“Work for the welfare (shalom) of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray on its behalf, for as it prospers (“in its shalom”) you will prosper (“you will have shalom”). –Jeremiah 29:7
“Pastor, we’re asking all the churches in town to join together for a prayer rally for the election coming up soon. Can we count on First Church to participate? And by the way, we’d like you to be the featured speaker.”
Or, “We’d like you to extend the welcome, and set the direction for the service.”
Or “lead the invocation.”
What to do, what to do. Accepting this will require time that I do not have. This will be outside my comfort zone. This will not have any immediate benefit to my church.
Sound familiar?
My two suggestions are: 1) When you possibly can, accept. It’s good for churches and pastors to work together. And, 2) whatever you agree to do, work to make it excellent. You are representing the Lord, your church, and your family.
After being in the ministry for over 55 years, with most of it spent in pastoring six churches, I cannot count the number of community Thanksgivings services, Easter sunrise services, and citywide prayer rallies I have attended. Today I had a small reminder about the importance of those time-consuming events about which we sometimes wonder whether they’re worth the trouble…