I watched a mentor and pastor of mine in New Orleans struggle through a very tough time. When he announced he was leaving, I wasn’t surprised. I saw it coming months prior to the announcement, although he didn’t tell me. During our weekly meetings, we would talk about what I was dealing with and he’d often offer great insight. Even though he was my mentor and an authority in my life, I always felt bad for not encouraging him enough. He was going to leave whether I said anything or not, but I think if I’d taken the opportunities I had to encourage him more, life in New Orleans would have been a little easier.
Over the last month, I’ve been driving to Denton for church. The Village Denton is a video venue of The Village Church, so Matt Chandler’s sermon is piped in via video each week. Beau Hughes is the campus pastor in Denton. A couple weeks ago Beau spent a few minutes before the weekly communion time speaking from his heart. What he said was deeply personal and his attitude reflected his genuine care for the folks who are a part of The Village Denton, myself included. When I got home I took the opportunity to send him an email encouraging him and thanking him for letting the Holy Spirit speak through him to those of us in attendance. This past Sunday I introduced myself and we talked for a few minutes. He thanked me for my email and said that the encouragement meant a lot.
Good pastors put a lot out on the line. They pour themselves into the people around them. They genuinely care about the congregation’s well-being and spiritual standing. The good ones give themselves over to servanthood. And we in the congregation have a tendency to take. And sometimes all we do is take. And take. Sometimes we end up sucking the life out of our good pastors, and they end up burned out and emotionally spent. After my experience in New Orleans, I made an extra effort to encourage my leaders. Jack Allen teaches his students to be a “joy to lead.” It’s a core belief I’m sure he’ll credit to Hope Church here in Fort Worth, and it’s one worth spreading. I know I didn’t cause my pastor and mentor in New Orleans to burn out and leave the city, but I know I could have given more of myself toward ministering to his needs. So as long as I’m in Fort Worth and driving to The Village Denton, Beau can know I’ll do what I can for him.
My encouragement to you is to be a joy to lead- whether your leader is your boss at work, your parents, or your pastor, just be a joy to lead. And take a moment to encourage your pastor whenever you have the opportunity. It might make his day.
