Something Every Pastor Needs - Ron Edmondson

I have learned and observed there is one common thing every pastor needs to be successful

I see it modeled in Scripture.

Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.

But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.

(Exodus 17:8-13…emphasis mine)

Every pastor needs some hand holders on their side.

Someone who will hold up their hand when it begins to fall.

Every pastor I know has days when they feels they carry everyone else’s struggles, but there is no one to help with theirs. Of course, we are all to “cast our cares” on God, but God uses people to encourage people.

Pastors need that too.

Pastors need people they can trust to be supportive. Someone who will not talk about them, but with them in love when there is a problem. People who believe in them, pray for them, and follow their lead as they are seeking to follow God’s.

Pastors need to know they have safe places, people to whom they can be real, even on their weakest days, and still be loved. Pastors need true friends; friends who are friends not to be close to the position, but simply to be a friend.

Are you a hand holder for your pastor?

Those people are true Kingdom-builders, in my experience.

Check out my leadership podcast where we hopefully help limit bad decisions and discuss issues of leadership in a practical way. Plus, check out the other Lifeway Leadership Podcasts.


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