Hurt Pastors and Leaders

Pastor P's Road to Recovery
Having done all to stand, were still standing. Mike, Thanks a million for your great information. I found it searching for information for a book report for my Masters degree in counseling on "The Prevalence of Depression In Ministers and Their Families." Your article ministered to my broken heart. I can sure relate with all you said in your article. I was a pastor for 15 years. A little over half the deacons (probably about seven) of my previous church were persuaded to ask me to resign, implying that if I did not resign and if I did not keep their meeting quiet, I would not receive their severance pay. Out of fear, shock, and the advise of my wife, I chose to resign with no job to go to and no source of income. The church policies and bi-laws stated that over two thirds of the church membership had to vote to terminate a pastor. They would have never achieved that many people asking me to resign. I asked why, they told me vaguely, "You have not fulfilled your pastoral responsibilities." I asked them to be specific. The chairman replied, "We would rather not." Months before this dreadful meeting with the deacons, the stress (caused by the mean hand-full of people in the church) caused me to develop abcesses that required surgeries to remove or I would have died from the infection. This meeting took place just days after my last surgery. One deacon stated that he was grateful for how faithful I had been to visit church members in the hospital, in nursing homes and at their residences. I was there almost four years and one year we had a record number of baptisms and received the award from the denomination as a "Pacesetter Church". The mean wolves of the church never rejoiced about baptisms but complained that the church was changing "from a white collar church to a blue collar church." One deacon threatened me that if I did not stop saying Jesus is God that I would have trouble!!! I told him that I would remain faithful to Jesus my entire life and obey Him rather than man. I had been completely faithful to carry out all of my pastoral responsibilities in every way until I became ill and could not (my surgery wound had to heal before I could sit, but after two weeks of healing, I returned to all of my responsibilities until the next abcess appeared, requiring surgery about two months later, three surgeries within six months). We thought they would walk with us and love us through my illness, and the majority would have, but the minority got their way. I wish now that we had stayed and told the church the whole truth and then taken a vote of the entire membership. I am sure that the majority of the church would have voted for us to stay. After I earn my Master of Arts in Counseling Degree (I already have a BA in Sociology, an M.Div. and a Doctor of Ministry degree, all earned), I will get my resume back out to churches to pursue another pastorate and see what Jesus will do. I am uncertain if it is His will for me to return to the pastorate (I do not want my wife and children so hurt again) or go into Christian Counseling for the rest of my life, or perhaps do both. I know that Jesus will lead me and provide for our needs as He promised (Matt.6:24-34). I recently had another abcess removed and I am again healing. The doctors have found that because of the severe stress I was under for so long at my last church, my immune system was damaged and about half of the neutrophils in my blood are doing their job to kill bacteria in my body. My doctor plans to place me on some strong medication to get all of the neutrophils to do their job again. Please have everyone you know to pray for me, believing that Jesus will heal me 100% and get us back on our feet financially again. I want to encourage pastors out there who have been forced to leave. Remember these truths: 1. You were called by Jesus to be His pastor, not by men. You do not have to be employed by a church in order to still be a pastor! You are a pastor for life and eternity!!! 2. Since you are a pastor for life, then pastor!!! Teach a Sunday School class at your church (keep looking for a church until you find one that will let you teach), and/or teach a Bible Study, and/or equip others in your church through discipleship or witness training, and obey Jesus as His faithful witness to the lost each day by handing out tracts and/or telling the lost about Him (Jesus is watching so remain faithful to Him where He has you, to whom He has you with- this is a teat of our faithfulness). 3. Read and believe Romans 8:28!!! 4. Remember, Jesus did not do this to you! The devil used people to do this to you. Jesus reminds us, "They did this to Me, they persecuted and killed my disciples, the prophets and so many of my faithful servants through the ages. Who are you to say that you are above suffering for me?! Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven!!! Continue to be faithful to Me, full of faith and love me as your first love and I will provide your every need, but not your every want. I have plans to bless you and not to harm you, if you will only follow Me." Matthew 5:11-16, Jeremiah 29:11 (read NIV). In the love of our unchanging Lord and SAVIOR Jesus Christ, Dr. P

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Pastor P's Road to Recovery
Having done all to stand, were still standing.

Standing Still on the