ZCC Media House

07/09/2026

*THE PAIN AND HARDSHIP OF BEING A PASTOR*

_By Rev. Sam Lebese_

My dear brothers and sisters,

Tonight I want to talk not about the pulpit, but about the man behind the pulpit.

People see the suit. People see the collar. People see us when we pray, when we preach, when we say "it shall be well." But no one sees what happens when we go home.

*1. A Pastor carries pain that he cannot share.*

When you are sick, you call your Pastor. When your Pastor is sick, who does he call?
When your marriage is breaking, you come to the Pastor's office and cry. When the Pastor's own marriage is under attack, he must still stand on Sunday and say "God is love."

We bury your loved ones, we wipe your tears, but who wipes ours? The Bible says in Galatians 6:2 "Bear one another's burdens" but many times, the Pastor must bear everyone's burden alone.

*2. A Pastor is expected to be perfect.*

If a member gets angry, it's human. If a Pastor gets angry, they say "he is not spiritual."
If a member is struggling financially, they pray for him. If a Pastor is struggling, they say "his God is not working."

We live in a glass house. Everyone is watching. Everyone is judging.

*3. The hardship of being misunderstood.*

Sometimes the church you built with tears will turn against you.
The same people you prayed for when they had nothing will leave you when they have something.
You fast for them, you pray at midnight for their children, but tomorrow they will gossip about your shoes, your car, your wife.

Jesus knew this pain. On the cross He said "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Even Jesus felt the loneliness of leadership.

*4. Yet we continue, because of love.*

Why do we continue? We continue not because of salary — because truly, there is no salary that can pay for sleepless nights.
We continue not because of titles, titles don't comfort you at 2am when a member calls to say "my loved one died."

We continue because God called us. Jeremiah 3:15 says "And I will give you pastors according to my heart."

So I stand here tonight not to complain, but to ask:

Pray for your Pastor.
Understand your Pastor.
Don't just see the preaching, see the pain behind the preaching.

Because behind every strong Pastor, there is a man who many times cries alone, but still chooses to stand and say "Thus says the Lord."

May God bless all true Pastors who are suffering in silence tonight. Your reward is not here — your reward is in heaven.

Rev Sam Lebese
Trustee of Assets
Zulu Congregational Church

05/09/2026

Zcc Media house, yayikhona singakazalwa ayifikanga no Solo Ndlovu thina esakwenza was to revive it. And I yoba khona noma singasekho. Asibambisaneni siqhube lomshikashika.

“History has no blank pages”

Unyaka 1996 Ibandla le Zulu Congregational Church laligubha iminyaka engu100 eMzumbe. Phambili kubefundisi kwi procession sibona :

1. Rev HPB Ndlovu Matimatolo Circut, ubaba kaNobhala Jikelele
2.Rev Luthuli -Ndwedwe Circuit ubaba ka Rev Luthuli N Coast Chair
3. Rev Mkhwanazi-Mahlabathini Circuit
4. Rev Mhlongo-Mhulugwane Circuit
5. Rev Khawula -Impendle Circuit
6. Rev Mcwango-KwaMakutha Circuit
7. Eceleni sibona owayengu District Capt ngalesosikhathi uRev TM Luthuli-osengu Mfundisi e eNdwedwe Circuit

Sicela usisize uma kukhona abanye obaziyo:

Isithombe sithunyelwe ngu Rev Miya salungiswa kahle ukuze sibonakale (edited) I Trustee lama Assets, u Rev Lebese.

Amen

04/09/2026

04/09/2026