Hug Your Pastor

Grace Adventures reaches out to political, business and spiritual leaders for Christ, one leader at a time. I want to see leaders healthy and fruitful. Since October is PASTOR APPRECIATION month, I would like to focus this newsletter on our pastors and spiritual leaders.  They are people too, and need encouragement. Take a look at some startling statistics that reek in the spiritual leader graveyard:

·         A staggering 18,000 pastors annually exit vocational ministry never to return

·         For every 20 pastors who go into ministry, only one retires from the ministry

·         3500 churches die each year

·         80% of pastors feel unqualified and discouraged in their role according to George Barna

These stats are alarming. I grieve many times when I listen to the hearts of spiritual leaders. Sometimes the grimaces, the third degree burns, and wounds of the soul I see cause my stomach to turn more than any ER situation I have encountered. I admire the overwhelming number of spiritual leaders I know. These statistics can and must change. I delight in spending time with spiritual leaders, listening to their stories, processing pain, sharing hope, praying and longing for the Spirit to show up and bring salve to the raw inner places of their inner world.

Have you ever seen the show “Dirty Jobs”? The host Mike Rowe, explores the hardiest, messiest and strangest jobs around. For instance, Mike has highlighted:

·         A coal miner

·         A mule logger

·         A lightning rod installer

·         A worm dung farmer

·         A sewer inspector

I’d like to propose that Mike look at one of the toughest jobs anyone could do – A Spiritual Leader. It is spiritually, mentally, physically demanding. So this month pray for spiritual leaders, encourage them, and hug your kids and your pastor. They deserve it.

The Lion Chaser’s Manifesto:

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don’t try to be who you’re not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion.  --Mark Batterson

Read it. Post it. Live it.

Prayer Requests for Grace Adventures:

·         Evangelize  those who have not yet experienced a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16)

·         Establish  those who have a desire to grow in their faith and in their knowledge of the Scriptures (Colossians 2:6-7)
·         Equip those who have been called to spiritual leadership (Ephesians 4:11-12)
·         Encourage the Church to participate in the process with us (1Timothy 2:1-4)
·         Enlist & Enable individuals, businesses, and churches to become strategic prayer and financial partners (2 Corinthians 8:3-6)
·         Engage those who desire to participate in the ministry by offering their time and talents (Matthew 25:20)
·         Entreat God to bless all facets of the ministry as we look to Him for wisdom, guidance and ways to bring Him glory (1 Chronicles 4:10)
·        Enjoy  the opportunity to witness God move in miraculous ways (Psalm 37:4-6)
and financial partners (2 Corinthians 8:3-6)

 

Michael, along with government leaders, met with Leading Global Islamic Terrorism Expert, Brigitte Gabriel of ACT for America.

Election Year Exhortation

1. Everybody Pray!  OK?

2. Everybody Vote!  OK?

3. Everybody Be Civil! OK? I didn’t hear you!

4. Everybody Needs Jesus! Agree?

John Adams to Abigal Adams:

My dearest friend, I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings upon this house and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof. (Now inscribed on White House State Dining Room mantle.)

Betting the Farm on God,

Michael