When The Pastor Strikes Out

Guest column from Rev. Michael Brooks of Siluria Baptist Church, Alabaster AL

I’m indebted to Rick Warren for a word I’ve remembered on those Sundays when I don’t think I’ve done my best. 

“You don’t have to hit a home run every Sunday,” he insisted, “just consistent singles.”

Singles move the runners along and win baseball games. But sometimes pastors believe they struck out at the plate, or pulpit.

I think there are several reasons for this kind of discouragement.

One is simply being tired. Despite the old joke about working one day each week, pastors work hard caring for the flock and administering the church during the week. Sunday is the Sabbath day of rest for most modern Christians, but Sunday is a prime work day for ministers. Thus, many ministers try to take Friday or Saturday off. But these plans can fall short. I remember often conducting weddings and funerals on weekends. And if you’re a homeowner, Saturdays can be taken up with yard mowing, leaf raking, car washing and home repairs, so hardly days of rest.

Another reason we feel we don’t connect is our congregations may be unresponsive. They, too, have demanding schedules during the week, especially with children at home. And here in the South, church members can get emotionally invested watching football games on Saturday and find themselves emotionally drained on Sunday. As has been noted, football is a religion in Dixie.

And parishioners can get tired before the pastor steps to the pulpit. What about those who teach  children earlier in the Bible study hour? And sometimes we allow guests to give a word of welcome or a word of promotion. Though they might ask for five minutes, they may take 10 or 15! When the clock nears noon (or whatever the normal end time might be) the congregation may get antsy when the pastor continues his message.

And pastors can be emotionally depleted. When someone comes in on Sunday we’ve been encouraging and praying for, we’re excited. But sometimes sheep wander. They grow lax in commitment. Or they feel the lure of another sheepfold. 

There can be good reasons to find a new church, but sometimes church members look for something shiny and new rather than something tried and true. No one feels the loss of sheep like the shepherd, and he does everything possible to encourage the discouraged, solve any issues and love the sheep back to the fold. 

The longer I live the more I realize the importance of steadfastness. Pastors invest in healthy churches when they faithfully do what needs to be done, love the saints and seek a fresh word from God to share each week.

And stalwart church members, likewise, we trust, return these efforts with commitment and love.

Michael J. Brooks, pastor of Siluria Baptist Church in Alabaster, Alabama and former Judson College faculty member, writes a weekly faith column. Visit siluriabaptist.com for more information. Rev. Brooks has graciously given ALPolitics.com permission to repost his regular pastoral column here.

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