Pastors, We Need You – Member Blog
EDITOR’S NOTE: In addition to writing, Lydia Jay and her husband pastor Harrison Avenue Assembly of God in Harrison, OH. Along with their four daughters, they live in nearby Cincinnati. To learn more about the Jays and their ministry, click here.
On Good Friday of this year (2023), my husband had the opportunity to be a part of a collaboration that was like nothing I’d ever seen. In Harrison, OH, where my husband pastors, there are a multitude of churches. At times this can be frustrating, like when we all have our summer block parties at the same time. But for the most part we have enough people in Harrison to warrant a lot of churches, and I know that different churches can reach different people.
So, when my husband said that he’d be preaching one of the five-minute slots for a community Good Friday service, I was excited but didn’t know what to expect (I had missed last year because of sick kiddos). I walked into the middle school community room where the service was being held and was greeted by several pastors, each one with a unique demeanor.
The room filled a bit more and the service started with worship from a Kentucky man and his guitar, singing hymns in his own style. The presence of God was tangible.
A large artist’s canvas was propped up next to the makeshift platform. When the last song began, an artist came and started painting Christ on the cross, an artistic creation that would continue throughout the rest of the service. Something in me that had been stirring during worship came alive.
There stood this beautiful portrait of Christ dying for us; his bruised eyes were looking our way, challenging us to contemplate his death and what it means for us and to us.
LOOKING HIS WAY
I pray this scene never cease to impact our state of mind and consciousness. May it always stop us in our tracks and break our hearts. May it always lead us to gratefulness and worship. May it always lead us to surrender and willing servitude. May it lead us to confession and vulnerability. Praise God for his love for us.
As the artist continued painting Jesus on the Cross, pastors then came and preached to the assembled crowd. They challenged us to think deeply about Good Friday and how it should move us towards a life of love to others. One after the other they answered the question, “What makes Good Friday good?”, and each answer was thought-provoking. My husband preached first, followed by a youth pastor, a Catholic priest, a Lutheran pastor, a Presbyterian pastor, a Methodist pastor, and then a non-denominational pastor. Each one preached Jesus, each in his own way expressing God’s love for our community.
PASTORS WE NEED YOU
Pastors, we need you.
With your different styles, with your different personalities and senses of humor. With your outlandish ideas and logical strategies. With your singleness and with your families. With your health issues and financial issues, don’t give up! All you introverts and extroverts. We need you to wrestle with doctrine and pray for clarity. If the Lord has called you to be a shepherd and care for these sheep in need, don’t give up! You are called by God to do his work, to reach these people!
The apostle Paul charges you, pastors, with this incredible task. He says it this way in 2 Timothy 4:2 (Amplified version):
“Preach the word [as an official messenger]; be ready when the time is right and even when it is not [keep your sense of urgency, whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable, whether convenient or inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome]; correct [those who err in doctrine or behavior], warn [those who sin], exhort and encourage [those who are growing toward spiritual maturity], with inexhaustible patience and [faithful] teaching.”
Don’t give up, Pastor; we need you.
FINAL TOUCHES
The artist added finishing touches to his painting as the last preacher spoke, and then sat down. His beautiful portrait was finished.
After the closing prayer, the leader asked all present ministers to come down and put their arms around each other, and declared that we were witnessing a miracle – in a world where there is so much division and intolerance, here stood a group of people, united as brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of denomination, who were dedicated to spreading God’s love to this corner of the world.
Pastors, you are making a difference.
Lord, I pray for the people reading this article. I pray they will hear your call, renewed and refreshed in their hearts. Call them to their communities, to their specific corners of ministry.
Break their hearts for the needs in front of them, and let them not become calloused to the prodigal sons coming home. Fill them again with your Holy Spirit so they can go out and boldly preach the gospel, heal sicknesses, set people free, teach the truth, and baptize new believers.
Provide for them and heal them, comfort them and give them wisdom and strength. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray, Amen.
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