THE JOYS OF CHURCH PLANTING

As a church planter, I experienced the thrill of seeing God's work in the lives of others. Despite the challenges, there are several joys in church planting.

Firstly, the salvation of souls brought immense joy. After weeks and months of evangelism and preaching, it was thrilling to see people come to faith in Christ. Sometimes, it took months or even years to see the fruit of my labour, but when I did, it was a reminder that my efforts were not in vain.

Secondly, building relationships was also a highlight of my ministry. Whether it was with people in my church, the community, or with other pastors, I learned that many people respond to the Gospel and to leadership when they know who I am. Building relationships is crucial in making the Gospel available and sharing it with clarity.

Thirdly, preaching God's Word was a joy and a privilege. Proclaiming the message of the cross is a humbling experience, and it was thrilling to know that the words I proclaimed were not uttered in vain.

Lastly, witnessing God's grace on the flock brought me immense joy. Seeing members find believing marriage partners, transition from Sunday school attendants to faithful members, or go on to serve in other churches was a thrill. It's a reminder to look to the bright side of things and celebrate God's work.

In conclusion, ministry is a joy! If you are serving somewhere, be encouraged. If you know someone church planting somewhere, encourage them with these words.

WHEN A PASTOR RESIGNS-CHAPTER 5 (A word to rural church planters Part 2)

           Last week, I shared one solution to curb pastoral resignations in rural church plants. Today, I'll cover the remaining solutions:

2. Encourage Missionary Refreshment

Missionaries often work alone, leading to exhaustion and burnout. Encourage them to take leave days to refresh and recharge. Identify able and faithful men to stand in during the pastor's absence, ensuring the church has a refreshed pastor rather than one on the verge of collapse.

3. Regular Visits

Sending churches should plan regular visits to the church plant, building meaningful relationships with members and missionaries. This helps encourage the missionary, provides valuable insights for prayer and support, and allows the sending church to understand the challenges faced by the missionary.

At a Southern Province youth camp

4. Consider Church Plant's History Context

Recognize that each church plant has a unique history and context. Some may have experienced leadership gaps, conflicts, or other challenges. Acknowledge these factors and offer support and understanding to the missionary.

5. Address Financial Gaps

Rural church plants often face financial challenges due to member relocation. Consider empowering the mission station through economic activities like schools, clinics, or sports facilities, which can also serve as outreach opportunities. Ensure the missionary's financial needs are met, and they don't feel manipulated or undervalued.

Additionally, if a pastor chooses to do tent-making (part-time work), the church should be prepared to accommodate their schedule, understanding that it may impact their availability for preaching, visits, and other responsibilities.

Thank you for joining me in this series. Join me next time as I conclude this important subject.

WHEN A PASTOR RESIGNS- CHAPTER 5 (A word to rural church planters)

In my previous post, I addressed pastors, and today I'd like to share thoughts with churches involved in rural church planting. I'll offer four solutions to curb pastoral resignations, starting with one today and continuing with the rest next time.

Solution 1: Understand the Dynamics of Rural Areas

Churches in rural areas face unique challenges. People often stay for only two or three years before relocating to bigger towns for education, work, or other opportunities. This means the church loses multiple families each year, increasing the workload for the missionary pastor. I experienced this firsthand during my time as a missionary pastor, effectively pastoring three churches due to these dynamics.

Interacting with some congregants

To support missionaries, church elders can identify members willing to spend time with them, partnering in evangelism and understanding their daily lives. This benefits both the pastor and the sending church. When visiting rural churches, sending churches should consider the local context, avoiding comparisons with urban churches. Rural areas have different population densities, industries, and educational institutions, which impact church growth.

Instead of assuming a lack of evangelistic efforts, ask the missionary about their outreach activities. If there are no efforts, that's a concern. However, if there's active involvement but gradual growth, exercise patience and encourage the missionary. Share stories of Adonirum Judson's patience and George Muller's faith, reminding them that church growth varies by location. Celebrate gradual growth, recognizing that the tens and twenties are just as important as the fifties and hundreds.

Join me next time on November 1st, 2024, as I share the remaining solutions. 

WHEN A PASTOR RESIGNS- CHAPTER 5 (A word to churches)

        Last week, I addressed pastors and explored ways to support them in their vital work. Now, I turn our attention to the church as a whole, for the body of Christ is interconnected and that the individual parts impact the collective whole. Today, I will address the role of the church eldership to help reduce pastoral resignation.

        Firstly, observations from pastoral resignations highlight the crucial need for strong relationships within church elderships. The pastor-elder relationship must transcend employer-employee dynamics, focusing on brotherhood in the Lord. Building relationships before assigning roles is vital, as employees rarely develop meaningful connections with supervisors. To foster mutual respect, churches should outline the eldership polity clearly and recognise pastors as equals within the eldership. 

        Secondly, when calling pastors, churches must consider the role they will play, including providing leadership and vision. However, most churches overlook this reality, viewing pastors solely as preachers, visitors, and Bible study leaders.  

Kwenda poses with some of the men at
CCBC after a men's breakfast meeting

        The apostle Paul describes the church as the family of God (1 Timothy 3:15), emphasising the importance of familial bonds within the church. Meaningful relationships enable the sharing of challenges and foster unity, even in disagreement. When familial bonds are strong in the eldership, disputes can be handled maturely and respectfully. The consequences of neglecting these principles are evident in the story of Pastor E, who resigned due to irreparable relationships with elders, affecting the church negatively. His experience underscores the necessity of mature, respectful relationships within the body of elders.

        It is good for church elders to prioritize building strong, united elderships, recognizing the pastor's role in providing leadership and vision and cultivating meaningful relationships based on mutual respect and brotherhood in the Lord.

        Join me next week, on October 25th, as we continue to explore the important topic of pastoral resignations. We'll be discussing the vital role that churches can play in supporting their pastors and helping to address the root causes of resignations. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and practical advice on how to build a stronger, more supportive church community. See you then!"

WHEN A PASTOR RESIGNS (Chapter 4) What are the solutions?

A WORD TO PASTORS

In our previous chapters, we explored various reasons why pastors resign and pastoral calls come to an end. Now, we'll discuss solutions to address these challenges.

Firstly, pastors need to be sure of their calling. I've interacted with numerous pastors who were certain about their calling, and this conviction helped them navigate ministry challenges. Anyone entering the ministry must be sure of their conviction to shepherd souls. Given the challenges African pastors face, it's crucial to have assurance in their calling to avoid an early exit.

During my tenure as Pastor at Choma Central Baptist Church, I often asked myself, "Why am I here?" The answer was clear: "God called me to this." This conviction must be every pastor's guiding principle.

Secondly, church leaders must prepare for leadership succession. In my discussions with pastors, it's evident that many love their congregations and work and would love to serve as long as possible. However, death can bring a pastoral call to an end, so it's wise for veteran pastors to identify and mentor young leaders who can succeed them. This succession planning is crucial, as death can occur unexpectedly.

Regarding financial challenges, pastors can consider empowering their wives by starting a family business or encouraging them to pursue formal employment or skill development. While this may not resolve all financial struggles, it can bring stability.

Raphael Banda, Kwenda Kwenda and Enock Sakala
 at a youth camp 

And finally, I want to address a crucial issue that affects many pastors: burnout. As we discussed earlier, burnout is a leading cause of pastoral resignations. Dear pastors, I urge you to prioritize rest and avoid overwork. The ministry is indeed a challenging and demanding calling, as the apostle Paul likened it to the hard work of soldiers, athletes, and farmers (2 Timothy 2:4-6).

As someone who has served as a pastor for over a decade, I can attest to the fact that sermon preparation alone requires a significant amount of time - at least 10 hours per week. Therefore, it's essential to make the most of your off days and leave days. Take time to recharge, refresh, and refuel. I recall a thought-provoking Facebook meme that showed an elderly man taking a break from his journey to enjoy a meal. His car was parked nearby, and the caption read, "Sometimes it's good to take a pause, recharge, and get back on the road." This simple yet profound message resonated with me. Dear pastors, I encourage you to adopt this mindset. Learn to pause, recharge, and return to your ministry with renewed energy and enthusiasm. Remember, taking care of yourself is not a luxury, it's a necessity. By prioritizing your well-being, you'll become a more effective and sustainable minister of the Gospel.

Thank you for joining me on this journey as I explore solutions to support churches and pastors and reduce pastoral resignations. Stay tuned for more insights and practical advice in the coming weeks! My next post will be on October 18th, 2024, so mark your calendars and join me again as I continue to address this critical topic. Together, we can make a positive impact on the lives of those who serve in ministry.

    

WHEN A PASTOR RESIGNS (CHAPTER 3 Continued)

      

       Last time, we explored four reasons why pastors resign. Today, we'll examine the final two reasons.

1. Communication Breakdown

Effective communication is crucial for any successful relationship or institution. However, some churches struggle with communication issues with their pastors. Pastor A shared his experience, stating, "I resigned due to a communication breakdown between me and the deacons from the sending church. I wanted to safeguard the church because I began to lose direction." When communication fails, it creates an environment filled with animosity, making it challenging to continue serving. No Pastor wants to work in such conditions, leading some to resign due to communication breakdowns.

Children pose for a photo at
Choma Central Baptist Church

2. Parental Responsibilities

  When pastors resign and pursue other jobs, people often ask why they don't wait for another pastoral call. However, many agree that a father's primary responsibility is to provide for his household (1 Timothy 5:8). Pastor B shared his story, saying, "I loved my church family, but I needed to provide for my college-going children. I had to take up another office to support them." Pastors may resign to play their role as providers for their families, especially when they are financially strained. This is a heart-wrenching decision, but they choose to be responsible and ensure their families' well-being. 

In this chapter, we've explored six key reasons why pastors resign, shedding light on the complexities surrounding this critical issue. Next week, I'll be sharing practical solutions for both pastors and churches to address these challenges. We'll dive into tangible strategies to help pastors thrive in their calling. Stay tuned for the next instalment, as we work together to support and empower those who serve in ministry!

WHEN A PASTOR RESIGNS (CHAPTER 3)

Last week, we explored reasons why a pastoral call comes to an end. This week, I'll begin sharing reasons why pastors resign. Let's examine four reasons today, and next time, we'll dive into additional factors.

1. Burnout

The Advanced English Dictionary defines burnout as "Physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress." Overworking can lead to burnout, but it's essential to distinguish it from hard work. Some individuals are naturally hard workers, while others may push themselves too far, neglecting rest and leading to burnout.

Sadly, some churches place an enormous workload on their pastors, leaving them with little time for rest. Apart from preparing sermons, leading various ministries, and overseeing church activities pastors are given to many other responsibilities. This excessive burden can lead to physical and mental exhaustion.

Pastor D shared his experience of burnout, stating, "The work of church planting is very involving, especially when you don't have people to support you. This caused me to experience burnout, making it difficult to do the work I love."

Kwenda with his first mode of transport in Choma

Additionally, some pastors face situations with no leave days or sabbatical leave, leading to further exhaustion. Pastor B mentioned that after serving for several years without leave days, his body got weary, and he needed a break. However, his terms and conditions only allowed him to take a few days off, leaving him with no choice but to continue working and risk becoming ineffective or resign to get much-needed rest.

It's crucial to remember that pastors are human beings, not machines. They need rest and support to avoid burnout. Even machines break down, and vehicles need servicing after extensive use.

2. Persecution

Persecution can also lead to the end of a pastor's call in a particular area. While death eliminates the minister from Earth, persecution usually relocates the minister. In Acts 8:1-4, several people left Jerusalem due to persecution, but they didn't die. Instead, they relocated to serve in another area. Philip, for example, relocated to Samaria (Acts 8:4-5) and later to Caesarea (Acts 8:40).

Persecution can take various forms, including financial strain, verbal or written accusations, and human conflict. Pastor E shared his experience, saying, "The relationship between me and the elders had deteriorated beyond repair. This affected the church negatively. I felt it was time for me to leave for the sake of peace, so the church could move forward." 

3. Human Conflict

Conflict is often defined as the absence of peace, which can manifest in the heart or between individuals. Serving in a local church where there is no peace and ongoing conflict can be traumatic for pastors. The Bible provides an example of conflict between two godly men, Paul and Barnabas, in Acts 15:36-41. Despite their shared faith, they had a sharp disagreement that led to separation.

Paul and Barnabas's conflict demonstrates that even godly individuals can disagree. The scripture doesn't elaborate on the intensity of their argument, but it highlights the depth of their disagreement, leading to a separation. If Paul and Barnabas could part ways and serve in different locations, why would it be challenging for other pastors to separate from their churches due to conflict?

Conflict can arise in various forms, including doctrinal differences. When a church's leaders and pastor disagree on fundamental beliefs, it can create an insurmountable bond of contention. In such cases, the pastor may need to step down. Pastor E shared his experience, saying, "I differed with my elders, and after this, my doctrinal position changed concerning eldership polity...With this shift, I couldn't continue as a Minister in any Baptist Church."

This highlights that conflict can lead to a re-evaluation of beliefs and values, making it impossible for a pastor to continue serving in their current context.

4. Sin

God's call to ministry is a call to faithfulness, and pastors are stewards of God, managing His churches and representing Him in various ways. One essential aspect of this stewardship is maintaining high levels of holiness, as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:2, which states that an overseer must be "above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach."

The phrase "above reproach" emphasises the need for pastors to be spiritually and morally upright. However, if a pastor fails to meet this standard due to sin, they may be required to resign on moral grounds. This is because their actions have compromised their ability to represent God and lead the church effectively. Depending on the nature and severity of the sin, some churches may request their pastors to resign. This is not only to maintain the integrity of the church but also to ensure that the pastor can seek restoration and healing.

Resignation due to sin is a serious matter, and pastors must prioritise their spiritual and moral well-being to avoid compromising their ministry and relationship with God.

Stay tuned for the next instalment of our series on why pastors resign, coming on October 4th, 2024! We'll explore more reasons why pastors feel compelled to step down from their roles and examine the complex issues surrounding pastoral resignation. Don't miss it!