Leslie B. Flynn wrote a book a number of years ago entitled, “How to Survive in the Ministry.” He served at the Grace Conservative Baptist Church of Nanuet, New York, for 40 years and retired in 1989. He went home to be with the Lord in 2006. The book covers many of the pitfalls of ministry, along with strategies for survival.

In the book, he quoted Dr. Joseph Stowell, the former president of the Moody Bible Institute. Stowell wrote in 1988, “”Quite frankly, I think that pastoring today is tougher than it’s ever been before. People are more distracted and less committed. The competition of stellar superstars piped directly into our homes through radio and cassette (think how much this has changed!) and the phenomenal impact of a secular, paganized media have all made the terrain of the pastor’s path rather tough. Our pastors find themselves struggling with their place, their people, their power. Pocketbook issues often keep them free of self-sufficiency.” Life as a pastor has drastically changed in many ways in the past 40 years since Stowell wrote this. The world is complex and fast-moving.

Some days, it is true that, as pastors, we aim at survival. To survive means in part, to continue on despite the circumstances. This is a baseline goal, but it is not the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is to thrive and find our joy in the Lord. To thrive means, in part, to progress toward or realize a goal. It is easy to see our problems in ministry and become discouraged or dismayed. We need to train ourselves to see our joys. God is so gracious to His servants, and the blessings He gives are beyond measure. I love the Lord and His church, and I love serving as a pastor. There is no higher calling. Let us echo the words of the Apostle Paul in our lives- “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14.