When I was just starting out as a pastor, I didn’t know what I was doing. As a solo pastor, I didn’t have anyone “in-house” who could show me the ropes. In God’s mercy, I had a wonderful group of elders who were patient and gracious with me as I made mistakes and, over time, sort of figured things out. Looking back, these elders were one of the greatest gifts I have ever received in ministry, and my life. But equally as important was a man named Jim Lee - a pastor in the same denomination and neighboring community. In those first few years of ministry, Jim was the guy who would come alongside me when I had questions (they were myriad) or simply to commiserate in the difficulties the church always seems to have.

Here’s what made Jim so precious to me: He pursued me. I didn’t know what I didn’t know, and would not have known (even if I should have) that I needed a mentor in those early days of ministry. Jim would call me, email me, text me, invite me out for coffee. He would help me keep up with denominational affairs. He would run ideas by me and listen to mine. And as Jim pursued me, especially in those very early days, I realized that I needed to pursue him. He was smarter, more experienced, simply wiser than I was.

In the years since, I’ve met countless pastors who simply didn’t have a Jim Lee in their lives. They didn’t have a mentor - someone who knew they needed help, even if they were too proud (or delusional) to realize it themselves. Many pastors actually do know they need help, but aren’t sure where to look. There is only so much you can say to elders, or your own congregants. Even your closest friends, if they aren’t in ministry, can’t really understand the emotional toll that pastoral ministry takes. Even with your spouse, you can’t get everything off your chest - I often discourage pastors from laying everything on their spouse. Why? There may be confidentiality issues at stake. But the everyday conflicts, struggles…or even the gravitas of shepherding the souls entrusted to you, even without risking confidence, becomes a weight to your spouse. So, it’s great that you, the pastor, can unload it onto your spouse, but where do they take it? It has to die with them. There is a better way.

One of ServingLeaders’ core values is to be Mission-focused. That means pursuing, befriending, and encouraging ministry leaders in their unique needs and challenges.

I’ve often been surprised at what such a pursuit means for pastors, whether they are serving solo or on a mega-church staff: “Somebody knows me…the insecurities and sin and uncertainty…and they can’t fire me.”

We want pastors to have a safe place where they can share and receive counsel and guidance and a listening ear. We desire for pastors to have that because it is a necessary part of growing in ministry: honesty with others and honesty with yourself. We want pastors we work with to explore their hearts, even the scary parts, so that the light of the Gospel can shine there and bring healing and freedom for more effective, longer-lasting ministry.

Interestingly, after I had been serving in ministry for about 18 years, I was confronted again with a deep sense that I didn’t know what I was doing. A friend who also happens to be a pastor, but who is older than me by about 10 years and has been working in ministry for about 20 years longer than me, told me recently, “I need a mentor now, just as much as when I was getting started.” This brother is in his 60’s! As we talked, we both realized that, should God keep us serving into our 90’s, we’ll still need a mentor. We will need someone to pursue us, even if we might think for a moment that we’ve sort of figured this thing out.

I want to be a pursuer of pastors and ministry leaders. And I want to be pursued by those older, wiser, more experienced, or just plain more spiritually mature. Christ’s Church is not meant to be a solo effort - even if you are a solo pastor. Christ’s Church is meant to be a training ground, a place to be equipped, for deeper, stronger, more faith-filled relationships among His people. Ultimately for His glory, and our joy.