Armor Bearer vs Flunky

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by AtlantaBishop

Well, We all know the bigger you get...the more stuff you have. Look at Brother Benny! Now HE has a lot of stuff but I am sure that his load will be a little lighter when Suzanne gets finished with him! ;-)

LOL! When we go to Africa, the men all come running out to the van to carry all of our stuff for us. But it makes me really uncomfortable. I don't ever want to give the impression that we think we're somebody special.

[James Griffin]

Apparently many of our ministers are clueless when it comes to training young ministers.


On another forum, which shall remain nameless, a general consensus was to take them, and teach them humility, wash the pastor’s car, mow his lawn, be at his beck and call.

The problem with that is it is the antithesis of what I read a minister to be. You want to teach them how to be a pastor? Wash their car, mow their lawn. A true pastor is first of all a servant.

The River of Life Church only runs a little over a hundred but in the last couple years has raised seven home grown ministers who preach out on a regular basis.

They meet monthly with an associate pastor where they are taught ministerial ethics, and how to construct a sermon. Quarterly we have a special Sunday night service where they are given 5-15 minutes depending on experience level.

Then I help find them local churches to preach out at.

Within a couple years they are better qualified to preach than many Bible school graduates.

For example the youth pastor has only been in church PERIOD for three years. Before he got in the church he was a street teen and his main source of income was selling drugs. But he has already grown to the point he will be doing a youth crusade in Belize at the end of this month.

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by James Griffin

Apparently many of our ministers are clueless when it comes to training young ministers.


On another forum, which shall remain nameless, a general consensus was to take them, and teach them humility, wash the pastor’s car, mow his lawn, be at his beck and call.

The problem with that is it is the antithesis of what I read a minister to be. You want to teach them how to be a pastor? Wash their car, mow their lawn. A true pastor is first of all a servant.

The River of Life Church only runs a little over a hundred but in the last couple years has raised seven home grown ministers who preach out on a regular basis.

They meet monthly with an associate pastor where they are taught ministerial ethics, and how to construct a sermon. Quarterly we have a special Sunday night service where they are given 5-15 minutes depending on experience level.

Then I help find them local churches to preach out at.

Within a couple years they are better qualified to preach than many Bible school graduates.

For example the youth pastor has only been in church PERIOD for three years. Before he got in the church he was a street teen and his main source of income was selling drugs. But he has already grown to the point he will be doing a youth crusade in Belize at the end of this month.

This sounds like a better way to train ministers.

The other stuff is just all about making yourself seem above the others - - don't like it at all. Sorry AB.

[Sarah]

Originally Posted by James Griffin

Apparently many of our ministers are clueless when it comes to training young ministers.


On another forum, which shall remain nameless, a general consensus was to take them, and teach them humility, wash the pastor’s car, mow his lawn, be at his beck and call.

The problem with that is it is the antithesis of what I read a minister to be. You want to teach them how to be a pastor? Wash their car, mow their lawn. A true pastor is first of all a servant.

The River of Life Church only runs a little over a hundred but in the last couple years has raised seven home grown ministers who preach out on a regular basis.

They meet monthly with an associate pastor where they are taught ministerial ethics, and how to construct a sermon. Quarterly we have a special Sunday night service where they are given 5-15 minutes depending on experience level.

Then I help find them local churches to preach out at.

Within a couple years they are better qualified to preach than many Bible school graduates.

For example the youth pastor has only been in church PERIOD for three years. Before he got in the church he was a street teen and his main source of income was selling drugs. But he has already grown to the point he will be doing a youth crusade in Belize at the end of this month.

I like this....

[pelathais]

Apparently many of our ministers are clueless when it comes to training young ministers.


On another forum, which shall remain nameless, a general consensus was to take them, and teach them humility, wash the pastor’s car, mow his lawn, be at his beck and call.

...

That really makes me uncomfortable; especially when I see these same guys joking around about "following the evangelist back to his hotel room..." and "hugging" one another "below the waist."

There really seems to be an unconscious desire to unnaturally dominate the lives and even the person of others.

Disturbing.

[Withdrawn]

Originally Posted by pelathais

That really makes me uncomfortable; especially when I see these same guys joking around about "following the evangelist back to his hotel room..." and "hugging" one another "below the waist."

[dizzyde]

I've heard of/seen this and it makes me VERY uncomfortable. I think someone even posted on here about one of these pastors that has "body guards" to surround him and keep people away from him when he leaves the platform???? Good grief!

I was raised with a dad who, while being the pastor, if he arrived at the church before everyone else (read; always) and the sidewalk needed to be swept, would sweep it. And he would do that to this day.

[notofworks]

I just read through most of the thread and I'm amazed by the overwhelming opinion that's been written. I didn't expect that. I'm surprised and impressed.

But here's the problem...I've been around this concept a few times and I can say that, without exception, the pastors who have either liked this idea or who implemented it, would have had NO CLUE, whatsoever, that people would ever feel this way. Without exception, they would expect a reaction from someone such as "Wow, I'm so lucky to be an armor bearer.

I think, in general, there's frequently a gulfing disconnect between those that are deeply imbedded into the "Hierarchy of ministry" and the "Real world."

[jfrog]

Originally Posted by notofworks

I just read through most of the thread and I'm amazed by the overwhelming opinion that's been written. I didn't expect that. I'm surprised and impressed.

But here's the problem...I've been around this concept a few times and I can say that, without exception, the pastors who have either liked this idea or who implemented it, would have had NO CLUE, whatsoever, that people would ever feel this way. Without exception, they would expect a reaction from someone such as "Wow, I'm so lucky to be an armor bearer.

I think, in general, there's frequently a gulfing disconnect between those that are deeply imbedded into the "Hierarchy of ministry" and the "Real world."

What ever would make you think that JKJK I totally agree!

[Barb]

Originally Posted by Sherri

LOL! When we go to Africa, the men all come running out to the van to carry all of our stuff for us. But it makes me really uncomfortable. I don't ever want to give the impression that we think we're somebody special.

Therein is the difference, Sherri...it's in the heart and mindset of the individual giving and receiving.

If someone has enough respect to want to serve in this capacity, that is one thing.

When it is demanded and expected, that is another.

I always like to remember the story of Elisha and Elijah...

A servant was trying to describe who Elisha was. With all of the great things God did through him, what stood out in the mind of the servant was this...

That Elisha poured water for the man of God...