The Right Pastor

Went to a pastor's forum today and got one really encouraging thought.

One pastor asked about knowing when to call it quits at a certain location after having been there for a long time. Much longer than my tenure at First AG. There was some discussion and then this thought.

"God loves his people. In God's view you are the best pastor for that church out of all the pastors in the entire world. Furthermore, of all the churches in the world, that church is the best church for you as a pastor."

If God did not care about his people, then any person would do for any church. If God was not concerned about the growth and good of every pastor than any church would do. But God is concerned and he puts the right people with the right pastor.

Here are some thoughts I have added as I have mused over this encouraging thought. First, it is good to think about how concerned God is about each believer and each church on an individual basis. Second, there are perhaps times when God puts a pastor in place to change a group of people, and other times the opposite is true. Most often both are true at the same time. Third, if a pastor and congregation seem to be at odds, might it be the case that God put them together for some purpose, even if accomplishing the purpose is difficult? Just a thought.

When I think about the church in Washington and the town of Washington I think God had a plan for the church, the community, and me when he brought me here.