The Making of a Pastor

Psalm 139:15-16

The Making of a Pastor

 

“You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, the days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.” Psalm 139:15-16 The Message

 

There is a plan…

 

A plan for you and me – each one of us.

 

As the verse says, I have been built from “nothing into something.” God has purposefully woven people, events and experiences into the fabric of my life. The plan? As far as I can tell, it has been to shape me into a man who is able to share the love, hope, grace and presence of Christ with others through communicating, caring, encouraging and leading – in a word, a pastor. There are times in our lives when we have epiphanies or moments of clarity – and realize that all along there has a design and plan – authored by someone else – God. If I can claim any success in this life, I certainly can’t take credit for it – it has been all Him. Looking back, I can see the plan with clarity. I wanted to share some key parts of how God was working in my life to call me to be a pastor.  

 

The Kitchen

My first call in ministry was to be a counselor and my “sanctuary” was the small kitchen of our upstairs garden apartment and I had one member. I was about ten years old. It was when, for better or worse, I began to be a listener and encourager for my mom. For sure, this was not normal or healthy. And looking back now, I understand it all. But at the time, it seemed very natural to be a good and helpful son and try to listen and understand my mother’s pain and struggles. I know I was mature for my age and certainly this experience contributed to that. Growing up, both my parents and others would frequently say to me, “Lighten up; you are so serious.” I don’t think any of us realized at the time that I was serious because I was already an adult. But I learned how to be comfortable and compassionately engaged with another’s pain, tears (so many tears), and heartbreaks. And I learned how to be patient and persevering in prayer. I served in this kitchen ministry all the way to the end of her life. Careful observers at her visitation would remember that for most of the hours, I stood near her and her casket. I was still guarding her. It was my job – to walk with her, all the way home. I kept/keep the secrets. I bore the burdens. I was the wind beneath her broken wings.  

 

Conversations

“Can I go upstairs and get my Bible?” the joyful, pretty freshman said to me as she dashed up to her dorm room. “This is a unique kind of date,” I thought to myself as I watched her with wonder. And it was the beginning of a now twenty-year journey with the woman who would become my wife, Jennifer. Her joy and enthusiasm was and is a great balance to my seriousness and she awakened in me a very living Christian spirituality. Prior to meeting Jenny, my faith was “private.” I loved reading the Bible and had many theological thoughts, but it was through our conversations that I was able to start talking about it and sharing it. She opened the door for me in so many ways and certainly for going into ministry.  

 

Spokesman

For a little over two years, I was the spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. It was a very visible, high pressured, exciting job which I loved most of the time. It consisted of speaking to print, radio and sometimes television reporters on a daily basis on a wide variety of topics – all to be quoted for publication or broadcast. In my mind, I wasn’t just a spokesperson, I was the “protector” or “shepherd” of my department and its people against several (wolves) enemies – the media, the other political party and others. In many ways, it was a great experience, in my role as pastor, I function as a kind of spokesperson for God via His Word. When I write Living Waters or work on sermons, I am asking the question, “Lord what do you want to say to your people this week?” 

 

Evidence

I hadn’t seen this friend in a long time. And then Jenny and I saw her at my ten year reunion. And I can’t tell you how or why, but I was concerned about her. I had always prayed for her on my “list” along with others since I had met her in the sixth grade. But this was different. It felt like God was saying “keep praying for her.” And ever since then, I’ve had an aspiration to recognize, reach out to, and lift up people whose struggles may not be very visible and may feel far away from God – the “one mores” of the world. As well, learning to communicate hope to people I can’t see or hear and really don’t know their language – in other words, communicating by faith. Both of these led to the motivation for writing my book, Giving Faith a Second Chance, which is essentially an open letter of hope. The blessing in this has been that God has shaped me to seek to be evidence for how much He cares for His children – whether they are close or far away.  

 

Purpose

I was on my way. After leaving the state department, I was a director at a small public relations firm. We were winning state-wide awards, and had a strong client list. And then “he” happened. One of my two treasures, my son Brian. And just looking at him started a revolution in my mind. I asked myself, “How do I want Brian (and now Madelyn too) to remember me in my life?” And it is through that question that the idea of going into ministry was finally revealed. All of the things I had done and experienced all came together exactly ten years ago this summer. Asking that question really forced me to think what my life, my purpose on this earth was. And the answer was, “I want to be with people in the triumphs and tragedies of life – sharing and encouraging as a representative of Jesus.” As God usually does, the answers were all there, it just had to be revealed at the right time. And so I really was on my way, on God’s way – starting seminary and being more formally shaped for ministry…

 

But I had been on the way the whole time, sometimes aware, sometimes not. “All the stages of my life were spread out before you, the days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day (Psalm 139:16).” I believe this without a doubt – not just when life is good. Not just when it is going the way I want it to. And nothing is wasted from God’s perspective. Even the worst and shattering parts of our lives – He wants to convert them into healing and strength for others and signs pointing to Him. If we would only be more open to Him using us in this way. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever (Ephesians 3:20)!”

 

I thank you for listening/reading this week and I encourage you to reflect on God’s plan for your life – from where has He brought you? Where does He have you now? Where is He going to take you?

 

Amen.

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Going Forth

Isaiah 55:11

Going Forth

 

“so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” From the RSV

 

“It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” From the NLT

 

 

You know, growing up I remember that most of my reading revolved around two resources. I wasn’t a big Dr. Seuss reader or stuff like that – maybe some Richard Scarry J. When I had free reading time, I would randomly pick a volume from our World Book Encyclopedia set and read the articles in them. And, I read the Bible, especially stories of Jesus doing amazing things. I really liked that – Jesus healing, calming the storms and other stuff. I know, sounds kind of nerdy. It is also a bit peculiar given my Catholic background in that, at the time, there didn’t seem to be a lot of emphasis on reading the Bible. But yet, there I was reading a Bible given to me by my third grade CCD teacher, Jim. I can still see his inscription on the page.  

 

What a gift he gave me. He couldn’t have known the impact giving me a Bible would have and the impact it would have many, many people because of my reading it. It is kind of like throwing a stone in a pond, the ripple effect.

 

Here I am, less than a week from my trip to Africa to bring God’s Word to a people who have very little access to the Gospel. Many of whom have never heard it and will never be able to read it because of illiteracy.

 

One of the things we did in Africa was meet with groups of pastors. And many times, when it was my turn to address them I would say, “Brothers, you and I know what it means to know Jesus (through the Word); you and I know that life without Jesus – is no life! So that is why we have come here, to bring the Word of life to people so that they may hear it and have life in Christ.” And I really think and mean that. That is what has been driving me in this project.

 

When we think of me going to Africa, I fully admit that it doesn’t make sense on a lot of levels. And when I first got there, I did experience a time of “What have I done! What am I doing in Africa!” But I also remember something my Dad said to me a few years ago. He said, “CB, you go to places and to people that few or none of us can go or get to.” And he was right, over my life, before ministry and in ministry, God has given me this gift, though uncomfortable and uncertain most of the time, of reaching and connecting with places and people that have never been reached or have been forgotten of left behind.

 

So in that light, the trip to Africa seems not so strange. But a little bit like my book Giving Faith a Second Chance which speaks to those who feel alienated, rejected and distanced from God and church, this trip was part of my life’s purpose – extending a hand of love and compassion to those in need, those in prisons and dark places.

 

And always, my outstretched hand is strengthened, in fact my hand can only reach out because of the power of the Word and Spirit. My love for God’s Word and how it has transformed the way I live, think, and act. Obviously, a long way to go, but still, all those years of reading it has shaped me into this instrument for bringing the Word. I have always loved that my parents gave me the name Christopher, which means Christ-bearer or bringer.

 

So often on the trip to Africa we saw the power of God’s Word at work so visibly. One of the clearest stories was on the first day we were there. We arrived in the evening and our hosts; Gabriel and Geoffrey asked me if I would like to preach the next morning at a church. I had not prepared for that, I was prepared to talk about the Treasure (audio New Testament units that we brought with us), but I said sure. So I prayed and asked God to lead me to a passage that would be a word for this congregation, Geoffery’s church. So we went there the next morning and we were very welcomed. The pastor then starts to explain that the night before he had been working on his message and was having a lot of trouble. He asked God why he was having such a hard time. God’s answer, he said, was “You are not preaching tomorrow; I am sending you someone else to preach the Word.” As you might imagine, the pastor was a little concerned. A pastor without a message on Sunday morning, hoping, trusting that someone else was going to show up? But the pastor trusted. And about two hours later, Geoffery called to say that there was a pastor from the US who was willing to preach the next morning.   

 

But it gets better.

 

After I preached from Acts 2:42-47, the pastor stands up and says, “Church, I am holding back tears, because of how God is speaking to our church. This brother (me) could not have known that we had just studied this passage on Friday and Saturday as part of our leadership retreat about how God is going to lead us in the future. So God has sent him here to encourage us forward in our mission.” With God, everything has purpose – no coincidences!

 

And that was just the first day. Over and over throughout the week, all of us saw the power of God’s Word and Spirit just moving in front of us, opening doors, building bridges, producing miracles, giving life.

 

We talk a lot in our churches of being all about the Word. And I am sure we mean it. But I am more convinced than ever of that and that my official title is Minister of Word and Sacrament. Do I fully understand the depths of this? Not sure I ever could. But certainly when I look at my life and I look at this trip, I came a little closer.

 

I saw this verse fulfilled over and over again – “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it (Isaiah 55:11).” It reminded me that the most powerful force in this world – stronger than military might, stronger than violence and bullies, stronger than love and hate, stronger than lust and greed, stronger disease and poverty, stronger than death and sin, is God’s Word and Spirit – it is the only power that can change this world. Name any situation in life or in the world – and when you bring God’s Word and Spirit to it – it is changed.

 

I went to Africa to bring God’s Word to a people that have never heard it and we have unleashed something so powerful that it could change a nation. I have preached hundreds of sermons and written hundreds of Living Waters to share the Word as I have heard the Lord speak it to me – to draw people closer to Jesus. I have sent Bibles to cousins and childhood friends thinking it was the best gift and best way I could love them. All my life, starting with a gift of a Bible, I have been reading and thinking about Scripture and have been shaped and formed by it. My life in and for the Word has “produced blessed fruit” and “prospered” in my life and everywhere He has sent me to bring it.

 

And as long as He wills it, I will go forth to faithfully bring His Word by the power of His Spirit.

 

Amen.

 

Discussion Questions

1. What is the value or importance of God’s Word in your life?
2. How have you seen it work in your own life or in others?
3. If there is a part of your life that needs change, have you tried applying God’s Word to it? Why not?
4. Think of someone with whom you can sharea a passage or a Bible. How about today? 

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What it means to be a pastor

By Rev. Christopher B. Wolf

“Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” says the LORD in Isaiah 43:18-19.

Though these words were written thousands of years ago, they speak anew for being a pastor today.

What does it mean to be a minister today? There are five cornerstones:

Leading with Vision

Spiritual leadership requires the ability to listen, to respond to, and to effectively communicate God’s desire and will for a congregation – His vision for His people at a given time. At the same time, spiritual leaders must also be able to perceive and name the very real challenges that the community faces. It would be easier to look away or focus on “other things” or leave in place the illusion of “everything is great.” But spiritual leadership calls for something much more daring – to speak the truth of the Gospel to the truth of life today. All over the nation, families are struggling economically, young people are falling into self-destructive behaviors like drugs and inhalants; and there is also the problem of violence and abuse in homes and relationships; and there seems to be a collective turning away from God. Therefore, leading with vision is acknowledging, and yet seeing through, the sin, chaos, and confusion, in order to steadfastly communicate what God’s wants to accomplish.     

Preaching with Urgency

The humorous image of the congregation falling asleep during a sermon is on one hand all too often true, but is also the very opposite its purpose. Given the power of the Gospel, and given the terrifying prospect of so many aspects of life today, each Sunday, each sermon, should be a rallying wake-up call for congregations, not a time to hit the snooze button. The Bible addresses the issues that young people face, choices that parents and older adults have to make, as well as all other life situations. It is up to preachers today through the power of the Holy Spirit, to show how the Word of God speaks boldly to this very moment. The radical love of Christ, the clear calls to sacrifice and prioritizing, as well as concern for neighbors, are all articulated in the Scriptures and must be communicated above and through the noise and confusion of life today.

Caring for Congregation Members

The vocation of ministry carries such responsibility and demands great compassion – which cannot be manufactured. There is no other job or position in which people allow you into living rooms, hospital rooms and often the darkest places of their lives. And frankly, there are very few jobs that require the amount of love and compassion it takes to truly and effectively care for God’s people. Consequently, to be a pastor today requires the constant remembrance of this awesome privilege and the trust that is granted.

Caring for Self and Family

As complex and rewarding as ministry has become, there have also been destructive results. Minister burnout appears to be up in all faith traditions in addition to fewer people joining the ministry. It is crucial for pastors to care for themselves and their families as they care for the congregation. This also means that a minister has to let the congregation care for him or her. It is often hard for those who enter into caregiver professions like ministry to let others care for them. But I think of it this way: If I am not at my best, my service and care for the congregation suffers. So caring for myself is part of ministry.

Empowering Church Members to Meet Community Needs

Many pastors and churches have neglected their role as voices and agents for faith and values within their communities. Isn’t it clear now that the “decline” of our society, as far as values and morals, corresponds with the dissipating voices and influence of churches and other faith communities? Therefore, it is time for pastors and churches to regain and restore their prophetic voices when speaking to power and when speaking to society. To be a minister is to educate, energize and lead congregations to greater involvement in their communities. The head of the church, Jesus Christ, fully engaged His context. Likewise, the body of Christ – the church – must also.

And that is why wherever there is pain, wherever there is oppression, wherever there is suffering, injustice, loneliness and hopelessness – that is where I must go and lead others to bring the loving, hopeful, liberating, saving words and presence of Christ. In sanctuaries, living rooms, neighborhoods, hospital rooms, streets, classrooms, workplaces, courtrooms, and legislative chambers – this is where I must go.

And I must – despite all the rage, destruction, and desolation of this world – have the faith to believe that God is doing new things in our communities and in our lives and to perceive them springing forth.

Amen.

Discussion Questions

1. What shapes your view of pastors today? How does that image compare with these above cornerstones?
2. What do you think being a pastor means today?
3. What role does the congregation play in the success or failure of a pastor?
4. Are the above realistic expectations or are they too much? Can anyone realistically fulfill these? Why or why not?
5. How would you prioritize the above five cornerstones? Please explain why.

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