I loved this (courtesy of the I-monk). As well as my title quote (apologies for the homophobic element!), this spoke to me: <\/p>\n
“People think of a church planter as a pastor. He’s not yet a pastor. He’s trying to build the church so that he can BE a pastor.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
That’s how I feel about my ministry. I’m not yet<\/span> a pastor – I’m trying to build the church; more precisely I’m trying to bind up open wounds and get the body to knit back together. But being a pastor is what I’m called to be, and who I fundamentally am. It’s just that I can’t be that yet.<\/p>\nThere are demons that need to be driven out by prayer and supplication.<\/p>\n
My sadness is that I suspect my task in the life of these parishes is to do the structural work. It will be those who come after me who will be excellent pastors.<\/p>\n
And that’s alright. These people are so lovely. They deserve excellent pastoring, and if I can help in that process – even if it is indirect – then that is alright.
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