LONGEVITY

I guess there are certain advantages to surviving a long time in ministry. Trust me, the word survive is not too strong, because the dropout rate of pastors leaving and heading for the real world is dramatic and continues to be that way.

This summer will mark 36 years of pastoring for me - and I love it! It is particularly encouraging to have made the transition from seeing my comments draw condescending smiles when I dared to offer an opinion in my early years, to the place where there are those who actually seek out my advice now that I have passed the half century mark.

It seems that the graying of my head has fooled a number of people into thinking that I actually know what I am talking about!!!

I love spending time with other pastors and being able to interact with them. If I can encourage them, help them, save them some pain or be there for them, what a worthwhile contribution to be able to make into their ministries and churches.

This is a week that I'll be giving some considerable time to sowing into the lives of some good men. I had breakfast today with a great pastor who is turning around what was a dying, traditional church in our area. And I'm having lunch with Tony Balsamo who launches Integrity Christian Fellowship in Yaphank on Easter Sunday. Then tomorrow morning at some ungodly hour I'm leaving for Indiana on a 24 hour trip to invest some time in a young pastor who is struggling over there, working out where to go with a pretty dead congregation that is threatening to sap the life out of him and his family.

Of course I don't have all the answers. The longer I live the less I know. But I do care - and if lasting 35+ years in ministry has taught me anything, it's that there aren't a whole lot of father-figures out there looking after those who are trying to lead God's people in building his kingdom.

I'm willing to be one!