Pastor, what is it that you struggle with? Is it depression because everything is so hard and no-one helps or cares? Is it the secretary because she is always smiling and starting to look too good, or is it the lady who you are counseling and you should never be alone with!!? Is it the “power” you have over people as the leader and you like it , oh so much? Do you have a strong desire for more titles and prestige so more people will go wowwwww? Is money causing you to slip away from God’s way? Are the attitudes of people driving you to quit or compromise? Are the sheep biting you and your spouse and you feel like the sacrificial lamb? Do you feel like striking back? Is the church your mistress and your wife is ready to leave you?
Pastor, the enemy is like a roaring lion seeking to devour YOU! You need to stand firm and stand strong and perhaps get a couple of brothers to hold your arms up. Moses had Aaron and Hur to hold his arms up during the battle. Jesus even took Peter, James and John off regularly for private times. As a Pastor and a man we all need to have an inner group that we can lean on.Men we can TRUST! We need accountability daily, weekly, monthly, etc. We need each other to help us fight the good fight and not give in to the flesh or satan’s trickery. A good encouragement group will save you!!
A good accountability group is not afraid to question about any of the above issues and challenges. It will face these and more with you head-on. A great accountability group will go much deeper than is comfortable and walk with you through the onslaught of hell if necessary! Accountability is not to be feared but to be embraced! As Pastors we need strong accountability. We need to be questioned and drilled by our Trusted brothers in order to be the men of God we should be.
It is the Pastor who men and women see that set the standard of morality and character. If you tell off colored jokes or listen to them, then it must be okay. If the Pastor doesn’t return calls or is late to meetings or texts during worship, then must be okay. If the Pastor doesn’t “date” his wife or show her attention in public then that must be okay too. If the Pastor has wandering eyes… well lets not go there because this is a plague in most churches among men and women!
However, if the Pastor shows his wife genuine love and attention for all to see and he is prompt and considerate in everything, everyone will follow suite. If he worships in worship and stays clear of the appearance of evil this too will become the standard. When the congregation sees a loving, considerate man with high moral character and uncompromising values this will bring life to the messages you deliver!
It is the accountability group that helps hold us to the standards that we set and demand of ourselves. A great accountability group can help you raise the bar to another level and help you hold it up. It is brothers who link arms with you and you are never never never alone. If you have heard the phrase “they will take a bullet for you”, this is what a great group brings you.
This is why we call All Pro Pastors accountability groups “The Champions Table” . It is a place that Champions are made! It is where we step out of our box as Pastor and embrace challenging accountability by brothers we love and trust! It grows us into the” Man of God” we preach about becoming.
Pastor, what do you struggle with? The many issues we listed above are real and you know they are. The question is what are you willing to do about it? My prayer is that today you will reach out and start an accountability group today and if it happens to be a “Champions Table” we will do everything possible to support you. The Champions Table is safe and life saving. Join one today.
Blessings,
paul
Paul is the Founder and CEO of All Pro Pastors International, a ministry that encourages and challenges Pastors to join together as Kingdom Brothers to develop trust, accountability and unity. It is a ministry that strengthens Pastors marriages, families, and ministries by establishing “Champions Tables”. The “Champions Table” is a safe place where Pastors can meet together and develop genuine relationships. The Champions Table is a pastors “Prayer Fortress!”
Pastor Paul Pickern is married to his wife Linda. They have 5 children (Tony, Stephanie, Dale, Seth, Schyler) and 12 grand children. Their home is in Plant City, Florida between Tampa and Orlando. Paul was born in Belleville, Illinois and Linda was born in Charleston, West Virginia.
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