Too often Pastors leave, or are asked to leave their church. Now some for good reasons, and some for reasons that are far too stupid to even go into detail, my point being, too often Pastors leave their position before they can see the fruits of their labor in those who they have spent hours pouring into, praying for, and discipling. This can be one of the most disheartening things of all, but for those who have had the opportunity to actually see the opposite it is one of the biggest blessings to see. I've had the opportunity to see several students from which I was their youth pastor, all the way from Jr. high then High School, and now are heading into their adult life. Performing the wedding ceremony for former students has been one of the biggest honors that I could ever have, I've had the opportunity to do 2 weddings for former students, and I'm sure I'm just getting started. One of those couples that I had the privilege of marring, are now some of our closest friends, we are doing life together! A few more of our former students are now going to Southwestern Bible College(great school by the way, let them know that I sent you!) and are heading into ministry, for me this makes my heart so overjoyed! To see those who you spend so much time with, and they caught it! They actually caught! And now they are being further equipped to do full time ministry....wow, it's just so stinking awesome! But for everyone of the success stories, there seems to be 2-3 stories of those who have had some real tough struggles. My heart breaks when I hear of former students who got pregnant, or are now living with their boyfriend, or spent time in jail, or are now the partiers getting waisted on the weekends and sleeping with whoever or whatever has 2 legs and walks. My heart breaks for them, because somewhere along the line....they didn't catch it, and I have to wonder why. Why did some catch it and some didn't. And no matter how I try to rationalize it, or try to push it to the side, I still have to realize that it is not me. It's not my fault when someone walks away from what they believe, it's a decision they have made, and as much as I grieve over that decision, realizing that the Holy Spirit is grieving in ways that I can't begin to understand, and yet the Lord is so ready and waiting with open arms to welcome them back.
Ministry can be so draining at times when these things happen. I really believe that's why so many Pastor's leave ministry, they get discouraged, and burned out! I have found those times will come, when they do I go back to what someone close to me said, "if you are in ministry to change peoples lives, get out. You will die of a broken heart. Do it for the audience of ONE."
Lord thank you for the opportunity to serve you, may I never forget that this is about YOU.
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