The Challenges and Joys of a Young Pastor (part 2)

Last week I shared the five challenges I face as a young pastor, and the feedback was interesting to say the least! I do however appreciate all the feedback I get; thanks for taking time to read. I also want to mention that I am glad that I began with the challenges, and I am ending with the joys in this week. So here are six joys of a young pastor.

The joy of learning from others

The joy about being young and a new pastor is that you have many shoulders to stand on. There is a legion of people to lean on and learn from, both dead and alive. I have had the joy of working and learning from fellow elders in our local church and many members in the congregation. I have had the joy of learning from pastors from other churches who have taken the time to invest their time and energies in me. They have over the few years welcomed me in their home and indulged my phone calls asking them complicated questions. I have also enjoyed the privilege of reading about and from other men who have served as pastors through church history. Whether in conversation, observation or reading I am glad that I do not have to reinvent the wheel, and I have the joy of learning from the experiences of others.

The joy of experiencing firsts

A new pastorate comes with the joy of experiencing “firsts”. You have the joy (satisfaction) of experiencing your first elders meeting, your first members meeting (I am Baptist we love those), the first salvation, the first baptism, the first wedding, the first child dedication, the first project, the first missions endeavor, the first funeral and your first conflict (the joy comes from overcoming the conflict through biblical reconciliation), etc. There is an excitement that comes from experiencing these things for the first time that makes them such joyful experiences.

The joy of being deeply involved in people's lives

Pastoring people means you have the privilege of getting to know them at a deeper and more intimate level. Part of the reason is that you get to see people behind the ‘veil’. Every now and then you see people at their most vulnerable such that it either sours the relationship or it develops into a meaningful one (as is often the case). This is an awesome responsibility, and the development of these deep and meaningful relationships is priceless.

The joy of preaching the Word to the people you love

I love preaching. I love preaching so much that is about the only thing I cannot (almost) say no to (to my wife’s annoyance). There is great joy that comes from preaching if you love preaching; there is even greater joy that comes from preaching to the people you love dearly. To do so week in and week out is an enormous bonus.

The joy of seeing souls saved

There is a great blessing to hearing testimonies of people getting saved. Not just as a result of my preaching or personal evangelistic efforts but from the evangelistic efforts of the church as a whole. There is an overwhelming and satisfying joy in hearing people share how they were led to surrender their lives to Christ but also from hearing members of the church share how they had a successful evangelistic effort. It makes you want to shout hallelujah and cry at the same time.

The joy of the “aha!” moment

As you teach and shepherd the people, your eager desire is to see them apply the truths you are preaching and teaching like yesterday! If you have taught effectively (and of course the preacher always thinks he was very clear), the people should live it. Sadly, life does not work that way. There is a reason Paul told Timothy to teach and exhort with all patience. So, you can imagine the disappointment young preachers endure, having waxed eloquently, only to find people have not understood or applied it. Thankfully, as you faithfully preach the Word, you begin to get “aha” moments. People begin to see and apply the truths as they see it from Scripture. It is then that as a young pastor, you also get an ‘aha’ moment!

With all that said, it will be helpful to conclude with a few thoughts in order to give perspective.

1.      Our ultimate joy is found in Christ alone and not the blessings of ministry. So while these things bring us joy, our joy is not dependent on them.

2.      The joys of ministry far outweigh the challenges we face in ministry. And our toils here on earth will be nothing compared to the joy that will be ours when we see Christ face to face.

3.      It is disturbing when pastors, young or old, are grumpy and always complaining. The joy of the Lord is our strength!

The Challenges and Joys of a Young Pastor

Last month marked five years since I was officially ordained into pastoral ministry, and last week was my second anniversary as a lead elder in the church. Pastoral ministry comes with a lot of unique challenges and joys; these challenges and joys become more peculiar the younger you are. I will share the challenges this week and hopefully share the joys next week. Let me state that this is a personal reflection, so I am in no way suggesting that all young pastors face these challenges.

Un-informed zeal

Zeal is a blessing of youth. Young people are eager to have things done yesterday. When you add an aggressive personality to young zeal, it is often a deadly combination! The problem with this combination is that it is often accompanied by lack of know how. Even the Scriptures warn about the dangers of un-informed zeal (Prov. 19:2, Rom. 10:1-3). 

As a young pastor, I often find that I have overemphasized what one sermon can do and what can be achieved in a year. Yet, at the same time, I have underestimated what the Lord can do with one sermon, and the work He can achieve in a year. Un-informed zeal often leads you to want to change people and then you get impatient when people are not getting it, forgetting that it is God’s work to change people. In my un-informed zeal, I have found that i often do not know when to pick my battles. I am eager to jump into every fight that comes my way, when it would be better for me to let some things go.

Struggle with sin

This is perhaps the biggest challenge of them all. There is a reason Paul urged Timothy to flee youthful passions. The battle with sin is a huge challenge. The hard part about it is that it is unrelenting. Because of my inclination to sin, I have to be daily on guard so that I do not fall into sin either in thought, word, attitude or deed. An even greater challenge is cultivating an attitude of confession and repentance of sin.

This challenge is often made worse by the busy nature of ministry such that if one is not careful they do not have time to take care of their souls. You can easily deceive yourself into thinking all is well, that it is possible to go on “doing ministry” while your heart is far from God and no one knows. 

Identity crisis

There is a real danger for young pastors to feel guilty for being young, largely because of the stigma and mockery that comes with young age. Interestingly this comes from both those who are older than you as well as your age mates. This can then cause a young pastor to disregard his youth. There have been times I have thought to myself; “I am too young to be doing this, and why can’t I just be a normal young man!” It is for this reason that Paul urged Timothy not to let anyone look down on him because of his youthfulness. Instead Paul instructs him to be an example, and when you look at the passage, Timothy is to be an example of a righteous Christian. It is said churches want a 28 year old pastor with 35 years of experience! 

Other people’s burdens

Nothing can prepare you for the emotional, mental, physical and psychological demands of shepherding people. From the highs of rejoicing with those who are rejoicing, to the lows of weeping with those who are weeping or being devastated by a member who falls into sin, to enduring attacks on you and your family (attacks on my wife are the hardest to bare), and still I need to joyfully pastor these people! From the betrayal of someone you have loved, to encouraging someone who is out of employment and struggling financially, the list really is endless, and the rollercoaster ride can take its toll on a young minister and if not checked can lead to depression. 

Phillip Brooks sums it up perfectly when he says “to be a true minister to men is always to accept new happiness and new distress… the man who gives himself to other men can never be a wholly sad man but no more can he be a man of unclouded gladness. To him shall come every deeper consecration before untasted joy, but in the same cup shall be mixed a sorrow that it was beyond his power to feel before”[1]. It makes one resonate with Paul’s cry: “who is sufficient for these things.”

The incipient desire for success

Just like everyone else, young pastors want to do well. That in and of itself is not wrong. It is in fact a healthy desire. However, the desire for success can become the driving force, which is often sacrificed on the altar of faithfulness. This desire, coupled with the church growth movement that is often devoid of biblical principles and full of pragmatic, man centered thinking, results in preoccupation with building reputations, getting numbers, self-promotion and massive investment in programs, which in turn reduces the pastorate to a program coordinator.  Young ministers often face the temptation of getting success at all cost instead of pursuing godliness. The end result is often shipwreck.

Lest I discourage some young man somewhere about to answer the call, here are some encouraging words.

1.     The Lord knows the weaknesses and limitations of those He calls, and yet he chooses to use them anyway. Remember you are an instrument in the hands of a sovereign Lord. Your ministry is not dependent on your know-how or ability but on your humility before the Lord as he uses you.

2.      You are not all knowing. Shut up and learn! There is really no nice way of saying that. In His wisdom the Lord made the church a body so that there is inter-dependency. Do not try to be a jack of all trades.

3.      Find joy in your limitations. You are a mere man; God will not judge you on your success but your faithfulness. The farmer sowed the seed and went to sleep because he understood that it is the Lord who gives the harvest.

4.      Thankfully we do not have to come up with any tricks or schemes. Our primary task is simple and straightforward. Preach the Word!

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[1] The influence of Jesus (London: H, R. Allenson, 1895, 191).

The Rise of the Reformed Baptist Movement in Zambia

I recently attended a conference with a group of pastors from five continents and 15 countries. A number of them had heard about the vibrant and growing Reformed Baptist movement in Zambia, and they asked me what the contributing factors have been. Thankfully, I have been doing some research for a writing project, and so I was able to give an informed answer. So here are the ten human agents and circumstances the Lord has used over the last 40 years or so to start a movement that is making waves in the country and across the continent.

Joe Simfukwe

We can never fully quantify the impact of Rev Joe Simfukwe in igniting the Reformed movement in Zambia. He will tell you that it was not his intention to start a Reformed movement since he simply describes himself as an Evangelical. However, he inadvertently sparked the movement in three ways. His expository preaching at Lusaka Baptist Church that began in 1980 and went through the book of Romans, Ephesians and John were particularly used of the Lord to draw souls to salvation and give them a passion for the Word of God and for evangelism. “Ba Joe”, as his disciples fondly call him, also introduced a whole host of university students to the Banner of Truth books which further grounded them in the Reformed teachings of the Puritans. Lastly, Rev Simfukwe helped the movement rise by spearheading a church planting movement in urban areas, which saw churches planted in the major towns of Zambia (Lusaka, Choma, Chipata, Chingola, Mufulira, and Mansa). As the university students who were sitting under the preaching of Rev Simfukwe began graduating and getting jobs in different towns, they were getting discontent with the churches in those towns and ended up planting Reformed Baptist churches.

Banner of Truth books

As has been mentioned that the Banner of Truth books played a major role in shaping the budding reformers’ beliefs as they devoured whatever books they laid their hands on. The Puritan flavor of the books invariably rubbed off on them and Reformed convictions were formed and/or cemented.

The rise of the Charismatic movement

The early 1990s saw the introduction of the Charismatic movement in Zambia with its emphasis on the supernatural gifts and the prosperity gospel. The young pastors and their young churches wanted to make sure they shielded themselves from this error. As a result, they were forced to define themselves with clarity and forcefulness. The movement’s emphasis on their identity drew labels of “separatists” at best and “cultic” at worst.

“Parsons’ diets”

In the early years the young pastors in the Reformed movement realized the need for training and fellowship. Since they could not immediately go into seminary, they held annual meetings in Chingola at meetings they termed “Parsons’ Diet” where they presented papers on different pertinent theological issues of their day. One result of these meetings was a camaraderie among the pastors which produced unity among the churches.

Achille Blaize

Achille Blaize was pastor of Grace Baptist Church in London when he came to Zambia in 1989 and 1990. He is now retired. He is the man who set Zambia “a-blaize” (forgive the pun). He came initially in 1989 at the invitation of Scripture Union Zambia but brought with him many copies of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, that year being the 300^th anniversary of that document. The fledgling Reformed Baptist movement was excited to see that they had a historic document to fall back on. Pastor Blaize returned in 1990 and preached at the first Reformed conference organized by this movement and helped the young pastors and their congregation to be more defined doctrinally and to base all their practices on the Word of God. The rest, as they say, is history.

The Reformed Family Conference

From the talks with Blaize, the Reformed Family Conference was born. It has been running since 1990 and has grown in leaps and bounds. The conference has dealt with all kinds of themes with the goal of spurring the growth of the movement and has managed to draw different kinds of preachers in the Reformed circles around the world.

The international preaching itinerary of Conrad Mbewe

Dr. Conrad Mbewe’s international ministry did not grow the movement, but it brought it into the limelight before the larger Reformed movement was known around the world. As people heard him preach in different countries, they developed interest in the state of the Reformed movement in Zambia. This in a sense made the movement attractive, particularly to young people.

The centrality of preaching in the churches

One distinguishing mark of any true Baptist is their high regard for the preached Word of God. This should be true of any Baptist worth their salt. One could argue that this is even more true among Reformed Baptists. And for over 30 years, God has blessed these churches with faithful and, dare I say, world class preachers. These men have been steady, sure and consistent. Some of them have labored in one place for years. God has in turn blessed their faithfulness with abundant fruit from east to west, north to south. The steady and faithful preaching of the Word has anchored the growth of the movement.

The exposure to international preachers & their writing

The growth of the internet has meant easy access to blogs and sermons of different pastors and authors. People have been exposed to all kinds of preachers of the Reformed persuasion that have in a way grounded them in the doctrines. In fact, there have been cases of people who have developed Reformed convictions while they are in non-Reformed churches because they are largely listening to and reading from international preachers and writers of Reformed persuasion.

A growing church planting movement

People who are Calvinistic in their doctrine of salvation are often accused of being un-evangelistic and lacking a passion for missions. However, the Reformed movement in Zambia has been characterized by a zeal for church planting that has seen them plant churches in all the 10 provinces in Zambia, and they have planted or have partnered in planting in at least 5 African countries. This passion for church planting has contributed to the growth of the movement in Zambia as more people have come to salvation through the preaching of the gospel.

Let me offer a few concluding statements without much explanation

1.      No work can flourish, unless the Lord blesses it. If this was a human effort, it would have crashed years ago. Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it.

2.      God uses human means to carry out His purposes. He particularly uses faithful men and women who have a burden for his work, Word and glory.

3.      One cannot over emphasize the importance of preaching to the life of the church. In a time of gimmicks, tricks and business strategies in the church, Paul’s word to Timothy should ring ever louder: Preach the Word!

4.      There seems to be a direct correlation between a healthy reading and writing culture and depth in doctrinal understanding. When Christianity was flourishing in Europe, they were the hub of Christian literature, and the same has been true of the USA for a number of years. Could it be that the general shallowness in theology on the continent is due to a lack of thoughtful articulation through pen and paper? I leave you to ponder on it.