Life, ministry of a pastor (1)

The pastoral ministry is not a lazy man’s job. It is an all-encompassing responsibility that demands submission to the will of God, and regularly willing your will to God’s will. When we will our will in the will of God, we become a wheel to God who gives us direct inheritance to His will.

In Titus 1:6,7 and1Tim 3:2, we discover that living a life above reproach is the first requirement in the calling of a pastor and his wife. Apostles Timothy and Titus attest to this.
Qualities Expected Of God’s Servant

• A pastor must be devoted to his wife; “a husband of one wife.” He must be a one-woman man (Titus 1:6; 1 Tim 3:2). He must have a healthy family life. His pure sexual life puts him on the winning way. Love must be exclusive.
• Pastor’s children must be submissive to God and church authority (Titus 1:6; 1 Tim 3:4-5). If a man does not know how to manage his own family, he will not know how to take care of God’s church. The first flock for a pastor is his own family. A pastor’s qualification starts with his home management, he must lead his family and children up in the discipline and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4).
• A pastor is a faithful steward (Titus 1:7). Here the term used is “overseer” (Greek ‘episkopos’). It is not another office, but a functional title of the priest. It is what he does. He is a steward, a manager of God’s resources and estate. He takes responsibility, stewardship and not ownership.
• A pastor must be humble — not arrogant (Titus 1:7). Not puffed up, but able to admit when he is wrong and assuming responsibility and restoring relationships by so doing, he will be able to live out the gospel he teaches.
• A pastor must be gentle — not quick-tempered (Titus 1:7; 1 Tim 3:3). The anger of man does not work out the righteousness of God. Any quick-tempered man will not be of any use in the kingdom.
• A pastor must be sober — not a drunk (Titus 1:7; 1 Tim 3:3). This is not just over indulgence in alcohol, but is idiomatically expressed for any behaviour that is addictive.
• A pastor must be peaceful — not violent (Titus 1:7; 1 Tim 3:3). He is to be both a peacemaker and peaceful to himself both in his words and action.
• A pastor must have financial integrity — not greedy for gain (Titus 1:7; 1 Tim 3:3; 1 Peter 5:3). A pastor is to be upright in his financial dealings and transactions; not accused of pursuing money over the kingdom of God.
• A pastor must be hospitable (Titus 1:8; 1 Tim 3:2). A pastor’s home is to be open to both parishioners and strangers. It is a place for ministry both to the poor and to the rich.
• A pastor must be a lover of good (Titus 1:8). He genuinely loves what is good. This is not a choice, but a crucial requirement for his good.

• A pastor must have self-control (Titus 1:8; 1 Tim 3:2). He is to show self-control in every area of his life: diet, time, speech, exercise, relationships, sex, and money; even to his hangouts.
• A pastor must be upright (Titus 1:8). He must have integrity in his relationships and in how he treats others.
• A pastor must be holy (Titus 1:8). His life is devoted wholly to Jesus externally and internally.
• A pastor must be able to teach (Titus 1:9; 1 Tim 3:2). All other qualifications are character qualities. This is the only ability-based requirement. He is to be able to teach sound doctrine, not just be able to communicate in an excellent manner.
• A pastor must be spiritually mature (1 Tim 3:6). Positions of authority without spiritual maturity lead to the trap of pride. When pride grows in a man, sin abounds and falling becomes inevitable.
• A pastor must be respectable (1 Tim 3:7). He must not demand it, but must have the demeanour to command it. That does not mean that everyone must like him or even appreciate him. It means that there is no skeleton in his cupboard.
• A pastor must be an example to the flock (1 Peter 5:3). He must lead in words and acts. Through him others learn the right biblical expressions for sexuality, time management, marriage, parenting, worship, relationships and any other way of life.
The Tripod Trap In Ministry
• Finance: wealth, money
• Female: women
• Fame: the world, pride

If You Don’t Kill It; It Will Kill You

The Priest: One specially consecrated to the service of a divinity and through whom worship, prayer, sacrifice, or other services are offered to the object of worship. Through him worshippers get pardon, blessings or deliverances.

There are different kinds of priests such as the priests of God. They operate from the office of the priest, while the juju priests are priests of other religions and cultic sects.

The Bishop ordains every Anglican priest following the apostolic and catholic secession of ordination. He is the man placed over you to care and cure your soul. He will give account of you before God and His church. He is the representative of God, the church and his Bishop by duties and responsibilities. He deserves your support, respect, prayers, encouragement, protection and reverence.

The man placed over your local congregation by God and the Diocesan is a channel of blessing. Your relationship with him will help in the growth and expansion of the church of God and the Diocese at large. Every leader in the church is a sales representative of Christ and His church. Therefore, he or she must never fail in his image-making career.
The Priest As An Administrator

As an administrator, he is supposed to have:
• Vision
• Discipline
• Wisdom
• Courage
• Humility not stupidity
• Boldness
• Be a friend to all
• Diplomatic and tactful
• Executive ability
• Inspirational power
He Is The Man God Uses To:
• Wed
• Baptise
• Bury the dead
• Feed the people physically and spiritually
• He is so many things at different times
• He is the first line of call in medical, spiritual, emotional and social calls.
• Venerable Stephen Wolemonwu is the Rector, Ibru Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State.