pastors much comfort and strength.
A young pastor in Hunan candidly admitted that he had considered leaving the church more often in his church. But it was the love of believers that sustained him through challenges. After graduating from seminary, he was invited to pastor a church he knew little about. In his twenties, he had to face the pressure of ministry, handle relationships between staff workers with believers, and manage financial stress, often feeling overwhelmed by the idea of giving up. However, every time he thought about the love of the believers he was shepherding, he found the strength to continue.
He shared a particularly moving story. The church’s offerings were meager when he first arrived, and the weekly offering was only a few hundred yuan, barely enough for him to live on. But the church worked hard to support him, which both shocked and touched him. Meanwhile, some believers would occasionally put donations marked with his name into the offering box, and one anonymous believer supported him for a year and ten months straight. He kept all those envelopes, which kept him motivated to serve.
A senior pastor in Shenzhen also received love from unfamiliar believers. Once, she was invited to preach at another church, and a meal was carefully arranged for her by one believer. To her surprise, that believer later sent her local specialties from her hometown and insisted on tailoring a brand-name suit for her. This female believer said, "Pastors work so hard that they deserve to be well-loved."
- Edited & translated by Abigial Wu
Pastors are often in a position where they are needed, as believers seek their help when they face challenges. But what should pastors do when they are overwhelmed by long-term pressure or face problems they can't overcome? During my visits to diverse churches, I’ve encountered several pastors who have crossed this difficult threshold in different ways, as well as learned about some ways to support them.
Walk With the Lord While Affirming the Path of the Cross
Pastor Huang from northern China, who has been in full-time ministry for over 20 years, deeply resonates with this idea. He once said, "We must realize that Jesus walked the path of sacrificing, emptying himself, and giving. Yet, it is also a road of love and hope. If we always live inside our own fantasies and are unwilling to accept reality, then ministry can only become a burden for pastors."
Facing many challenges along the path of service, ministers must be prepared in advance. It is a good step to develop a good habit of spiritual discipline. Pastor Huang strives to use fragments of time in his daily life to read the Bible, meditate, or pray. “I used to think that spiritual devotions and ministry were separate, so I always wanted to set aside time for devotions. But as my responsibilities increased, I found that living by this principle was not very realistic,” he added, suggesting that ministry can also be part of a pastor’s spiritual practice.
“I can gain an accurate and deep understanding of God’s words in these ministries, such as preparing sermons, leading meetings, or visiting believers. Through ministry, I can also more deeply realize my lack of understanding of the word, which drives me to seek answers from God’s words,” he said.
Seek Help From Mentor
A senior pastor at a downtown church shared that she met a mentor during a gathering, and they hit it off straight away. Since then, they’ve stayed in touch. When she encounters problems she can't handle, she seeks help from this mentor, whose character has also deeply influenced and strengthened her.
A middle-aged pastor from a rural church in Nanning, Guangxi, is very grateful for the older pastor who founded the church, saying that this elder mentored him like Jesus taught his disciples. When he became the church leader, the elder pastor’s experiences in problem-solving helped him overcome difficulties. More importantly, he learned from this elder how to rely on God.
A younger pastor who also has a mentor believes that a wise person should seek out a mentor who can strengthen his faith.
If there is no personal mentor for support, going out to learn can also open up new paths. A young pastor living in an area where ministers are not well-supported realized during a study trip that churches that prioritize supporting their pastors tend to have thriving ministries and experience revival. After returning, he worked hard to push for change, and his church began to look completely different. Now, he is working to promote this idea to other churches in his region.
Self-Study
A pastor in central China, who has worked in the church for more than 40 years, was once severely hit during her ministry and took two years to recover from a low point, as she almost gave up serving in the church. During this time, she worked hard to learn, which helped herself out of the predicament.
In the early 1980s, after graduating from seminary, she began her full-time ministry. At first, she learned from an older pastor, gaining many valuable insights. After the elder retired, she became the chair of the municipal TSPM and the senior pastor of the central church.
At first, she managed to work under pressure. However, some believers were hurt due to a particular issue and many left the church, which devastated her. She chose to study related topics to heal herself, using the knowledge to assist her fellow church workers.
Li, a pastor born after 1985, also broke through his difficulties by self-study—particularly in how to improve spiritual lives of believers. After graduating from seminary, he was invited to a church with fewer than 100 members, where he was the only full-time minister. In actual ministry, Li realized that the knowledge he gained from seminary was far from sufficient, so he turned to thick commentaries. Three to five years later, he felt that his vision and capacity had broadened, and his pastoral ability had improved significantly. He then led several staff workers and believers in the church to tackle thick systematic theology books.
Team-Building Activities Organized for Church Workers
A pastor with many years of ministry experience realized that church workers need breaks to release pressure and regain strength. Every year, her church arranges a three- to seven-day trip for over 100 workers (including volunteers), with expenses covered by the church. During these team-building trips, she gave short sermons but leaf most of the time for them to relaxa and communicate. Initially, all staff workers went out together, but later they found it more effective to split into small groups since the relationships between them were closer there.
A central church in a city of Liaoning holds one or two outings for its workers every year. I participated in one where everyone went to the seaside for swimming, and barbecuing. People put down their burdens of ministry, and the church leaders and workers built closer relationships.
Support From Believers Is Also Important
Pastors are often in a position of giving, but in fact, they also need feedbacks from believers. Sometimes positive feedbacks from believers can give pastors much comfort and strength.
A young pastor in Hunan candidly admitted that he had considered leaving the church more often in his church. But it was the love of believers that sustained him through challenges. After graduating from seminary, he was invited to pastor a church he knew little about. In his twenties, he had to face the pressure of ministry, handle relationships between staff workers with believers, and manage financial stress, often feeling overwhelmed by the idea of giving up. However, every time he thought about the love of the believers he was shepherding, he found the strength to continue.
He shared a particularly moving story. The church’s offerings were meager when he first arrived, and the weekly offering was only a few hundred yuan, barely enough for him to live on. But the church worked hard to support him, which both shocked and touched him. Meanwhile, some believers would occasionally put donations marked with his name into the offering box, and one anonymous believer supported him for a year and ten months straight. He kept all those envelopes, which kept him motivated to serve.
A senior pastor in Shenzhen also received love from unfamiliar believers. Once, she was invited to preach at another church, and a meal was carefully arranged for her by one believer. To her surprise, that believer later sent her local specialties from her hometown and insisted on tailoring a brand-name suit for her. This female believer said, "Pastors work so hard that they deserve to be well-loved."
- Edited & translated by Abigial Wu
牧者常常处在被需要的位置，是信徒们遇到难题时寻求帮助的对象。当长期负重前行的牧者无法再承受压力或者遇到了难以胜过的问题时，他们该怎么办呢？关于这个话题，笔者在走访各地教会的过程中，见到了以不同方式跨过这坎儿的几位牧者，也了解过一些为牧者助力的方式。
不断确认所行之路是与主同行的十架路
华北一位全职服侍二十多年的黄牧师对此深有感触，他曾说道：“要看到主耶稣走十字架的道路就是在走牺牲、倒空和付出的道路，但这是爱和盼望的道路；如果总是活在自己的幻想之中，不愿意接受现实的话，那么侍奉只能成为传道人的重担。”
传道人们在服侍道路中会有很多的挑战，需要提前做好预备。培养一种好的灵修习惯就是一个不错的举措。在日常生活的间隙里，黄牧师会努力抓住这些碎片时间去读经、默想或祷告。“早先我也曾经认为灵修跟侍奉是分开的，所以总想把灵修的时间单独拿出来。但是后面负责的事情越来越多，我发现严格按着这样的生活不太现实。”牧师补充说，侍奉本身也可以成为传道人灵修的一部分。
“不管是预备讲章、带领聚会，还是探访信徒，我所领受的道都能在这些服侍里显现出来。而借着服侍，我也能更深的看到我对于道的认识的缺乏和不足，最终督促我更加努力地回到道里寻找答案，用话语填补我的缺乏。”他说。
寻求导师的帮助
一位市区中心堂的主任牧师表示，在一次聚会中与视之为导师的牧者相遇。二人谈得很投机，此后一直保持联系。当她遇到难以应对的问题时，会向那位导师求助；那位导师的品格也深深影响了她，带给她很多力量。
广西南宁一间乡镇教会的中年主任牧师非常感谢开创该教会的老牧者，称老牧者就像耶稣带门徒一样培养他。当他成为教会的负责人时，老牧者曾经处理问题的经验成为他胜过难处的力量。更为可贵的是，他从老牧者那里学会了如何依靠神。
一位同样拥有导师的年轻牧师认为，有智慧的人应该自己主动去寻找导师，因为对方也可以帮助匡正自己的信仰。
如果没有固定的导师给予帮助，走出去学习也可以帮助自己打开道路。一位生活在不注重供应传道人地区的年轻牧者，带着同工们外出学习时发现，有的重视供应传道人的教会各项事工开展得很好，教会也复兴。他回去后就努力推动变革，他所在的教会逐渐呈现出截然不同的面貌。如今，他已经在努力把这个理念推广到他所在地区的其他教会。
努力学习，突破困境
华中地区一位在教会服侍40多年的牧师曾在服侍的过程中受到重创，用了两年的时间才从低谷中走出；中途险些放弃在教会的侍奉。在这个过程中她努力学习，帮助自己脱离了困境。
80年代初，神学毕业后她来到了教会开始走全职服侍的道路。起初，她跟着老牧者学习侍奉，从老牧者身上学到了很多宝贵的经验。当老牧者退下去后，她成为了所在地级市基督教三自爱国运动委员会主席以及中心堂的主任牧师。
虽然有很多的压力，但她还能应付。但是因一件事一些信徒受到伤害，不少人离开了教会，她也崩溃了。她选择通过学习相关内容来帮助自己解开这个心结，她也利用所学知识帮助教会的同工。
85后的李传道也是通过自主学习突破了自己所面对的困境——如何提升信徒的灵命——他采用读书的方法。神学毕业后，李传道受邀来到一间不足百人的教会，他是这间教会唯一的全职传道人。在实际的牧养中他发现，神学院三年所学的知识远远不够用，他将目光投向了一本本厚厚的释经书籍。三五年后，他能明感觉到自己的眼界、格局拓宽了，牧养能力显著提高。后来他带着教会的几位同工和骨干信徒开始“啃”厚厚的系统神学书籍。
为教会同工们开展团建活动
一位有多年牧会经验的牧师，意识到需要定期给同工们一个放松的时间，藉此机会帮他们释放压力、重新得力。她所在的教会每年给一百多位同工（包括义工）安排一次三至七天的外地团建活动，费用由教会担负。在团建期间，这位牧师会进行简短的分享，更多的时间留给大家放松、自由交流。起初，教会组织所有的同工一起外出团建，后来发现效果不理想。就改成分小团队分批外出，因为小团队成员之间关系更紧密，效果更好。
辽宁一个地级市的中心堂一年会为同工们举办一两次外出团建的机会。笔者参与的那次是大家一起到海边团建：游泳、烧烤。大家放下了服侍的担子，教会的负责人与同工们的关系变得更近了。
信徒们的安慰也很重要
牧者常常处于给予的位置，实际上他们也需要信徒的回应。有时信徒的一点儿回应能够带给他们很多感动和力量。
湖南一位年轻的传道人坦言，他想要离开教会的次数肯定是他们教会里最多的；是那些信徒对他的爱支撑着他一次次走了过来。这位传道人神学毕业后受邀到一间他并不了解的教会中牧会，二十多岁的他要面对牧养的压力、处理跟同工和信徒之间的关系、经济的压力等问题，期间他多次感到无法胜任想要放弃。然而，每当想到他牧养的那些信徒对他的爱时，他就只好继续负重前行。
他分享了一个令他非常感动的故事：他们教会的奉献很少，他刚来时每周只有两三百元的奉献款，很难供应他的生活。然而，这间教会凭着信心努力地来供应他，这令他既震惊又感动。与此同时，还有信徒不时地将写有他名字的专项奉献投入奉献箱，其中一个不具名的信徒持续一年十个月给他奉献。他把这些珍贵的信封都保存了起来，成为自己继续服侍的动力。
深圳的一位主任牧师也曾从不熟悉的信徒那里得到很多的力量。有一次，她受邀到另外一间教会证道，一位信徒为她提前预备了精心摆放的食物。 令她意想不到的是，那位信徒回到老家还给她邮寄了家乡的土特产，并执意要为她定做一套品牌西装。那位姊妹说：“牧者们都辛苦了，要好好地爱他们。”
当牧者陷入困境中，该怎么办？
Pastors are often in a position where they are needed, as believers seek their help when they face challenges. But what should pastors do when they are overwhelmed by long-term pressure or face problems they can't overcome? During my visits to diverse churches, I’ve encountered several pastors who have crossed this difficult threshold in different ways, as well as learned about some ways to support them.
Walk With the Lord While Affirming the Path of the Cross
Pastor Huang from northern China, who has been in full-time ministry for over 20 years, deeply resonates with this idea. He once said, "We must realize that Jesus walked the path of sacrificing, emptying himself, and giving. Yet, it is also a road of love and hope. If we always live inside our own fantasies and are unwilling to accept reality, then ministry can only become a burden for pastors."
Facing many challenges along the path of service, ministers must be prepared in advance. It is a good step to develop a good habit of spiritual discipline. Pastor Huang strives to use fragments of time in his daily life to read the Bible, meditate, or pray. “I used to think that spiritual devotions and ministry were separate, so I always wanted to set aside time for devotions. But as my responsibilities increased, I found that living by this principle was not very realistic,” he added, suggesting that ministry can also be part of a pastor’s spiritual practice.
“I can gain an accurate and deep understanding of God’s words in these ministries, such as preparing sermons, leading meetings, or visiting believers. Through ministry, I can also more deeply realize my lack of understanding of the word, which drives me to seek answers from God’s words,” he said.
Seek Help From Mentor
A senior pastor at a downtown church shared that she met a mentor during a gathering, and they hit it off straight away. Since then, they’ve stayed in touch. When she encounters problems she can't handle, she seeks help from this mentor, whose character has also deeply influenced and strengthened her.
A middle-aged pastor from a rural church in Nanning, Guangxi, is very grateful for the older pastor who founded the church, saying that this elder mentored him like Jesus taught his disciples. When he became the church leader, the elder pastor’s experiences in problem-solving helped him overcome difficulties. More importantly, he learned from this elder how to rely on God.
A younger pastor who also has a mentor believes that a wise person should seek out a mentor who can strengthen his faith.
If there is no personal mentor for support, going out to learn can also open up new paths. A young pastor living in an area where ministers are not well-supported realized during a study trip that churches that prioritize supporting their pastors tend to have thriving ministries and experience revival. After returning, he worked hard to push for change, and his church began to look completely different. Now, he is working to promote this idea to other churches in his region.
Self-Study
A pastor in central China, who has worked in the church for more than 40 years, was once severely hit during her ministry and took two years to recover from a low point, as she almost gave up serving in the church. During this time, she worked hard to learn, which helped herself out of the predicament.
In the early 1980s, after graduating from seminary, she began her full-time ministry. At first, she learned from an older pastor, gaining many valuable insights. After the elder retired, she became the chair of the municipal TSPM and the senior pastor of the central church.
At first, she managed to work under pressure. However, some believers were hurt due to a particular issue and many left the church, which devastated her. She chose to study related topics to heal herself, using the knowledge to assist her fellow church workers.
Li, a pastor born after 1985, also broke through his difficulties by self-study—particularly in how to improve spiritual lives of believers. After graduating from seminary, he was invited to a church with fewer than 100 members, where he was the only full-time minister. In actual ministry, Li realized that the knowledge he gained from seminary was far from sufficient, so he turned to thick commentaries. Three to five years later, he felt that his vision and capacity had broadened, and his pastoral ability had improved significantly. He then led several staff workers and believers in the church to tackle thick systematic theology books.
Team-Building Activities Organized for Church Workers
A pastor with many years of ministry experience realized that church workers need breaks to release pressure and regain strength. Every year, her church arranges a three- to seven-day trip for over 100 workers (including volunteers), with expenses covered by the church. During these team-building trips, she gave short sermons but leaf most of the time for them to relaxa and communicate. Initially, all staff workers went out together, but later they found it more effective to split into small groups since the relationships between them were closer there.
A central church in a city of Liaoning holds one or two outings for its workers every year. I participated in one where everyone went to the seaside for swimming, and barbecuing. People put down their burdens of ministry, and the church leaders and workers built closer relationships.
Support From Believers Is Also Important
Pastors are often in a position of giving, but in fact, they also need feedbacks from believers. Sometimes positive feedbacks from believers can give pastors much comfort and strength.
A young pastor in Hunan candidly admitted that he had considered leaving the church more often in his church. But it was the love of believers that sustained him through challenges. After graduating from seminary, he was invited to pastor a church he knew little about. In his twenties, he had to face the pressure of ministry, handle relationships between staff workers with believers, and manage financial stress, often feeling overwhelmed by the idea of giving up. However, every time he thought about the love of the believers he was shepherding, he found the strength to continue.
He shared a particularly moving story. The church’s offerings were meager when he first arrived, and the weekly offering was only a few hundred yuan, barely enough for him to live on. But the church worked hard to support him, which both shocked and touched him. Meanwhile, some believers would occasionally put donations marked with his name into the offering box, and one anonymous believer supported him for a year and ten months straight. He kept all those envelopes, which kept him motivated to serve.
A senior pastor in Shenzhen also received love from unfamiliar believers. Once, she was invited to preach at another church, and a meal was carefully arranged for her by one believer. To her surprise, that believer later sent her local specialties from her hometown and insisted on tailoring a brand-name suit for her. This female believer said, "Pastors work so hard that they deserve to be well-loved."
- Edited & translated by Abigial Wu
Pastors are often in a position where they are needed, as believers seek their help when they face challenges. But what should pastors do when they are overwhelmed by long-term pressure or face problems they can't overcome? During my visits to diverse churches, I’ve encountered several pastors who have crossed this difficult threshold in different ways, as well as learned about some ways to support them.
Walk With the Lord While Affirming the Path of the Cross
Pastor Huang from northern China, who has been in full-time ministry for over 20 years, deeply resonates with this idea. He once said, "We must realize that Jesus walked the path of sacrificing, emptying himself, and giving. Yet, it is also a road of love and hope. If we always live inside our own fantasies and are unwilling to accept reality, then ministry can only become a burden for pastors."
Facing many challenges along the path of service, ministers must be prepared in advance. It is a good step to develop a good habit of spiritual discipline. Pastor Huang strives to use fragments of time in his daily life to read the Bible, meditate, or pray. “I used to think that spiritual devotions and ministry were separate, so I always wanted to set aside time for devotions. But as my responsibilities increased, I found that living by this principle was not very realistic,” he added, suggesting that ministry can also be part of a pastor’s spiritual practice.
“I can gain an accurate and deep understanding of God’s words in these ministries, such as preparing sermons, leading meetings, or visiting believers. Through ministry, I can also more deeply realize my lack of understanding of the word, which drives me to seek answers from God’s words,” he said.
Seek Help From Mentor
A senior pastor at a downtown church shared that she met a mentor during a gathering, and they hit it off straight away. Since then, they’ve stayed in touch. When she encounters problems she can't handle, she seeks help from this mentor, whose character has also deeply influenced and strengthened her.
A middle-aged pastor from a rural church in Nanning, Guangxi, is very grateful for the older pastor who founded the church, saying that this elder mentored him like Jesus taught his disciples. When he became the church leader, the elder pastor’s experiences in problem-solving helped him overcome difficulties. More importantly, he learned from this elder how to rely on God.
A younger pastor who also has a mentor believes that a wise person should seek out a mentor who can strengthen his faith.
If there is no personal mentor for support, going out to learn can also open up new paths. A young pastor living in an area where ministers are not well-supported realized during a study trip that churches that prioritize supporting their pastors tend to have thriving ministries and experience revival. After returning, he worked hard to push for change, and his church began to look completely different. Now, he is working to promote this idea to other churches in his region.
Self-Study
A pastor in central China, who has worked in the church for more than 40 years, was once severely hit during her ministry and took two years to recover from a low point, as she almost gave up serving in the church. During this time, she worked hard to learn, which helped herself out of the predicament.
In the early 1980s, after graduating from seminary, she began her full-time ministry. At first, she learned from an older pastor, gaining many valuable insights. After the elder retired, she became the chair of the municipal TSPM and the senior pastor of the central church.
At first, she managed to work under pressure. However, some believers were hurt due to a particular issue and many left the church, which devastated her. She chose to study related topics to heal herself, using the knowledge to assist her fellow church workers.
Li, a pastor born after 1985, also broke through his difficulties by self-study—particularly in how to improve spiritual lives of believers. After graduating from seminary, he was invited to a church with fewer than 100 members, where he was the only full-time minister. In actual ministry, Li realized that the knowledge he gained from seminary was far from sufficient, so he turned to thick commentaries. Three to five years later, he felt that his vision and capacity had broadened, and his pastoral ability had improved significantly. He then led several staff workers and believers in the church to tackle thick systematic theology books.
Team-Building Activities Organized for Church Workers
A pastor with many years of ministry experience realized that church workers need breaks to release pressure and regain strength. Every year, her church arranges a three- to seven-day trip for over 100 workers (including volunteers), with expenses covered by the church. During these team-building trips, she gave short sermons but leaf most of the time for them to relaxa and communicate. Initially, all staff workers went out together, but later they found it more effective to split into small groups since the relationships between them were closer there.
A central church in a city of Liaoning holds one or two outings for its workers every year. I participated in one where everyone went to the seaside for swimming, and barbecuing. People put down their burdens of ministry, and the church leaders and workers built closer relationships.
Support From Believers Is Also Important
Pastors are often in a position of giving, but in fact, they also need feedbacks from believers. Sometimes positive feedbacks from believers can give pastors much comfort and strength.
A young pastor in Hunan candidly admitted that he had considered leaving the church more often in his church. But it was the love of believers that sustained him through challenges. After graduating from seminary, he was invited to pastor a church he knew little about. In his twenties, he had to face the pressure of ministry, handle relationships between staff workers with believers, and manage financial stress, often feeling overwhelmed by the idea of giving up. However, every time he thought about the love of the believers he was shepherding, he found the strength to continue.
He shared a particularly moving story. The church’s offerings were meager when he first arrived, and the weekly offering was only a few hundred yuan, barely enough for him to live on. But the church worked hard to support him, which both shocked and touched him. Meanwhile, some believers would occasionally put donations marked with his name into the offering box, and one anonymous believer supported him for a year and ten months straight. He kept all those envelopes, which kept him motivated to serve.
A senior pastor in Shenzhen also received love from unfamiliar believers. Once, she was invited to preach at another church, and a meal was carefully arranged for her by one believer. To her surprise, that believer later sent her local specialties from her hometown and insisted on tailoring a brand-name suit for her. This female believer said, "Pastors work so hard that they deserve to be well-loved."
- Edited & translated by Abigial Wu
What Should Pastors Do When They Face Difficulties?
