Every minister breathes silent prayers at Christmas. He lifts “wishes” to heaven. In quiet moments of reflection he reaches into his heart and draws out the dreams he would dream if only he believed they really could come true.

Here is such a list of dreams. Prayers. Christmas wishes.

Each and every one of them is being wished by ministers this Christmas. I know this to be true because this list has been compiled with the help of the members of Journey Pastoral Coaching. Pastors, leaders, missionaries, directors, counselors, and teachers who are a part of Journey have offered their wishes, gifts they are asking God to give them through the churches they serve.

A favorite from 2015, we at Journey have freshened it up and offer it up to you for 2016.

Here’s what your pastor is probably wishing for this Christmas . . .

1. Harvest Circles

He’s wishing his church will form Exodus 18 circles of ministry around him.

Everyone doing what everyone can do, many doing what many can do, some doing what only some can do, a few doing what only a few can do – so the he can do what only he, the pastor, can do.

2. Sabbath Days

She’s wishing for real Sabbath days.

A real day off every week. An extra day off at least every other month. A personal prayer retreat twice a year. A family vacation for at least two weeks a year. Rest. Re-creation.

3. Special Days

He’s wishing for his church to remember his special days in tangible ways.

Pastor Appreciation Day. Birthday. Christmas. But a “thank you,” a card, or yes, a gift – any gesture that genuinely says, “Thank you, we love you,” means more to your pastor than you can know.

4. A Faith Community

He’s wishing for a church that has the courage to be the body of Christ again.

Not just a service on Sunday, but a people to be a part of every day of the week. Not just attending as long as it meets my needs, but instead refusing to attend church, insisting instead on serving others that their needs might be met.

5. Hearts That Hold, Hands That Lift

She’s wishing that her church will pray for her and all of its pastors.

Leon Morris writes, “The church cannot be expected to do its work effectively if their followers are not loyally supporting the leaders. . . . If we bear in mind the work’s sake, we may be more inclined to esteem them very highly in love.”

And to bear them up to God in prayer. Daily. As if our life depends on it. Because, in fact, it does.

6. A Faith Community

He’s wishing for a church that will be the church, not just do church – a true faith community.

Acts 2.42-47 says, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

He’s wishing, praying really, for a return of this kind of faith community and future for you.

7. Hearths

She’s wishing for families to commit to daily, shared discipleship.

Your pastor is wishing for families to commit to daily, shared discipleship during the season of Advent, a shared discipleship in which families learn how to talk about and remember their faith together – and that it would then continue throughout the year and all of life.

8. Real Friendships

He’s wishing for someone to befriend, love, share with his spouse.  (This is especially true if the pastor is a staff pastor).

The new senior or staff pastor and his wife walk into church for the first time. Because they are new, they have no friends. But the pastor is prepared for this because the nature of his work places him in relational circles with fellow ministers and others. But his wife, the primary caregiver for their children, has no such circles. Her husband’s phone continually rings, but her phone too often, and too long, rests silent by her side.

9. Less Motion, More Movement

Your pastor is wishing for an end to the maintenance of sacred cow activities and the beginning of a real move of God.

How much time, talent and treasure are wasted on programs that do nothing to move the church mission forward (in other words, they don’t meet any real needs) all because the program is a sacred cow of the church? How many pastors would kill the cow and devote their attention to those things that really glorify God, strengthen the people of God, and present the Gospel to people who do not know Jesus Christ?

10. Grace Unleashed 

He’s wishing that grace – its receiving and its giving – will become a way of life among his people.

Grace is amazing. It really is. When a people walk in the grace of God, everything changes: they walk in real freedom from their past; their life has purpose; they forgive others easily; they take joy in ministering to others; they give generously; they worship recklessly; they love with abandon . . . Grace is absolutely amazing. When a people walk in the grace of God, everything changes.

11. A Mission Accomplished

She’s wishing for a church of individuals more committed to Christ’s Mission than they are to their “I, me, and my.”

The church is still on planet Earth for one reason and one reason only: we have not yet completed the mission Jesus gave us, that of preaching the Gospel to all the world. My desire for my preferred styles in church _________ can certainly take a back seat to the salvation of people separated from God.

12. Old, Worn-Out Bibles

He’s wishing to see any Bibles in church again. Especially worn out ones.

People of the Book. People who know the Book, live the book, and love the Book. People who love to study the Book, understand the Book, and share the Book. People who can’t get enough preaching, teaching, and discussion about the Book. Evidenced by the worn Bibles in their hands.

13. Spilled Salt

Your pastor is wishing for believers to be salt in your city, taking the Gospel outside the four walls of the building and outside the walls of mere personal belief.

Your pastor thanks God he is pastor of your church. But he knows that, before God, he is more than that: he is pastor to the city – like Jesus, there are people outside this circle to whom he is called. But he can’t do it alone. Together, the people of God really can “salt” a city with Jesus and His life.

14. Unity in Diversity

He’s wishing for a church of diversity that models true Christian unity to a world broken by division.

Group identity and group politics dominate American today: people define who they are by who they hang with. And by who they don’t hang with. While this is to be expected in the world, this is to be extinguished in the church. May our unity, especially in our diversity, mark us as true followers of Christ. And may the world marvel. Not just at our unity. But at Him who IS our unity.

15. To Go Back to the Future

He’s wishing that this season in which we celebrate the first Advent will be the setting for the second Advent of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, that we will see the launch of the eternal life God intended from the very beginning.

Maranatha! Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.

A Final Thought

So, as you do your Christmas shopping this year, remember your pastor and think about – pray about – giving the gift he or she really wants, a gift that keeps on giving: to you, to your church, and to the world.