A fellow pastor told me of an encounter he had with an angry church member over something rather inconsequential. Seems as though this guy had been through a bout with the flu, and was bent clear out of shape because the pastor had not been to see him while he was off from work for three days. "I don't know why you didn't come and see me" the angry church member said. "You preachers only work about three hours a week! I wish I had your job."
Most pastors I know (full time or bivocational) do the best they can to do all they can. It's not a job - it's a calling. Thankfully, most church members aren't quite as demanding as this fellow, but there is something telling about what he said in the heat of the moment. On the surface, it does look like a pretty cushy gig. All the pastor has to do is dress up nice and show up for a couple of hours Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday night - thrill souls and bless hearts - then do it again next week. Sometimes people wonder, "Just what does the pastor do the rest of the time?" That's a valid question.
Sometimes the police department offers a "ride along" to individuals who are interested in what a day in the life of a cop is like. For those of you who are interested, I thought I'd offer you a ride along with the pastor on a typical day. Yesterday was fairly typical.
Up at 4:30. This is when I get my quiet time alone with God. Not serious sermon preparation, just the Bible reading and meditation and prayer time that I need each day. After that important time, I usually finish sending out the prayer request, church updates and daily devotional to about 250 folks. Some have told me they appreciate getting the devotional, and an old high school friend in Nashville tells me he forwards it on to 210 people on his mailing list every day. This is also the best time to post on my blog.
The fitness center, where I am a member, opens three days a week at 6:00 am (MWF). It doesn't open until 8:00 on the other days, so I try to get to the gym on the early days. Usually I'm in the office by 7:30 where I get my shower before the others come in and the phone starts ringing. This particular day I had to go to the bank and run some errands and pay a couple of bills. It's pay day, and preachers have to do that stuff you do on pay day too.
I make a quick call to Linda, to make sure she is up and at 'em and then the regular call to Dad before I go into the gym. Had a good hour workout. 30 minutes on the eliptical machine and then 30 more on the various nautilus weight machines. Two years ago I made a commitment to try to get in better physical shape. While I haven't lost much weight, I have been firming up more, and feel MUCH better to have that regular exercise. I won't get to go in early on Friday due to a church member scheduled to have surgery at 6:30. That happens sometimes, so I will have to try to hit the gym on my way home that day.
After the time at the gym and running my errands, it's off to St. Mary's hospital. Only one patient in one hospital to visit today, but this case is tough. I'll spend more time here today than the ususal hospital visit. The patient is having a procedure done and is awaiting the results of pathology reports from a biopsy done the previous day. This family is expecting bad news, and I need to stay a little longer than the normal visit. (The bad news did come later in the day)
On the way back to the church, a quick call to the association office to go over a planned event for April that I have been helping with. Also a stop by Stewarts on First Street for some hot dogs and diet Root Beer for lunch (health food!) I consume them in the car on my way back to Westmoreland. Two more phone calls to check on a couple of others who have been sick. (Cell phones sure are handy)
Back in the office, Sonia has a few messages for me, and there are a couple of emails to answer. She's working on the newsletter and I have to get her my article (this time I'm using something I wrote 8 years ago - "A Letter To My New Born Grandson") and I have to go over some other items with her before the newsletter is printed.
The church treasurer is there and needs to go over a few things with me. She is preparing for a finance committee meeting later that evening and want's to share some information with me.
A homebound church member calls the office (for the third time today) The first call was to ask Sonia why no one has called to check on her today. The second call was for Randy (our associate pastor), asking him for advice. This time the call is for me. I get the same call from the same person nearly every day. I listen, give some advice, and have prayer with her over the phone.
I close my office door and work for about 40 minutes, uninterrupted, on Sunday morning's message which is beginning to take shape. I already have Sunday evening's "Baptist Faith and Message" lesson done, but realize that since I am going up against the Super Bowl this Sunday evening, the crowd will be sparse. I guess we could have a Super Bowl Party and show the game on TV and preach at half time, but I just have never been able to bring myself to do that. I am interested in this particular Super Bowl matchup, but as usual, I will only get to see the second half after I get home from church. I can't tell you how long it has been since I have seen a complete Super Bowl game. Occupational hazard...
Randy needs to talk with me about the Sunday morning services, and about the upcoming Easter musical. Looks as though we're going to be doing a joint project with the choir from Altizer Baptist Church with one performance at WBC on Palm Sunday night, and another at Altizer on Easter Sunday night. That's great! It goes right along with the "Building Bridges" project that we are working on in our association.
I've got a few minutes now to get out the last letters containing the reports and photos of our January mission trip to the Philippines. We try to make sure everyone who has given financial support for the mission work gets an update with the final results. Also, now is a good time to send out a couple of birthday cards.
I get a call regarding a reference on one of our church members who is applying for a job and used my name as a reference. That reminds me - I am supposed to write letters of recommendation for two other members. One is due today - so I get on it right now. I'll need a little more information before I can write the other.
It's now 3:30. Sonia is gone for the day and Randy has Rainbow Kids Children's Choir practice. I'll be answering the phones for the rest of the afternoon, while I am going over and fine tuning tonight's message from my series on the Book of Romans.
During Rainbow Kids practice, I have opportunity to visit with three different parents, individually, for a few minutes. One has some family situations of some concern and we have prayer together for those needs. We're also looking for a Vacation Bible School Director and I am talking to one individual who is considering taking on that task, during this time. Finally I get a little break and go in and just enjoy listening to the kids sing for a few minutes. Randy does a great job with them!
Now is the time I can finish up on another task. Two more folks from Jay's church in New Orleans have sent the money to purchase plane tickets for the May mission trip to the Philippines. That brings our May team to a total of 8 members. I go online and purchase their tickets from Los Angeles to Hong Kong to Manila to Dumaguete and back. Thankfully seats are still available and we are all on all of the same flights. This is a real blessing since it is a first time trip for all of them but Jay.
Randy and I will not be going home from work today. On Wednesday's we normally stay on through until church time. There really is not enough time, and with $3.15 per gallon for gas, it's just not worth it. One of our new members is the owner of Giovanni's and she has kindly given us a coupon for a free 16 inch pizza. We order the pizza. Randy goes to pick it up while I make a quick trip to the Post Office to drop off the rest of the mail that needs to go out today. On the way to the Post Office, I make a call back to the patient in the Hospital and get the bad news. The doctor had just left the room after confirming that the mass was malignant. He would be setting up a consultation for the patient at the Ohio State University Medical Center with specialists there.
Nothing we can do, but have prayer, which we do.
Quick dinner with Randy and his son (our pianist) Josh, and it's back to work. I've got just enough time to finish my power point slide presentation for tonight's Bible Study, and while answering a few more phone calls, finish up a letter to our church members which will go out as an insert in the newsletter tomorrow. Got it all done and make it into the sanctuary just as Randy is opening the service with a congregational song.
Service is over by 8:15. I spend some time saying good night to several members and then about 20 minutes talking over some important issues with two of my deacons. I make it back home about 9:15 PM when I see my wife for the first time today. We have a late snack together. I go through the mail, answer about a dozen emails, check out Baptist Press online, take my insulin shot, and hit the sack to watch the 11:00 news.
My cell phone rings one more time. It's Randy. He had left the evening service early to get to Altizer to take the Easter music to them for their choir practice. He called about 9:45 to let me know how that went, while he was on his way to CAMC Putnam General Hospital to visit his dad who was recovering from surgery. (associate pastors work long hours, too)
Now, none of this is written to complain. Far from it. This is what we do, and it is really a pretty typical day. Of course there were no weddings or funerals today. Those are also a regular part of our work. I try to keep a schedule, but emergencies often pop up. It's important to keep the attitude of "Semper Gumby" (always flexible) because we never know what the day is going to bring.
I love the vocation that God has called me to and I love the congregation where He has placed me for ministry. Sometimes it's tiring, but always fulfilling. Hope you have enjoyed the "ride along" today. All I ask is that the next time you hear someone say, "The preacher only works about three hours a week." maybe you can enlighten them a little.
(By the way - I am on call 24/7. The cell phone number is 304-412-0352. Don't hesitate to call if you need me, but if you call between 11:00 pm and 5:00 am - please make sure it is an emergency!)
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