Part 11: Thy Will~ A Series of Interviews in Honor of Pastor Appreciation Month

Thy Will be Done -Hilary Scott

What most breaks your heart?

When the Church doesn’t love and back bites each other. When they do wrong- prodigal sons.-Pastor Greg Winslow, Missionary to Zihuatanejo, Mexico

When I do what I know, and have told others so many times, is wrong. -Pastor James La Belle, Presbyterian Church, Cape Cod MA

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Romans 7:24 NKJV 

 Knowing what people are really like, not what they portray. -Pastor Campo, Victory Chapel CFM, Cape Cod MA

Stagnancy. People who are just there for themselves and don’t do anything. People that know, but don’t do.  –Pastor Bruce and Sarah Hanlon

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:17 NKJV

When people walk away from Jesus and His church is what breaks my heart the most. –Pastor Michael Duncan

When people walk away from destiny. -Pastor Raul and Stephanie Delcid.

Seeing people walk away from the faith. Knowing I’ve made every attempt to reach out to them, only to be met with rejection and rebellion. Then witnessing their downfall as they gradually and methodically slip deeper and deeper into an ungodly lifestyle. -Pastor Transformation Ministries

When you have no words to console someone who has lost a loved one. When someone passes into eternity without salvation. But I’m  comforted when someone is saved. -Pastor Roger and Allejandra Williams

Do you ever want to quit?

Yes… many times I have thought about quitting. –Pastor Michael Duncan

If we had 10 cents for every time we wanted to quit we’d be billionaires. -Pastor Greg Winslow

God always talks us out of it. -Pastor Paul Campo

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.     1 Corinthians 9:16 (NASB)

Absolutely not! There are times when things can seem overwhelming or frustrating. To deny that would be wrong. But, wanting to quit isn’t something I’ve ever struggled with, or viewed as an option. -Pastor, Transformation Ministries

Absolutely not. There’s nothing in the world I would rather do. When the Lord calls you, He gives you a heart for the calling and a heart for the people and work to which He’s called you. I’ll gladly die in the Lord’s service. -Pastor James La Belle.

No, I never wanted to quit. The Bible is filled with men who accomplished what God called them to do. My reward is to serve, to tell someone about Jesus. -Pastor Roger Williams, Victory Chapel CFM, Cape Cod

What keeps you going?

We serve God for who He is not what He can do for us, everything else is just an extra blessing. -Pastor Raul and Stephanie Delcid

Keeping focused on God, not ourselves. Knowing our work for the Lord is not in vain.  -Pastor Greg Winslow

The grace of God keeps me going, and knowing that to give up now—to put my hand to the plow and look back—is unfit for the Kingdom. –Pastor Michael Duncan

My faith in God most of all. Knowing he will always remain faithful in spite of how things appear at any given moment. Knowing if I remain faithful to Him and the call, He will always carry me through every test and trial bringing me into a place of victory. -Pastor, Transformation Ministries

Four things kept me going. (1) My personal relationship with our Lord which includes my personal calling. (2) The evidence of lives radically changed by the power of our Lord’s Spirit in their lives. (3) The encouragement of my greatest earthly gift, my precious wife. (4) Serving God’s children who are poor and hurting. -Dr.George W. (Bill) Nichols, Ph.D., Pastor, missions worker, author, artist

But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 (NKJV)

What most encourages you?

When people turn to the LORD Jesus for salvation and when Christians find a greater level of faithfulness and love for Jesus—oh, that warms my heart! –Pastor Michael Duncan

Our reward is people doing well in God. -Pastor Paul and Linda Campo

This may sound almost cliche’, but the promise of the resurrection. Knowing all the struggles, evil, and suffering this world throws at us is only temporary. Believing we have a hope beyond this life that is glorious. -Pastor, Transformation Ministries

People still serving God years after we left a church to pastor elsewhere.  –Allejandra Williams. 

Seeing people step into the their destiny as an extension of the ministry and into the Harvest field. Seeing new ministry rise up. Especially the youth. An example would be our boys band, getting to be a part of encouraging them when they were just starting out.   -Pastor Roger Williams

Who inspires you?

Dr. Gary Martin in California is one of my biggest inspirations. He is my “father” in the faith, was my mentor and pastor and is still a source of great encouragement for me. I am also inspired by the life of other men such as Oswald Chambers, Evan Roberts, C.H. Spurgeon, my father-in-law Eldon Iverson, and a host of other men who have gone before me and made the road a little straighter for men such as myself. –Pastor Michael Duncan 

My spiritual mentors. I have a few. Certain authors whose books I read- Yancy, Willard, Larry Crab, Henry Nouwen, Mark Buchannan. -Pastor Bruce Hanlon

Rick, a former pastor. Even though he’s gone home to be with the Lord, many of the things he taught me and the example he set as a man of God are forever engraved in my heart and mind. If there was anyone other than Jesus I would choose to be like, it would be him. -Pastor, Transformation Ministries

Pastor Mitchell. People who for years despite what has been thrown at them, just continue and power on and have revival. That is what captured my attention at first. Real revival. There are people who grabbed hold of it and they’re seeing it. I really think we are standing on or just over the threshold of great things God is going to do. I believe we are closer today than ever before to things God has been promising for many years. -Pastor Chip Ganiear

My pastor. Pastor Mitchell. I go back to a critical time in my life when I needed to hear God’s voice Jesus made himself real to me and told me He was going to take care of me. The grace of God inspires me. -Pastor Roger Williams

Do you have someone you can talk to for counsel, direction, encouragement, and prayer, someone you can be really open with? What about friends? 

My mentors. I am a  member of a local fellowship of ministers from several churches in the area. -Pastor Bruce Hanlon

Fortunately yes! Other ministers and long standing Christian friends have always been a tremendous source of help for me when needs like this arise. Especially one person in particular who I’ve been acquainted with for many many years. Although we live nearly 3,000 miles apart, they are only a phone call away whenever I need someone I can pour my heart out to, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt they will be completely honest and open with me, while at the same time never being overly critical or judgmental. -Pastor, Transformation Ministries

The level of expectations placed upon a pastor makes it difficult to find someone who is able to fully hear your heart. So, to answer this question… no, I don’t have someone I can counsel with or be really open with besides my wife. Very few expect that I’m actually human, with real feelings and failures, with joys and sorrows. I have, in the past, tried to be open and transparent with some—only to have my innermost thoughts and struggles come back against me by the very ones I hoped to trust. So I trust my heart to my wife and my LORD. –Pastor Michael Duncan

How do you keep your heart and zeal for people and God, in spite of people’s failings and some turning against you?

Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23 NKJV

I simply look to the cross and remember what Jesus did for me when I was still an enemy of God. –Pastor Michael Duncan

Having a relationship with God- that has to come first, to be the focal and balance point of your life. -Pastor Chip Ganiear

I pray for the one who has turned, that keeps me from being bitter. I read the Word and good Christian literature. -Chantry La Belle, Pastor’s Wife, Presbyterian Church of Cape Cod 

Heaven is the goal. Nothing is worth missing it for.-Pastor Roger Williams

My agenda is the Kingdom of God. I’ve had that revelation of God since I was saved. I have to serve people with my whole heart; that’s Christlike, but it’s not easy. -Pastor Paul Campo

I work for God and not people.  I look to God and not to people for my reward. -Pastor James La Belle 

I remember who I am and Whose I am. -Donna, Pastor’s Wife

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, Colossians 3:23 (NKJV)

By not being co-dependent with the church. I don’t find my significance, my personal identity in the church. I am first and foremost Beloved of the Father. My next responsibility is to my family and then to the Church. I do my best, but the results are not a definition of my spiritual state. You have to keep them separate to keep from burn out.

If the church suddenly explodes in growth, that doesn’t make me an A+, and likewise if it doesn’t, that’s not a definition of my spiritual state. -Pastor Bruce Hanlon, Forrestdale Church, Sandwich, MA

Share some words of appreciation for your pastor and he will be listed on the Wall of Honor and entered to win a retreat at the Energize Lodge. http://energizeministries.com/latest-news/pastor-wall-of-honor/

Founded in 2010, Energize Ministries provides encouragement, refreshment, and recreational opportunities for pastors and ministry leaders and their families. Additionally, they spread awareness among churchgoers about the need to be intentional in supporting, encouraging and praying for their spiritual leaders.  Learn more about how to support and encourage your pastor at energizeministries.com

Text the word PASTOR to 74574 for daily/weekly reminders & tips to pray for your pastor.