While serving as the pastor of a rural Texas church, this author stood over the bedside while my fourteen-year-old daughter took her last breaths. With a broken heart and my wife by my side, I had confidence and faith in the power of God to carry me through this dark valley. I had stood by many men and women as their pastor in similar, painful circumstances. A hospital chaplain, whom I had never met, stood behind us. He provided his presence and a reading from Scripture that I requested.

Pastoring with a Broken Heart

I was hurting and had a great task before me that would begin with delivering this news to my other three daughters. I was the pastor, but now I needed a pastor. Who could provide that comfort and care to the one who was accustomed to caring for his flock? As a part of the body of Christ, every pastor in his humanity will one day find himself in need of pastoral care.  

Paul Found Comfort in Friends

Neither Paul nor the men who served with him were without fault. Paul’s associates sometimes failed him. Apparently, Paul fell short as his temper was on display in his relationship with Peter, Barnabas, and Mark. This serves as a reminder as well that these were imperfect men. Facing great odds, they were empowered by the Spirit of God to accomplish a great task. In these details of their relationships, we find men who needed each other. They were buoyed by companionship as they suffered together, encouraged each other, and stepped up to provide aid to each other for personal and ministry reasons. 

A Community of Encouragement

This author has found similar strength to remain faithful to the calling of God from other pastors. When faced with the intense grief of losing a daughter after a long illness, I was encouraged and lifted up by the companionship of other ministers. The congregation rendered similar encouragement and aid. The denomination stepped in to help share some of the financial burden. The most important source of strength came from the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.  

Fellow Pastors Lift the Burden

A crucial part of my healing and ability to stand tall as a father and pastor was rooted in the companionship, encouragement, and aid of fellow ministers. These relationships were forged in ministry years before my daughter’s passing. The encouragement sometimes took the form of direct admonitions to do the tough things required in tough times. There is a special bond that is rooted in the shared connection as ministers of the Gospel.

This one personal incident serves only to illustrate a greater need. The heavy burden may come from the daily responsibilities of ministry, a difficult church environment, external threats, or the weight of lost souls. That burden is always more bearable when the pastor has faithful fellow servants of the Gospel with whom he can share the load.  

This blog includes the intro and conclusion to my pastoral ministry research project. The middle 25 pages is “academic” writing 🙂 that explored Paul’s ministry relationships found in Colossians 4:7-17. The pastor’s ultimate pastor is the Good Shepherd. A case can also be made for the congregation and deacon body to share the responsiblilty to care for a hurting pastor.