Finding a Church Job: Don’t Give Up

This is part 12 and the final installment of a blog series called Finding a Church Job.

Several friends in my life are currently looking for a church job. They are qualified, passionate, and available but they haven’t been able to find anything remotely close to the right fit.

I keep telling them to go through the process. That being told “no” is another step in the right direction. I tell them these rejections are somehow valuable.

I tell them this and understand why they want to give up.

So I’m telling you what I’m telling them.

Don’t give up.

Very simple, but very important for you to hear. If you are  a pastor, be a pastor. To your family, or your neighbors or your co-workers at the coffee shop or in the cubicle next door. Be a pastor to those who haven’t asked for a pastor until a community of people asks you to be their pastor.

Calling is this odd sort of trump card we like to play. If we are called we assume that we will have immediate gratification. Your calling as you articulate it is more of a destination or at least a few steps past the formative steps of humility and service that first must be embodied.

There is no secret formula. A search agency (head hunter) may call with an offer, a friend at a healthy church gives you a heads up on an opening, someone above you moves on, whatever the situation you will fail without first knowing who you are.

Pastors give up when they forget who they are.

Pastors take the wrong job when they didn’t know who they were in the first place.

It may feel like you need to jump at any opportunity that comes your way or give up and take the first job you can land with insurance, and for a season you may need to. But in the process first know who you are as a pastor.

Pray.
Talk to those who truly know you and the Lord.
Do and take notice of God’s Spirit.

We have to deal with this weird thing we call calling. I’ve never had an audible voice of God moment, but I know when I am doing the things God has created me to do.

One of them is supporting other pastors.

And I am beginning to figure out exactly where this should be happening.

I know it is hard. I’ve been told “no” and been passed over before I could even ask for a “no”. It sucks.

But don’t give up because you are who God says you are. Not where you get a paycheck from.