Shepastor: “Practical Advice…”

Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. Proverbs 15:32, English Standard Version (ESV)

An attitude that tremendously hinders many along the path towards success is obstinacy. Some just will not listen. In pride they declare that God has spoken to them and told them to do thus and so. Therefore, they ignore words of wisdom, godly counsel and in some instances, common sense! Women in ministry must be particularly careful not to fall into this trap.

Below are some basic things to remember as you prayerfully discern God’s direction for your ministry journey…


Pray and obey… Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. Hebrews 13:17 NLT

As long as you are not being asked to do anything illegal, unethical or ungodly, follow the instructions you are given. Even if you don’t like or agree with their leadership style, methods or opinions, be faithful in your particular area. Remember, at this time, you are not “in charge.” There may be reasons for the decisions made that you cannot understand in your current position. Take this opportunity to learn as much as possible so that when opportunities open for you, you will have a wealth of experience.

Look before you leap… "But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?” Luke 14:28 NLT

Avoid allowing anxiety, frustration, anger and bitterness to cloud your judgment. Satan would love nothing more than to destroy the beauty of what God wants to accomplish through you by “egging you on” to leave your position before time, and push you to run from pillar to post looking for your own solutions. If you feel the Lord leading you to another place, prayerfully think through next steps. Do all you can to peacefully resolve issues. Thoroughly investigate “the lay of the land” ahead. Be sure the Lord, Jesus has spoken and you are not “leaping” because of hurt feelings, foolish pride or impatience.

Don’t burn your bridges… A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold.” Proverbs 22: 1 ASV

Many have ruined their own names by going about speaking disparagingly about others. The world is a lot smaller than you think. Be careful who you speak with about your dissatisfaction. If you are called away from a place of service, do your best to leave peaceably. If possible, avoid leaving angrily, with harsh or ugly words. Also, leave in a professional way. Avoid going, “AWOL,” (absent without leave). If you have responsibilities, be sure to fulfill them until the time of your departure. If you were given an assignment, complete it before you go. If others were depending upon you, be sure that clear directions are given and someone else is made aware of particulars that can make the transition smooth. Try not to leave a “mess” behind you. You never know who you may need in the future. Leaving bad can ruin future opportunities.

Finally, learn how to “chew up the fish and spit out the bone.” In other words, remember that God can teach you something in every situation. Even if you can’t use all of what is given, you can glean something. Remain open. Be humble. Remember, promotion comes from the Lord.

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Let us all pray for the families and communities effected by the recent Boston bombings. Let us continue to pray for the safety of our Nation.

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris

Shepastor: “Do You Allow Short Term Ramifications to Nullify Long Term Vision?”

6“When we were at Mount Sinai, the LORD our God said to us, ‘You have stayed at this mountain long enough. 7It is time to break camp and move on. Deuteronomy 1:6, NLT

Recently, NBC announced that in Spring 2014, comedian Jimmy Fallon would replace veteran comedian, Jay Leno. A statement made by the local newspaper caught my attention. It said, in so many words, there might be some fall out initially, but NBC was willing to take a chance on the long term good of their choice and deal with the “short term ramifications.”

This notion of dealing with short term ramifications is a bit different than what we commonly refer to as, “delayed gratification.” Delaying gratification, in general, means denying oneself of some “goodie” in order to experience something much better. I see dealing with short term ramifications as enduring something that might feel harsh, painful, highly undesirable, etc., because you understand that on the other side of the fall out, there is victory. It is more than a decision not to do something, but rather to do something that may create "issues" for others that cannot see the vision God has placed within you.

The children of Israel took what was meant to be an eleven day journey and turned it into a forty year wilderness experience. They were angry, frustrated, bewildered and begging to go back to Egypt because God’s directives through Moses made no sense to them. They nullified the long term vision of gaining the promised land because they couldn’t endure the short term pain, discomfort and uncertainties of the desert. They allowed short term discomfort, fear, shallow faith and "the crowd mentality" to nullify their long term blessings.


What long term vision are you nullifying because you can’t stand the desert and want to go back to what you perceive as a more “doable” setting? What crowd are you fearing in the short term? Are you staying too long in a situation, a mind set, a relationship, a career, a building, a house, etc., because you fear short term ramifications? Are you trying to hold something that God has said to release? Are you trying to prevent something from happening? Avoid some kind of backlash? Quell some kind of dissention?

For sure, there will be fall out when you dare to trust God and move ahead. You may lose some friends, some relationships, some members, some money, some notoriety etc. But remember, on the other side of short term ramifications is the beauty, joy, peace and victory of your promised land. Trust God and look beyond what your natural eye can see.

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris

Shepastor: On creating and increasing opportunities for female pastors: Excerpts from Beyond the Stained Glass Ceiling: Equipping and Encouraging Female Pastors, Chapter 7, “What Will We Need to Press On?”

We praise God for the designation and celebration of “Women in Ministry Month,” (March) an annual recognition lifting the lives, work and ministry of female clergy. While celebration and affirmation are critical pieces of the advocacy puzzle, much more needs to be done to assist women pastors in getting “beyond the stained glass ceiling.” Today Shepastor highlights some specific recommendations that could serve to create and increase opportunities for clergywomen.

Excerpts from, Beyond the Stained Glass Ceiling: Equipping and Encouraging Female Pastors, by Rev. Christine A. Smith, Chapter 7, “What Will We Need to Press On?” (pp. 125-129)


Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. (Philippians 2:3-4, The Message)

While it is hard to believe that women still have to break through stained glass ceilings, the reality yet exists. So the question remains, What do we need to keep pressing forward? Included in the recommendations are adequate compensation, grants and funding for the practical support of women in ministry, the education of churches by denominations on the validity of female pastors, and insights from advocates on how to provide greater support to women in ministry.

Adequate Compensation

One of the greatest challenges that many female pastors face is the lack of financial resources. Some people may argue that money is not a major issue or factor. However, it cannot be underestimated. Women must break free from the habit of denying the need for financial support. Women in ministry have publicly decried the need for funding but privately expressed their financial struggles. Although some congregations have endowments that keep them going, many if not most of the churches where women are called do not. Because their membership is largely the elderly, the members give out of their fixed incomes. Smaller congregations are typically comprised of the very elderly and the very young, neither of whom have substantial income to share.

If the church building is an older structure, it most probably has been severely neglected and needs repairs. Leaking roofs, molding carpet, and broken water heaters are not uncommon. Frequently, the pastor uses her own resources to assist in paying for repairs, buying supplies, and providing funding to promote special events and programs. So much time and energy are spent on attempting to keep the ministry afloat that her energy and morale can become depleted. Building up the church ends up on the back burner; putting out fires becomes the focus.

Single female pastors, particularly if they have children, can have a major dilemma. Out of necessity, many are bi-vocational, struggling to pay for family needs or children in college. Even those without children find themselves needing to secure additional employment because the pay is low and sometimes unstable, and benefits may or may not be an option. A married female pastor may not face the same depth of financial struggle as a single pastor if she has the financial support of her husband. He may carry the medical benefits for the family, and thus, lack of benefits from the church may not be a problem. However, if her pay is lowered due to decreased church giving, the stability of the two-income household can be devastated. She too may be forced to obtain another job to make ends meet. A husband in this predicament may become frustrated and resentful toward the church, and the marriage may begin to suffer.

It is not uncommon for a female pastor to be faced with the church making a choice of paying the heating bill or paying her salary. If she demands her pay, the building is cold and the people are bewildered. If she allows her salary to be used to pay bills, the church becomes indifferent, and a pattern may begin to be established. With her faith challenged, her vision blurred, her motivation drained, her wonderful ideas tabled, she fights against despondency. She presses on, desperately seeking resources while praying her way through. She is still preacher, teacher, and encourager in chief. She is still called to the bedside of the sick, sought after by troubled souls needing a word of counsel or inspiration, asked to attend the juvenile court hearing, and expected to tell the lost about salvation. Her mind tells her, “Girl, you are crazy!” The bill collector tells her, “That partial payment you made is not sufficient.” Her heart tells her, “You are a pastor—trust God!”

One might ask, “Why in the world would anybody remain in such a dire predicament?” The short answer is, “The call.” The question, however, for the church, denominational leaders, and advocates of female clergy is, “Can you do better?” The heavens resound, “Yes, you can!” In order to press on, there needs to be an acknowledgement that the process is broken in order to move forward with the business of making repairs. Bulletin inserts and special DVDs about women in ministry on a particular Sunday annually is a start; however, things of greater depth and with further reach are needed.

Financial Support

Grants and funds for the practical support of women in ministry need to be established. Just as monies have been made available for sabbaticals, support groups (e.g., Together in Ministry Groups), and special ministry projects, it is necessary to develop a strategic plan for creating financial support for women in ministry. While it is hoped that more women will have the opportunity to serve in larger, more financially stable congregations, many will not. Those interested in advocating for women in ministry must consider creating avenues of support for those who pastor smaller congregations.

It is not enough to say that women need to develop strategic plans and pursue grant opportunities on their own. Female pastors need advocates to work to make inroads where few exist. Advocates can host roundtable discussions that include clergywomen and identify specific areas in which financial support is needed. Frequently, grant requests for the practical support of ministry are denied. Denominational leaders can help to make the case for the validity and critical nature of such requests. Smaller congregations also deserve quality leaders. Women who feel called to serve such congregations need assistance to ensure stable, competitive pay and resources to assist with the maintenance of the physical plant. Focus groups of female pastors can be gathered to collect data, share testimonies, and cast visions for what is required to survive and thrive in a small, economically depressed church. Denominational leaders can use the information obtained to justify specific funding for practical ministry needs. This can cultivate supportive structures and increase the potential for donors or grantors to provide financial assistance. Including a category to support female pastors through planned giving discussions with individuals and congregations can also help to accomplish this goal. Advocates can approach philanthropic entities such as the Lilly Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and others with a comprehensive plan to aid women in ministry. A grant requesting major funding for the practical support of female pastors may include the following.

Salary/benefit support for new pastors. Salary support would be up to half of the annual salary. For example, if the salary is $45,000, the church may be able to pay only $25,000. The national grant program would provide support by paying the other $20,000 and a portion of the pastor’s retirement and medical benefits for the first five years of her pastorate.

Building fund support for smaller, female-led congregations. Funds for major repairs could be made up to a certain amount.

Assistance with outreach programs. Special resources (financial, program resources, national staff) could be available for female pastors to draw upon to assist in rebuilding and further developing once-dying ministries.

If female pastors could receive these kinds of practical support, accepting a call to a small, fractured, dying congregation might be more workable and certainly a blessing for her health and well-being… End Quote

For the denominations that are already seriously engaged in strategically planning ways to assist women in ministry, we applaud you and praise God for you! I encourage denominations that are lagging behind to move beyond “level 1” (discussions, special days, bulletin inserts, web articles etc.,) to more tangible and concrete ways of helping “called” female clergy to not only become senior pastors, but to thrive as pastors.

To read more or to purchase a copy of Beyond the Stained Glass Ceiling: Equipping and Encouraging Female Pastors, visit www.judsonpress.com

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris

Shepastor: "Do This in Remembrance of Me"

And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Luke 22:15-19


Tomorrow in the Christian Church, many will observe "Maundy Thursday." The term Maundy comes from the Latin term, "Mandatum," which means "mandate" or command. On the night before Jesus would face crucifixion, He gave His disciples a command to love one another, exemplified through foot washing and Holy Communion. Jesus showed humility and love by washing their feet, sharing a cup of wine, symbolic of His blood and breaking bread, symbolic of His broken body - even though He knew that several in his inner circle would betray, deny and desert him.

Despite these things he showed them how to love. As He broke the bread, drank the cup and shared both with his disciples, He said, "do this in remembrance of me." Was Jesus just talking about the act of eating bread and drinking wine or grape juice? Was He simply referring to the act of foot washing? Could it be that He was commanding us to do something much greater, something that required much more introspection, something that required a greater depth of selflessness? What exactly should we do in remembrance of Him?


Could it be that Jesus wanted us to love in remembrance of Him, forgive in remembrance of Him, serve in remembrance of Him, endure the pain of rejection and betrayal, if necessary, in remembrance of Him? What is The Lord asking you to do in remembrance of Him. Consider that the next time you go before His presence at "the table."

Post a comment or send me an email at shepastor1@hotmail.com

May you experience the power of the Resurrected Lord in your life, not only this Sunday, but all the days to come.

Until next Wednesday,
In faith, hope and perseverance,
Pastor Chris

"Be still and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10 (NRSV)

Being still - Not always the easiest thing to do. It can be very challenging to be still when everything within us is screaming, "Do something!" We become frustrated, anxious, nervous and sometimes angry because things are not happening as we had hoped. God is not moving on the schedule we have created for our lives so we take matters into our own hands.

We devise plans, rearrange events, jump in where we are not invited and do our best to remain busy in order to avoid the "still place." The still place is that place where we are made to come face to face with our inability to control life. We must face that God has the last say.

Our need for and expectation of immediate or at least rapid responses have been fed by the conveniences of today's society. Gone are the days when we have to wait for someone to come home before we can talk to them. Now we have cell phones. Gone are the days when we used to pull out the old black skillet, fill it with oil, heat the oil, pour in popcorn kernels and wait for them to pop. Now we have microwaveable popcorn! Expectant mothers don't have to wait to discover the gender of their unborn child. Blood tests and ultrasounds give the answer in advance.

But life says, "not so fast." There are still things for which we have to wait. After several job interviews, someone is still waiting for an offer. After years of hoping and praying for a spouse, someone is still waiting to share their life with a companion. Someone is still waiting for healing after years of therapy. After much prayer and support, someone is still waiting for their loved one to be delivered.

The instruction, "Be still and know that I am God," can be a challenge to obey. How can we overcome our angst, our frustration?

Remember that God is El Roi, "the God who sees me." Before the foundation of the world, God knew where you would be at this moment in your journey. He sees your stress and your strain. He knows your anxiety and your dilemma. He meets you in the place of your pain. He says, "Be still my child, I am exalted among the nations. I am exalted in the earth."

God is high above every situation and circumstance that seeks to rob you of joy, peace and fulfillment. God sees you and knows just what is necessary to complete you. God understands you more than anyone you will ever know. He knows you better than you know yourself. Seek His will for your life daily.

Ask the Lord to order your steps. Trust Him to supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory. Know that He can and will work all things together for your good.

Remember that El Roi sees you and loves you with an everlasting love.

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next week,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris

Shepastor:"Should We Lean In?"

But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, "Let us go up at once and occupy the land for we are well able to overcome it." Then the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against this people for they are stronger than we." So they brought to the Israelites an unfavorable report of the land that they had spied out, saying, "The land that we have gone through as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people that we saw in it are of great size. There we saw the Nephilim (the Anakites come from the Nephilim); and to ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them. Numbers 13: 30-33,NRVS

What happens when we see ourselves as "grasshoppers?" The text suggests that as we see ourselves, so others will see us. Even if God and all of the angels in heaven tell us that we can do, that we can over take, that we can become, that we can possess... If we don't embrace, believe and pursue the promise, we will end up wandering in the wilderness and lose our opportunity to enter our promised land.

Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg tackles this issue from a secular perspective in her new book, Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead.. Sandberg asserts that women have made little or no progress in gaining CEO level positions, although scores of women have become college educated. She asserts further that historic socialization has cultivated internal oppressive behaviors within the women themselves that serve to keep them down. In other words, women have internalized messages that keep them from striving to be all that they could be.

Statistics reveal that the more men rise to the proverbial "top," the more they are revered, respected and liked. Conversely, the more women rise or gain positions of leadership and authority, the less they are liked by both women and men. While men are described as "strong, decisive, and a visionary," women with the same skill set are often labeled, "bossy, selfish, glory seeking and a 'B'". As a result, women both in the secular and the sacred realms are less likely to "lean in." For a whole slew of reasons, women convince themselves to "make do," accept less and strive to be liked rather than to lead. For clergy women, the stained glass ceiling is no less formidable.

In Beyond the Stained Glass Ceiling: Equipping and Encouraging Female Pastors ( www.judsonpress.com ) the issues of "What Stands in Our Way?" Is fleshed out (see chapter 3). Low expectations, the power of perception and denial and bad theology all are factors that persist beneath the surface of our reluctance to "lean in." Are you moving as God leads or are you stuck in the wilderness, bound by the grasshopper syndrome?

May you find the courage and the strength to be all that God has ordained you to be before the foundation of the world, whether other women and men applaud your pursuits or not.

Post a comment or send me an email at shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance
Pastor Chris

Shepastor: "The Human Side of Jesus"

Jesus Prays for Himself

1After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

John 17: 1-5

Although many, if not most Christians espouse a belief that Jesus was both "fully human and fully divine," as He walked the face of the earth, some find it difficult to connect with the "human" side of Jesus. As we journey through this Lenten season, I'd like to challenge the fears that keep us from experiencing the comfort available to us as we embrace an understanding of Jesus' true ability to relate to our human condition.

Some Christians fear looking at, talking about or even imagining the human side of Jesus because they somehow feel such musings may diminish his divinity. But nothing could be further from the truth. "With His stripes, we are healed!" (Isaiah 53:5)

In our text for today, the human side of Jesus was beat up, bruised, rejected, doubted, falsely accused, disrespected, cast down and out. He was about to face dissertion by his closest companions, the disciples. His closest earthly ministry brother, Peter was about to deny he ever knew him. One in his inner circle, Judas, was plotting to betray him with a kiss. The crowds were gone. Those who claimed to know God were devising plans to destroy him. Unbelievable humiliation, extreme physical pain and the momentary separation from His heavenly Father (as He took on our sins) was looming.

It is in this context that Jesus utters the words, "And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began..." In our common vernacular, "Father, tell them who I am. Father, they have no idea who I am. Father, show them my identity even before the foundaton of the world..."

The bruised Jesus, the rejected Jesus, the betrayed Jesus, the disrespected and humiliated Jesus, the "human Jesus," in this prayer, shows us his vulnerable side, his pain, his longing for the Father to reveal not only to His disciples, but to the rest of the world, His true identity.

In ministry, as we strive to walk upright, to carry the Gospel, to love unconditionally, to glorify the Father, we too will have times when we want to cry, "Lord, tell them who I am!" Those with false humility may cry, "Shame on you! You should not care if they don't know who you are. It does not matter. All that matters is that they know Jesus."

But for those who know how to "keep it real," it is comforting to know that our big brother Jesus, loved us enough to show us His human side - the need to cry out in agony when His dignity was denied, His voice was muted, His human rites were stripped, His gifts were ignored, and His true identity was invisible.

If we find ourselves experiencing any of those emotions during the ministry journey, may we find comfort in knowing that Jesus can relate to our pain because of His human side. May we understand that it is ok to utter the prayer, "Lord, show them who I am that you may be glorified in me."

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris