TAKE TIME To Be With God!

If you have been in the pastorate for any amount of time, you have discovered one thing for sure - you can become mighty busy quickly!! As ministers called of God, our hearts are focused on the needs of the church God has called us to serve. Our churches are busy with activities and programs. Much of what the church does needs our personal attention and involvement. There are ocassions when the activities/the busy-ness make it difficult to find the necessary time to prepare powerful sermons that impact the lives of the people that will make up your congregations on Sunday. And yes - there are even times when no one seems to care that the busy-ness of the church's schedule has overwhelmed you and you don't have that time for personal preparation.

When you begin to recognize that busy-ness has overrun you, it is time to "retreat" in some fashion. Matthew 6: 33 is applicable to we who serve as pastors---SEEK FIRST HIM---all this other stuff can take second, third, or maybe even fiftieth place. Focus on your relationship with Christ Jesus.

All of us have been there! No matter how hard you try to find balance for your life, there will be times when you're going to find yourself short on time and Sunday's sermon or Wednesday's Bible lesson is not yet complete. It's certainly a nail biting and scary stress that sometimes falls upon us Saturday at about 10PM while compiling a Sunday morning message that will lift up, encourage and inspire the congregation. That stress and lack of sleep can interfere with your ability to present the message that God's people need to hear from His servant in that service. So - strive daily to find your "rest" in Him.

A couple of years back a member church in TRBA invited me to do revival in their church. I was sick a LOT that year and had been out of work for several weeks recovering from surgery, etc. There was much concern that I might not physically be able to preach a series of 5 sermons. One of the remarkable things about that recovery time was the lessons God was teaching me as I studied His Word and sought His face. Day-after-day I experience so much as I could do nothing but read, meditate, and pray.

I did go back to work, and I was PHYSICALLY drained!!!! The host pastor was concerned. God would not allow release me from preaching the revival. I remember becoming overwhelmed and stressed the Monday of revival. I came to work and was physically exhausted from the two sermons on Sunday. After a couple of hours I thought, "I cannot stay here all day and preach tonight." I packed up and told the staff I was going home to "prepare for tonight's sermon." The secretary asked, "what are you going to do?" My response - "go home and take a nap."

That night I was refreshed physically. There was no stress from the lack of study THAT day. It was like Jesus comforted me with the knowledge that I had spent countless hours in His Word and seeking His face. I could TRUST Him to provide all that I needed for that hour! From the OVERFLOW of being in His presence, His words came through me His instrument. If we make our time with Christ Jesus our priority, then He can use us in greater ways!

Let me share with you some ideas from 30+ years of ministry. NOTHING I say is "rocket science," but I hope it helps in some way:

1. Stay Focused: Focused on Christ as your Savior; Christ as LORD of all; on His Word; seeking His face in prayer for the message that He desires you to proclaim to His people. I know this generation emphasizes "multi-tasking," and I am pretty good at that! HOWEVER, I think there needs to be a QUIET place where you and the Lord can be together and where you can be IN HIS WORD uninterrupted from the distractions of the world. Find that place where you can BE STILL and KNOW God better.

2. Plan your sermon series/develop a strategy: Having your Bible, commentaries, computer accessories, etc. makes it easier as you seek God in that quiet place. Do not just think of THIS Wednesday's study or THIS Sunday's message. Think of those opportunities under the light of the greater picture of the message that God would have His people to hear. I encourage you to plan 6 weeks or more in advance. I always liked to share with my staff my tentative plans so they could pray with me, plan their part of the service with the knowledge of where I believed God was leading me, and they could "hold me accountable."

Again, from the overflow of time alone with God and seeking His face, comes the message that God's people need to hear. Even during those busy weeks where you face writer's block or the busy-ness of church programs and ministry, you'll have an easier starting point. This will also help you keep your preaching proactive instead of reactive. When your preaching is reactive, you are only cleaning up messes or "excusing" yourself in your own mind. When your preaching is proactive, you are heading off potential problems that will waste the churches time and potential for growth.

3. Spend Time in Prayer: Prayer is the foundational bedrock of all we are to do in His name as undershepherds in His church. Ask God to attend His Word -- to pursue and own it to the hearts and minds of His people. Pray also that He will use it to move and shape you. From the work He is doing in you, proclaim His truth to His people.

4. Develop great resources: Having access to great resources allows you to spark ideas quicker and use that as a springboard for your messages. Listen to sermons; read several translations; read on topics of church health; develop a friendship with another pastort to discuss the topic. etc. etc. Your responsibility is to "feed His sheep" and you must be IN HIM to have the nourishment needed to be that undershepherd He has called you to be!

5. Set aside special time to prepare your message: I have heard men say they wait until Saturday night to prepare their sermons (as well as SS teachers to prepare their lessons). I have discovered through the years that there are a LOT of Saturdays where I have completely readjusted my plans to accomodate a need in the life of church members; spend time with family and friends; etc. etc. If I did not set aside some "extra" time, then my sermon and Bible study prep suffered. If my time with the Lord becomes less and less, I cannot be "in Him" as necessary and my overall ministry suffers. To please Christ in our delivery of His Word, set aside some time EARLIER in the week - maybe Thursday night or EARLY in the morning would be the perfect time to set aside (with plenty of time to spare before Saturday night) where you flesh out and get the core of your message. This also enables you (generally) to get hymns that reinforce in the bulletin; illustrations and PowerPoint slides organized that reinforce the message; perhaps even email your deacons and staff for specific prayer requests as you continue to meditate and prepare for the upcoming message. Starting early will give you ample time to re-read your message and make needed changes. In fact, often times after a message is put together this way, God has a way of inspiring added thoughts that help to strengthen the message He has for you to share that day!

that you will want to include.

6. Take it all the way to the Altar: When you are delivering the message that God has given you, remember, you are His mouthpiece. You are standing in His stead. Speak with authority. Don't apologize for God's Word. Preach with boldness. Speak with love and compassion. Don't preach down to people. Don't get off track. Make your point and take it all the way to the Altar call. Invite people to "make things right with God."

One of the things I am trying to convince the pastors of TRBA is that we - the TRBA Staff - DAILY lift up our pastors in prayer! As we gather for staff meetings on Monday mornings,we pray for our pastors and our churches. Individually throughout the week, we lift them up in our personal prayers. During the weekends when we know the men who serve as our pastors will be proclaiming His truth, we lift them up in prayer - as well as our church members. We are praying FERVENTLY for renewal and revival! We recognize that the enemy is busy trying to keep us from His purpose.

Wanted to share with you today that you are in our prayers today! May God bless you as you faithfully serve Him daily!

Building Up The Fellowship Among Pastors

By now you have heard my views about the NEED for fellowship among those of us who serve as leaders/pastors/ministers of our member churches. I have encouraged us to fellowship together around the table, over a cup of coffee, as we partake of a meal. I truly believe this is an important part of the strengthening of the local church to become more effective in its ministry to the community. However, there are many who have yet to "fellowship" with the pastors in area chuches.

Like the church grows closer and stronger by not forsaking thee assembly, I believe the fellowship of pastors is a key element that we should not ignore. My pastor keeps addressing our congreation with a piercing question, "who is the 2 AM friend that you can call?" Truth is, we who serve in ministry often receive that call, but have no one to call. I encourage us all to become involved in fellowship with area ministers on a regular basis!

I also believe there is a real need for us to meet regularly to share information and experience training/dialogue together. I guess that would be accomplished at a "Ministers' Conference." They tell me that all throughout Baptist Life those type meetings are poorly attended. I hate that for this generation of pastors! I look back to my early years and I treasure the friendships made and support networks developed as a result of our monthly fellowship meetings and those times around the table. I enjoy the times I go off to pastors conefernces, meetings, etc. but there is a real need for us - as local pastors to build up our fellowship. Point is - we need one another! So - again, I unapologetically encourage us to get together over a cup of coffee or around a fellowship meal. And yes, I encourage us to become involved in regular Pastors/Ministers Fellowship meetings.

I hope you go ahead and place the dates on your calendar and strive to be in attendance. I honeslty believe your (and my) involvement will strengthen the churches of the Tar River Baptist Association. Please pray with me in this important matter.

In 2010 TRBA has scheduled the THIRD Tuesday of each month as our Ministers' Monthly Fellowship Meetings. We will be meeting at TRBA Center at 10 AM and conclude by 11:30 AM. We encourage you to continue fellowship after the meeting over a meal - at leasty occassionally.

It is our prayer to have meetings that share relevant information helpful to you in ministry. If you have ideas, please share with me at domtarriver@hotmail.com. Right now, we have several things planned:

Saturday, January 23rd at 9 AM - Pastors and Families Fellowship Breakfast at Ephesus. This is a different time than normal, come and join us. There is no cost, but we do ask that you register with us so we know how much to prepare. I will get more info out later, but PLEASE place this on your calendar and join us if at all possible.

Monthly Ministers' Fellowship Meetings: Beginning Tuesday, February 16th at 10 AM and continuing each THIRD Tuesday of the month. All meetings will be at TRBA Center unless otherwise noted. In the February Meeting we will share detailed information about how TRBA will be involved in "Find it Here" for the next year. Please understand, "Find it Here" is not JUST an effort to get people to church on Easter Sunday 2010, it is an intensive effort to get ALL believers sharing the Gospel and EVERY lost person in North America hearing and having an opportunity to receive that message.

Programs after February are:

March: Learning How To Lead People In A Non-Committed Culture
April: How To Become A Spiritually Healthy, Reproducing Church
May: Associational Missions Emphasis

I look forward to seeing you at these gatherings and encourage you to share ideas so that we can develop programs of interest/help to you.

God Bless!

Bad Economy Challenges Churches but Provides Opportunities

LifeWay Research: Written by David Roach and Staff

NASHVILLE, Tenn., – Protestant churchgoers in America remain generous during difficult economic times, and their churches have increased their ministry to the needy. Despite the country being in an official recession for the past year, giving in 2008 was up an average of 4 percent over 2007 according to a survey of 1,000 Protestant pastors by LifeWay Research.

"While many sectors of the economy have taken a clear step back in the last year, Protestant churches have held their own," said Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research.

Still, more than half of pastors interviewed say that the current economy is negatively impacting their churches, but only 7 percent of Protestant pastors say the economy is "very negatively" impacting their churches. Thirty percent of pastors say the economy has had no impact on their churches.

LifeWay Research surveyed 1,000 Protestant pastors during February 2009. Respondents were asked how the economy is impacting their churches, how giving levels compare to budget, how 2008 offering totals differed from 2007, and what changes have taken place in their churches as a result of the economy.

The average church saw offerings grow by 4 percent in 2008. Growth in offerings of 10percent or more was experienced by 26 percent of churches. In contrast, 12 percent of churches saw their giving decline by 10 percent or more in 2008.

Pastors are almost as likely to report giving ahead of current budget as behind it. The largest group of churches (45 percent) report offerings since the beginning of 2008 have been about what they budgeted.* Twenty-six percent of churches are receiving more than they budgeted and 27 percent are receiving less. Two percent of pastors are not sure. Seventy-one percent of Protestant churches around the country are either meeting or exceeding their budget, according to the survey.

"While the public’s faith in almost every other type of investment has crumbled, faithful givers continue to support churches," noted Scott McConnell, associate director of LifeWay Research. "If current trends continue, the majority of churches will likely meet their budgets this year."

Making adjustments: Because of the financial crunch, 35 percent of churches held salaries for the new year at last year’s levels and 12 percent delayed construction or other large capital expenses that were planned. Still, 31 percent of churches explored starting a new ministry to help people who are disadvantaged and 37percent increased spending from the church budget to help the needy. Churches willing to meet financial needs will almost certainly find increased opportunities to do so, according to the survey. A majority (62 percent) of churches have had more people in the community request financial assistance in the last year than in previous years.

"When times are tough, the church can be at its best – being, doing and telling the good news of the Gospel," Stetzer said. "Though the church has not been hit as hard as many sectors of society, the data is showing some real challenges. Churches are having to be much more cautious with their spending."
Even within congregations, needs increased. Nearly a third (31 percent) of churches have received more requests from within the congregation for financial assistance in the last year than in previous years. Within the last year, 4 in 10 churches have had more people than normal within the congregation lose their jobs.
This last year has also brought changes in how those within congregations approach expenditures. Thirty-five percent of churches have a heightened sense of caution within their congregations about trying new things that cost money. A small number of congregations (11 percent) have seen increased reluctance to attend church functions or church-sponsored events that carry a cost or admission charge.

Among the other effects the economy has had on churches:

- Seven percent delayed hiring that was planned.
- Six percent reduced staff salaries.
- Four percent laid off one or more employees.
- Four percent reduced insurance benefits for staff.

Some pastors have made personal sacrifices to continue ministering in the slumping economy. Twenty-seven percent have paid for ministry items out of their own pockets more often than normal. That figure jumps to 34 percent among pastors whose salaries held at last year’s level and to 55 percent among pastors with reduced salaries. Only five percent have paid fewer ministry expenses out of their own pocket than normal.

In rare cases, ministers have supplemented their incomes to make ends meet. Five percent recently added a non-ministry job for more income. Five percent of pastors have asked their spouses to add a non-ministry job for more income. Three percent of pastors have sought writing or speaking opportunities that provide royalties or honoraria.

Only 1 percent of pastors have seriously considered leaving the ministry for financial reasons during the economic slowdown.

"It’s easy to hunker down with what money you have left," McConnell said. "Yet Jesus Christ told his followers that giving out of your poverty is worth far more than giving out of your surplus. Pastors are living this truth. They are choosing 5-to-1 to give more out of their own pockets, rather than less, to ministry opportunities."

*Pastors were asked to look back to a common starting point in order to compensate for various budget cycles – for this question it was the beginning of 2008

(Please note: TRBA will soon be sharing additional information for our member churches to assist people that have been hurt in this economy. If your church has ways to i is assisting members in your community, please share with us as we are getting an increasing number of calls in our office.)