I recently read an article entitled “12 Practices of Highly Successful Pastors Who Love People.” WAIT! DON’T LEAVE YET! It made some good points. One quote it used was:
The best thing about ministry is the people. The worst thing about the ministry is the people. Unknown
I would almost have to concur. Because ministry is full of people-the good, the bad, and the ugly-it will always be at their whim. I shouldn’t say always. The man who longs for peoples’ approval will be shot/shot at often. The man who chooses to follow God’s leading will be shot/shot at but has something different: protection.
I also realize most…almost all…of my readers are not pastors. So I thought I would take a few of the practices and apply them to the “everyday Joe” who does their thing on a daily basis.
1. You can’t fake it. You either love people or you don’t. They will know it. So will you.
2. You will pray for people early and often. None of this “I’ll pray for you” and then not. While I fall down in this area way too often, there is a young lady visiting in Canada right now whom I promised to pray for every day. There is a friend visiting relatives in San Diego who is prayed for every day.
3. You look for opportunities to serve. We are trying to harvest a culture of service here.
4. You give people hope. Not false hope, but real hope. Don’t be all gloom and doom.
5. You are accessible. It isn’t easy being someone who loves/cares, but it is worth it.
There are more, but I don’t want this to go too long. I’d like to encourage you to read the original article and draw your own conclusions. And by the way, don’t be fooled by what you have always termed “successful.” Our view is sometimes skewed.
Can you add any practices to this list? Which one did like the most (from this one or the original)?
I obviously don’t pray for people early or ever. I think looking for opportunities to serve is where I am at now. I am thinking about being a CASA volunteer. Being accessible makes no sense.That just means you aren’t dead and will answer your phone.
It is admirable to look for opportunities to help. CASA needs your help. If you need a reference… Then again, you may say, “Oh no!” LOL As for accessible: it is sort of an expectation of my job.
I think it is an expectation for everyone’s job. Some days I wish it weren’t.
Yeah. Sometimes you just want to be left alone. π
I think the “accessible” here may mean something else from “reachable.” I think it could also mean that you’re open to people and they are not afraid to come to you and talk freely with you.
Here in mainly-Orthodox countries of post-Soviet, the power distance is more pronounced than in the US, therefore for a “mere mortal” a pastor can be WAY higher on the vertical in perception, and, as a result, the pastor would not be as accessible (because why bother the Pastor with my silly little troubles)…
I think you are right Zee and given your example you understand that. So many are either on their “throne” or hidden away in their office and no one can get to them.
The list really does contain the “critical mass” of abilities for a successful pastor. I would add “you are an example to others” or the corollary “love people as Jesus loves you”. I am most drawn to pastors who live out what they preach, not in a necessarily overt manner, but with humbleness.
I think it is admirable, Daniel, that you look for pastors whom you find “real” and humble. Both good qualities.
You anticipate people’s needs instead of reacting.
Good one Larry. Being proactive is so much better.
I liked the one about hope. There’s something inspiring about the pastors I know and respect. I’ve seen them go through difficult stages in their lives and yet, they still inspire.
And #7 in Dodd’s list kind of shuts down the possibility for me to be a pastor: Highly Successful Pastors Who Love People Canβt Wait To Talk To People….
That is a good one Zee. You mean you don’t want to talk to people, you…you…introvert? j/k you know that. It is hard for an introvert to “put themselves out there” but I know it is done. THAT is not one of my problems. π
I can do it, but it costs me energy… therefore, I end up not being able to help anyone else for a couple of hours afterwards.
You bring up a really good point. When a person’s personality is not extrovert-ish, trying to be so is tiring. It wears a person down. I applaud when you do, but I’m sure you pick your spots wisely.
It’s really convicting when you mention saying that you’ll pray for somebody and then not following through. I’m so guilty of that so often, and it’s been something that I need to improve upon. I wonder if praying for people regularly will actually help you love people more.
It is something I definitely need to work on for sure Loren. The sad/good thing is we are not alone in our struggle.
I remember a pastor friend, upon saying good bye (he lives in the US while I live in Ukraine, and we were taking a class together in Moscow), said “I can’t promise I’ll always pray for you, but I’ll pray for you whenever God puts you on my heart.”
I think that helps with the issue of forgetting to pray for someone. Granted, if you do promise that you’ll pray for some issue, it’s better to write a note for yourself so you don’t forget.
I’m getting better about saying I’ll pray for folks and actually following through. It helps tremendously to keep a list of names and needs on my desk so I will stop and prayer for those people whenever I look at it.
Blessings, Bill!
I liked your #4 Give people hope. There are too many naysayers in the world already. I am reminded of Philippians 2:14 “Do everything without complaining and arguing. . .” Few of us live this out.