REACHING OUT TO GOD’S MESSENGERS

Have you been let down? Hurt? Rejected? Betrayed? My questions here are directed to those persons who are engaged in leadership ministry.

Let me assure you: It isn’t a shameful thing to acknowledge your pain. Admit that you have been victimized. To allow yourself to vent.

You know why? Because I encounter these Christian leaders weekly. Many of them have shriveled. Become withdrawn. Assumed a martyr’s role. Retired to the sidelines. Thrown in the towel. Are filled with hate and retaliation.

One individual comes quickly to mind. He’s a man at mid-age. Very gifted. Talented. Educated. Has a beautiful family. Possesses several years of ministry know how and experience.

Reggie would immediately attract you with his winsome personality. His God driven spirit. His excitement for serving. But the once joyful spirited Christian leader has moved to the sidelines. Withdrawn into a shell. Left the scene. Vacated the building.

Two weeks ago I visited with him. For a lengthy time. Pumped everything I had to offer into him. When I left his eyes appeared to be in the distance. I couldn’t keep him on the same page with me. Tears formed in his eyes as I prayed with him. As I drove away that day I cried for him most of the rest of the day.

Why was I hurting? Because Reggie was but another victim of the recurring abuse that is happening in more and more churches today. Reggie angered a certain segment of the church, and they found a sly way to release him as their spiritual leader. Reggie was a man who had much to offer. Able to minister and help change hurting lives.

But now he is unable to offer anyone anything. He is unable to assume a ministry. I fear he will never serve with a church again. For you see, Reggie has become another statistic. Another lost statistic. Another of the devil’s victims of dirty work in congregational life.

This picture is one of the most current lethal examples of an unhealthy church. Yet, this malady is really nothing new. The prophets in Scripture were, like Reggie, abused and rejected for their efforts among the Israelites, God’s people. First century preachers were also rejected and even jailed because of their ministries.

What can be done today to more effectively embrace and encourage our preachers? Allow me to offer you some of my immediate thoughts on this matter.

• Take a personal interest in those men of God who have been abused and rejected by congregations. Don’t let them continue life on a solo flight. They need you by their side.
• Become a caring friend to listen and be a sounding board for them in their pain and hurt.
• Attempt to connect a betrayed minister with another congregation that will love him and be responsive to his direction and leadership.
• Mark congregations that have evolved into preacher killing institutions. It is time to start placing roadblocks in their path, so that other men of God will not be hurt by them.
• Much coaching and consulting needs to be done today among our congregations. Why? Because they need to be taught how to both receive and treat those who come to minister with them.

Congregations are not perfect. Preachers are not perfect either. But it is high time that we turn the shadows into rays of sunshine everywhere in our congregations. What’s your thoughts?