The conference this year was different for me in many ways. Most notably, I was attending the conference, as Pastor of Christian Education of Shiloh MBC NOT Pastor of Philippi MBC. Colleagues I've met over the few years at the conference shared with me their encouragement and excitement of my new assignment and prayed God's choice blessings upon my new work. I was greatly encourage by the kind words expressed from all of the brethren.
In deciding what classes to take this year, I was intrigued by the workshop entitled, "What Every Associate Minister Should Know" being taught my Pastor Stephen G. Brown. Pastor Brown has spent the last 15 years on staff of the Concord Church, and the Lord blessed him this past February in being called to Senior Pastor ministry of the Greater Bethlehem MBC there in Dallas, Texas. I felt that I would be able to glean some great nuggets of wisdom from someone who has been an Associate for such a long time. I was in for a treat.
He introduced the class by having us look at the life of Joseph. The story of a man who had found favor with the Lord by being a good steward over another man's property/responsibilities. In the context of Joseph's life, Rev. Brown reminded us of how we (associates) treat another man's ministry, will directly affect how God blesses our ministries as well. From Potipher's House, to inside the Prison walls, even all the way to the Pharaoh's Palace, Joseph wasn't looking to make a name for himself, he simply made better his leader's stuff. He found favor with God because of his commitment to the task with which God assigned him to. He found favor with man because everything he did, was done in a spirit of humility.
That resonated with me seeing as though, my new ministry assignment transition would be deemed "unusual" to many. Seeing as though I've gone from being a Pastor of a local congregation, to now serving under a Pastor, as a Staff Pastor. Many have questioned as to why would I do something like that at all. This post isn't designed to "explain" myself, other than the fact that I have no doubt this was the Lord's doing. As this assignment wasn't anything I knew about nor was searching for.
But it made me think about my desire to want to be like Joseph. My task isn't to outshine the Pastor. Undermine or undercut him in pursuit of looking "good" in front of the congregation. I simply want to do the assignment with which God has entrusted into my hands. To help serve the ministry as best I can, while giving God the glory, and helping Pastor's vision for the ministry become a reality.
This is also a PSA for current ministers: Don't spend your time trying to make yourself look good at the expense of making your Pastor look bad. You may can preach better, or you may think you're ready to take the helm, but before you can lead, be comfortable with following.
In too many churches, the Pastor is the central and only figure people recognize in the church. So every aspiring preacher wants to be the Pastor feeling as though without that title, no one will take you or your calling seriously. I'm here to encourage some preacher to NOT follow that line of thinking. God has uniquely gifted all of us for ministry, but we must know and be comfortable in the place where God as gifted us and being the Senior Pastor isn't always the place we should be.
Lord, I want to be like Joseph. Comfortable with wherever you place me so that I can be used for your glory. May each of us, whether preachers, or lay persons, embody some of the characteristics of this faithful, humble, and dedicated servant of God.
