Right now in America we are losing the battle for the American heart. Churches are losing members and if you don’t get the children when they are open to hearing about Christ you tend to lose them. This is why VBS is so important to every Church that can operate one each year. Preachers have a lot on their shoulders. In my various years of Church life I have seen many preachers with confidence, even some arrogance, and also humility.
The Congregations either choose their ministers with a vote or by which Church they settle on. Sometimes it takes a while to understand your ministers and how they work or on the contrary they are as open as a book. I have seen both. There used to be a show called “7th Heaven”, my family watched this often one of the questions for the minister was you can do this for me right you don’t have anything else going on right? No one fully understands how much time a Preacher works for his Congregation except his family.
My Grandma’s Preacher came out of retirement to Preach for them for another decade or more he just recently gave his retirement nod again. They believe this time it’s for real though. Preaching, as wonderful as a calling it is, on a man’s life takes its toll on himself and his family in a number of ways. Which is why it must be a calling from God; not everyone is meant for this job.
For the longest time I wanted the man who baptized me at nearly 5 years old to marry me to the love of my life. In 2006 the realization hit me I wouldn’t get that brief dream. I do know where I am not getting married no offense to Fellowship, but I think having two of my brother’s weddings, my only brother that has been married, in the same venue is overkill. This was a decision I never thought I would budge on being married by a Preacher. Then I realized my grandparents were married by a Justice of the Peace, the Bishops were married in the Lester home with a Preacher officiating.
Is there a right or wrong answer?
There is only one Preacher, my current one that has known me for as long as 20 years now. My ideas on weddings have greatly changed since I was a naive little girl. Life has shown me that Church is still a great essential in my life and so is the Preacher of my Church. I am also extremely grateful that Fellowship has a Preacher to lead them once again.
The Preacher of a Church can ruin a Church. I have personally seen the beginning of this when a Church family is in denial and the problem we see is considered not happening when in fact it was happening by the Preacher himself. No one would listen or be reasonable why… because this Preacher brought children with him. A Church who has dried up… no youth; is vulnerable to allowing men who look good into their ranks. These men come acting like a savior, but they really have a demeanor of arrogance in their mannerisms. Not too much, because they have to have some charm to get into the door first.
Honestly, it’s deja vu for me because I see this happening again. Preachers and Congregations not heeding scripture and listening to God is where this starts. We want to be all second chances and loving, but God has standards for his flock especially those in His pulpit.
Preachers need prayer and guidance just like we do. This job doesn’t have bankers hours. Accidents happen throughout the twenty-four hours of the day. Yet this profession comes straight from God working in a man’s heart and soul. They have to be on guard with the right scripture for each situation they meet with each day. The Holy Spirit of course also works mysteriously with God in these spontaneous happenings. One of the amazing perks of this special calling.
Jewells of Thought 
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