When I first decided to answer the call to ministry in the mid 1990's, I had a pastor ask me, "Are you sure there is nothing else you want to do with your life?  Because if you have any doubt in your mind that there is some other career you could do that would make you happy, do that instead."  

It struck me as an odd, and a fairly unsupportive statement to share with a young woman just starting out in the process towards ordination.  

 Why would he say this to me?  He wanted me to be sure, because he knew the statistics that I would be facing in this career.  Facts such as, there are roughly 1,700 pastors that leave the ministry each month. Or that only 1 out of 10 ministers will actually retire as a minister in some form.  From seminary, 50% of those pastors starting out will quit after the first 5 years.  Of those who continue, 90% report working between 55-75 hours per week, with 90% feeling they do not have the knowledge for all the skills needed in the job.   As a result 70% of all pastors fight depression and 80% believe ministry has negatively affected their families.  (Statistics from The Fuller Institute, Barna Group and Ministry, Inc.)  Now I understand why he said this to me.

And I have to admit, he was right, ministry is very challenging work. 

 People often ask me what I do during the week, wondering if Sunday mornings are my only area of responsibility.  However, the days are filled with much of the same schedule most professions: meetings, calls, emails, managing projects, collaborating and coordinating.

But then there are the parts unique to ministry: teaching Bible studies, visiting those who are ill, praying with groups, mentoring new ministers, visioning for the future of the church, inviting people who are new to the faith, starting innovative programs for growth, building relationships with our community, working for justice and mercy in places it does not exist, walking with people in the most challenging trials, and celebrating with folks the most joyful moments of their lives.   Those are the moments that keep me going.  There are some days I do the balancing of it better than others. Most days I fail to manage it all well.  And every day I rely on God's grace to get me through.  

I share this with you not because you might be interested in my schedule, but to reflect on what it means to continue in church leadership amidst the challenges and demands it brings.  Because you see, I am not the only one in ministry in this church. We all are, and it takes us all to come together as a body of Christ.   It is important that all of us are sure of not only what we are doing but why we are doing it, in order to avoid being overwhelmed.   We are a people who must be sure, not of the results of what we do, but of the trust we have in a God who is beyond our own understanding.  When we start to waver in our leadership is when we lose connection with why we are serving in the first place.

As we listen to our Scripture reading for this week from Acts 1: 21-26, we hear of the disciple who replaced Judas.  This leader's name was Matthias.  And that is all the Bible says about him. Traditions from other sources and legend say that he preached the gospel in Judea, and then in Aethioipia and was stoned to death there.  But for the most part, we don't know a lot about what he did or what he accomplished.  This leadership model helps us understand the importance of shared power in the church.  It is not about the individual and what they do or don't do, but about knowing who we serve and why we serve, and doing so faithfully. 

Because whether ordained or lay ministry, we don't often see the fruit of our labor. Often times we are just planting seeds or tilling the soil hoping and praying for something to take root. We work hard and listen harder, for God's guidance and direction in the midst of keeping people inspired and motivated.  This is not a job for those who want instant gratification.  There is patience, diligence, and dedication required.   And the most important thing is that we offer ourselves up to do the work of God with a cheerful heart and a hopeful spirit.  This is not about what we can do individually, but what God can do through us as leaders for Christ's mission in the world.  We are called to trust in God's work and not our own.  We are just continuing God's story that started with these apostles like Matthias so long ago.  We are adding ourselves to the number of those who feel the call to serve and answer.

This week in worship we will celebrate those who are answering a call through our congregational care ministries.  It will be a time to celebrate how God continues to call people to ordained ministry and lay ministry.   And it is vital to train and equip these persons to do the Lord's work, to continue on the tradition of the early church of lay ministry.  It will require  dedication, diligence and patience.  Like all of us who have served as church leaders, they may never know the results of their efforts. But they will all be filled with the knowledge that this is the most important work any of us will ever do. 

And of that... I'm sure.

You are a blessing,

Alex