Here are some particulars about how to minister to your minister -- continued from yesterday.
- Survey the need. It will be really hard to minister effectively to him (or anyone else, for that matter) if you don't know anything about him.
What makes him tick? What is he like as a person?
Is he bi-vocational? What kinds of stresses does he face because of juggling two jobs?
Is he in school? What kinds of issues is he dealing with because of work-life balance?
Does he have small children?
What is important to him? How can you show interest in these things?
What are his hobbies? How can you encourage them or be involved in them with him?
Who are his heroes and why? Ask him about them.
When is his birthday? Anniversary?
Has he lost family members? Who? When? Does he struggle with any of these?
What bothers him?
What are his insecurities?
Where are his greatest needs?
Is he working too hard?
Is he sleeping enough?
Is he being fed spiritually?
Does he feel the weight of the world on his shoulders?
What are his strengths? How can you encourage these?
How is his relationship with his family?
How is his health? Is he taking care of himself?
Is he experiencing persecution for his Christian position on social issues?
How does he reach out to the people of his congregation? Perhaps he needs the same thing.
Is he a hugger? Perhaps he needs a hug. - Ask for God's guidance in meeting the need.
What can you do to relieve some of the stress in your minister's life?
Is there something you can do for his family that will bless him?
What can you do to celebrate the important things with him?
How can you encourage him?
How can you shoulder some of the responsibility he has at church?
How can you honor him by putting his teachings into practice and making the church body stronger?
What resources should you call in to meet the needs you've identified? - Pray.
Pray for your minister and for his family individually.
Pray for those to whom he will minister.
Pray for God to be glorified through him.
Pray for yourself and others as you seek to minister to him. - Act.
Put your ideas into action -- whether in October or in any other month.
Enlist others to get involved with you. - Follow up.
Evaluate your ministry endeavor.
Were you adequately prepared to meet your pastor's needs?
Did you discover something else that could be done to help him?
Should you do this again?
Whom can you include next time?
Whether ministering to your neighbor, to your minister, or to someone across town, these 5 principles can guide you along the way.
Above all, may God be glorified as His people put ministry into action.
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