A young lady came with her mum to meet her pastor. When they sat with the man of God, he noticed the lady was not excited. Then he said something striking; “Don’t mind your mum. You don’t have to attend our church. If you are comfortable with another pastor in town, you are free to go there.” That conversation revealed the heart of pastoral ministry.
Friend, there is the heart and art of the pastoral ministry (Psalm 78:70-72). If there is any truth that has been muddled up in our generation today, it is the truth about the local church and the pastoral ministry. Most people are not well guided in their choice of a local church, and a lot of pastors don’t understand the sacredness and uniqueness of the pastoral calling (Jeremiah 3:15).
It is only an ignorant or arrogant pastor who wants to pastor everybody (Matthew 10:6, 15:24). Dear believer, you cannot attend every church. The fact that a church is not meant for you does not mean that the church is bad. It only means that the church does not have the destiny program that God has drawn out for you (Ephesians 2:10).
God is the one who sets the solitary in families (Psalm 68:6). He is the one who distributes sheep among shepherds according to His own purpose and program for the sheep and for His church. The moment we begin to gather people that God has not apportioned us in our calling, we begin to bring in the mixed multitudes that would distract the flock and destroy the work (Psalm 144:11-15).
It is an uncomfortable truth that not everyone who visits your church is meant to be pastored by you (John 1:35-37, 3:26-27). If pastors understand this, they won’t fight over church members. Rather, they would willingly and joyfully release people to other pastors and churches. If your goal is to build God’s kingdom, you would see other pastors as co-labourers and not as competitors (1 Corinthians 3:5-9, Galatians 2:8).
If God has called you to be a member of a local church. Settle there (Psalm 92:13). You may not like everything in that church. You may not even like the pastor. But if you accept God’s choice for you, every other thing will fall in place. Your destiny is a seed. It is not ordained to thrive in every ground. If you have located your place, stay planted there, grow, and flourish (Genesis 26:12-14).
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria