“When did you decide you wanted to be a revitalizing pastor?”
I had to think for a minute. I am blessed to pastor a church that has experienced good revitalization in the past twelve and a half years. We have gone from unhealthy to healthy, we have impacted our community, we have seen lives change, and a church transform. But, when did I decide I wanted to be a revitalizing pastor?
I never did.
The guy who asked me that question was a good pastor who has a heart for revitalization and church health. He had no ill-will with his question, but I couldn’t answer his question.
In the winter months of 2007 when the relationship with Malvern Hill first began, no one asked me to come as a revitalizing pastor. In fact, 13 years ago, no one was talking about becoming a “revitalizing pastor.” I was a pastor and it just so happened that in God’s providence I would get to pastor a church that would experience transformation. But I didn’t revitalize anything. Only the Holy Spirit can do that.
I’m not trying to pick a fight, but I do think it is important that we really work to reclaim some lost truths here. Church planter, you are a pastor. Revitalizer, you are a pastor. Replanter, you are a pastor.
Your pastoral context is different than mine, but you’re a pastor. You don’t have to be special or unique, you can just be a pastor. Paul says that it is a noble thing to desire the office of overseer.
Did God call you to revitalize churches? I don’t know, and truthfully, you don’t know either. Unless you have the gift of prophecy, you don’t know if you will revitalize a church. Why? Because you can’t revitalize (that is, bring back to life) anything. Only the Holy Spirit can do that. Perhaps you feel called to established churches and perhaps your experience has been in struggling churches. Maybe you’ll be able to look back in the rearview mirror of ministry and see that your entire ministry was composed of revitalization. But, how is your calling different than the calling of a church planter or of a megachurch pastor?
Maybe your personality or giftedness is best suited for particular contexts, but your responsibilities in accordance with your calling do not change. You are a pastor/elder/overseer. You are called to lead God’s people and fulfill the responsibilities of 1 Timothy 3, 2 Timothy 4, and Titus 1.
You may find that at different times of your ministry you function in different ways. You may be allowed to lead a church plant, or see revitalization in an older established church, or even be called to lead a vibrant church. In each of these situations, you will be a pastor seeking to fulfill the role that God has assigned you.
What kind of pastor are you? I hope that you are a faithful pastor. I hope that you are a biblical pastor. I hope that you are a hard-working pastor. I hope that you are a caring and compassionate pastor. I hope that you are a Christ-like pastor.
Will you be a revitalizer, or a replanter, or a planter? That is the wrong question. Will you be a pastor who honors the Lord and leads God’s people. That’s the right question.
Pastor, you have work to do. Exactly what that work entails, only God knows, but the responsibilities that you have been called to are easy to discern.
Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching…always be soberminded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
