Armor Bearer vs Flunky

[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[Withdrawn]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."

[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...

[warrior]

I don't know if this is about training ministers. It is about creating servants for the pastor and his wife.

Although I have heard people say the best training is to make them humble by making them serve, but there is something wrong with that thinking as well.

[Sister Alvear]

Many people are clueless what type person Jesus really was...I know a group in Brazil that teaches that ministers are far above the people...so the people do not visit their homes unless invited...If Jesus perhaps walked in their services with his unlearned fishermen, women disciples and of course the children that he was so kind to...Jesus and his band would not be welcome … and of course they were all in sandals ...so...you go figure...

(now please do not think I am saying men should come in sandals...I am only using an example of how far removed the church is today from the early church...

[Sister Alvear]

In fact I know some the pastor does not even come off the pulpit to shake hands with the people...lol...where in the world do people get it that they are so important?????

[Sister Alvear]

We are just servants to take care of God's precious lambs...not to skin them and beat them to death but to love them, guide them and even correct them with love...

[Sister Alvear]

I had rather cook and do for them than vise versa....

[MissBrattified]

Good post, Barb.

A servant's heart will serve at every opportunity, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, when someone demands servitude, or even the appearance of it--that's wrong.