by Anders Lee
I’m have written about this in some ways or another before, but I felt led to share this now. January is a time when lots of people get down and those in ministry are no different!
I was talking to a youth pastor just this week. He had his new 2021 calendar out trying to plan, but he said; “After last year I don’t know whether to plan or just wing it.” He went on to say how sick he was of all the things going on and he was discouraged. He said; “It seems to me we are just going through the motions at church right now.” I was glad we got to talk and share and I believe at the end of our conversation he was encouraged! We all get down at times and it seems more people … well more pastors and youth pastors, are there now than they’ve ever been. To be honest I’ve been there lately myself!
In times like these, and really all the time, youth pastors and pastors need accountability, a circle to talk to, partners in ministry that will speak truth to them and encourage them or in love tell them the truth if they are out of line or on the wrong path.
I’ve been blessed in my ministry to have men like that in my life. Other than my Dad who was in ministry a super long time, God gave me men like Larry Tapp and Dr. Gerald Kellar and others early on when I was going to Southeastern. Later in my ministry as a youth pastor, God brought Scott Pittman into my life through camps and retreats. We were both knuckle heads in youth ministry at the same time. He was serving at Big Creek in Soso, Mississippi, and I was up in that “yankee church” as my circle called it at the time (Calvary Horn Lake, Mississippi).
Have you ever met someone and just immediately clicked in ministry? Scott and I sure did. We became “two peas in a pod” even though we were nearly 5 hours apart. We shared ideas with each other. We prayed with each other. We talked about our youth and the problems they were facing. We were honest with each other about our personal struggles. We hung out when we could and joked and carried on too! God put us together to be there for each other during that time. We still keep in touch still today!
If you are in youth ministry, YOU NEED a Scott Pittman! These days if you don’t have a brother like that in ministry… honestly… it’s time to get one! Pray and asked God to open a door for you to have a brother like this in your life for fellowship, accountability, prayer, discussion, honesty and pure-dee (is that a word?) friendship! He will open the door for you! He always has for me!
Here are some scriptures to chew on… you will find this is quite biblical!
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Eccl. 4:9 & 10
“Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.” Luke 17:3
“Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him…” Acts 16:3
“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
In this New Year… “after last year…” start the year off finding a ministry accountability partner! I promise you there are men out there in ministry that need it just as badly as you do! Initiate that relationship remembering that Proverbs 18:24 says; “A man that has friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.”
Lee is pastor of Central Church, Southaven and may be contacted at anders.lee571@gmail.com 