“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” – 1 Peter 4:10
The pastor is an instant leader in his or her appointed church and community. The profession offers many layers to excel in God-appointed gifts. The most common place that most pastors are found is at the pulpit to present and to feed God’s words into the heart of congregants. The pastor’s office begins with the sermon, and filters into every day of the week. It is the start of bringing people into Christian community.
Christian pastoral office, to build community, consist of many shepherds. Some shepherds are associate pastors, some work in youth ministry, others may do outreach. There’s the pastor’s assistant, volunteers to manage, instructors, and so on. All a blended family that make up the whole.
As a new pastor, where is your strength? Or as Dietrich Bonhoeffer suggested, how do you honor the Christ that is present in your community? As any stages or professional development in ministry, there’s a spark inside you that longs to be blown and bring to life that inspiration, that idea, that innovation. Allow the process to develop into the pastor God has appointed you to be. Your gifts may not be at the pulpit, it may be somewhere else! Yet, you still play an important role in the building of HIS kingdom.
Your pastoral commission, calls you to live out God’s teachings. Here are some basic steps to gracefully fulfill this work.
- Recognize and embrace this calling.
- Ask for consistent prayer and feedback.
- Be willing to go where God calls you.
- Let your motivation be to have everlasting life with the Father.
- Build on your emotional intelligence.
- Be a positive influence to others in your community.
- Ask questions to God, wait for answers, and answer to HIM only.
- Always remember that this appointment is God’s request and not of man.
Honor your Gifts that God has given you. Explore and develop them to serve HIM in all that you do.
Rev. M. Charlotte Oliver
Reference:
Bonhoeffer,D. (1954). Life together: The classic exploration of Christian community. New York, NY: HarperOne.
