16/08/2022
■ LIFE AND STRUGGLES OF A CHURCH FOUNDING PASTOR. PART 2.
Pastors are called to suffer for his names sake. Big cars, Big Houses , Big Suits are not part of the purpose why a pastor is called. These things can be rewards after a Man / Woman of God has toiled in bringing about the purpose of God in people's lives Prosperity can not major one's calling Pastors who have material things for whatever reason, are not more anointed than those who are struggling. Infect those who are struggling may happen to be in God's will more accurately than those who seem to live a soft life. I am not concluding that those who live soft lives are not in God's will. What I am trying to say is that soft life can be a temptation for Pastors to drop Christ's sufferings and testings and a result make worldly and unclean means to obtain material gain. We are called to suffer for God's sake as bad as it may sound but it's a privilege given to the called. Even when you are wealthy as a pastor don't forget wealth is not calling but suffering is. Jesus told Ananias to tell Paul that his calling was to suffer.
Acts 9:15-16
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
But please don't forget the same Paul also said he knows how to have little and after that he also said he knows how it feels like to have plenty..
Philippians 4:12
I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content — whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.
■ STRUGGLES OF STARTING THE CHURCH!!!
After a pastor has struggled going up and down searching for souls by which he would start his church, he eventually gets start up people.
■ JOYS AND PAINS OF FIRST PEOPLE (Start Up People) WHO JOIN A STARTING CHURCH.
After sweating trusting God for people to start up the church a pastor is so joyful that eventually he is going somewhere. You have no idea how joyful it is to have people coming to your small space to worship. It's a feeling like having a new baby. As much as pastor is happy that eventually the church has started, there is trouble here. The trouble is that a greater percent of the people who come at this stage either don't know why they came or they literally came for themselves not for the pastor. In other words they may be here cause they have needs to be prayed for and once those needs are met, off they go. Also among this group of start up people some are here just to check things out. If they happen to like they will stay, if happen to dislike in few days they are no where to be found. This can pain a Pastor's heart.
■ HARD FACTS ABOUT FIRST PEOPLE IN MINISTRY.
1.● THEY MAY NOT BE YOUR CHURCH MEMBERS.
God normally calls a lesser percentage of these people. The reason is that when they come they don't know what is really happening here cause God never spoke to them about church. Small things will take them away like being bored The reason they may be bored is that things are normally not in order when the church starts These are people normally who have been in well established churches. Those who have not been in church their whole life may stay cause they have nothing to compare.
2.● FIRST PEOPLE ARE NORMALLY YOUR ADVERTISERS, NOT ACTUAL MEMBERS.
People follow people. There are those who will come because they have heard singing and decided to come see. Those may be your members because the Spirit of God normally draws those that are called using those that have just visited. These ones may tell you testimonies on how they joined the church and they may start mentioning that they were connected some way some how with those who already left the church. They may have been their friends, colleagues, neighbors atc. First commers are used by God to alert those who are called to membership to see that something is happening in this church. Pastor don't be disappointed when first people leave you, they have done their duty. Bless them and release them. Focus on those that God is giving you.
3.● THE ONES THAT ARE YOUR POTENTIAL MEMBERS, ARE NORMALLY THE MOST TROUBLED OR TROUBLESOME.
We like it when we begin to see important people coming to our churches. There is nothing wrong with that excitement, as long as it does not deceive us. Jesus was not excited much about so called important people who join his ministry. His joy was in people he made. Mark 1:17 he told them "Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men." It is those he made that carried his mandate. The most trusted members of Jesus were Mary Magdalene who had 7 demands, and among his 100s of disciples were those who were blind, lame and had kinds of troubles.
Pastor God is writing a story of your calling and anointing when he brings needy people to your ministry. Journey with them, take care of them cover them until they become an attraction those that are recognized as important in the society.
TO BE CONTINUED..........
Bishop Fino Isaka
