My normal work schedule in Sunday – Thursday with Friday and Saturday off. There were a lot of weeks earlier in my ministry when I would be in the office on Friday most week but as time has passed, I have done a better job of making sure I am able to take those days off as scheduled. Yep, sometimes I still find myself needing to go into the office for a little while on a day off but those days are much fewer and farther between now.
Often those days off are filled with taking care of household chores like yardwork. Sometimes those days are filled with reading the current stack of books that lives (and seems to multiply) on my nightstand or doing some writing. This week was a little different though. Yesterday I was blessed with the opportunity to visit with two friends I wish I had the opportunity to see much more often and fellowship with.
One of those friends is a minister right here in Georgia. We had the opportunity to have lunch together and take him by our church so he could tour the facilities I often share photos of on social media. We both call many of the same people here in Georgia friends and at times are surprised we didn’t cross paths sooner than we did. He is one of those guys that has been in Baptist life in our state for a long time and understands the distinctives of ministry here in our state.
The other friend I was blessed to see is a friend from my days at Southern Seminary. We went through the trials of doctoral studies together as we were both labored to rise to the academic challenges of the program while also balancing life in different parts of the country. He is about a decade older than me and has been in ministry for many years. He knows me in a different context than ministry in a Bible Belt state and can share insights that few others in my life can.
Spending time with two of my friends yesterday was a tremendous blessing and not just because we ate well, which we did! That time reminded me of a few things those close ministry friendships add to my life and my ministry. Honestly, that time reminded me of more than that but I thought I’d share a couple of those things here.
Kingdom Work is Happening in Other Places
I am always blessed to hear about the Lord’s work being done in other places in my own state, across the nation, and around the world. In small places across my state I have never heard of, faithful Christian ministry is being carried out and God is being glorified. In places across the United States I have never heard of and will likely never visit, God’s perfect will for creation is unfolding. In places around the world, day after day, week after week, amazing things are happening and usually we never hear.
Spending time with friends in other ministry settings provides me with an opportunity to hear firsthand about the amazing things happening fairly close to me and in places that are not so close. Our modern digital world allows some of that to be sure but it is not the same has hearing firsthand from people who are on the ground in those places. Close friends tell the story of God working in and through their ministries face to face in ways digital media simply cannot replicate.
You’re Not Alone
I hear over and over again about folks in ministry feeling alone as if they’re on a desert island and no one else even knows they’re out there. The literature is clear there are all kinds of health risks associated with being isolated and unhealthy ministers often have those problems spill into their ministry. It is not good for us to be alone and yet too many do not invest in building relationships with others.
Having close friends in ministry reminds me that I am not alone and that I am not facing anything unique as I seek to minister in my particular context. These are mutually beneficial relationships in which as times I have the opportunity to invest in my friend or serve as a sounding board while at other times seek advice about a variety of things in my personal and/or professional life.
I am blessed to have great relationships in my church with my pastor, with our staff, and with members of our congregation and believe me I don’t take those amazing relationships for granted. The relationships I have with others that have been built in different contexts and in different seasons in my own life help strengthen me and make me a better minister here. I hope you have similar relationships in your life too!
Blessings,
Chris