By Larry Riley

In every generation, God raises up men to shepherd His people. Yet, the challenges of pastoral ministry today are uniquely heavy. Younger pastors face cultural headwinds, congregational pressures, and the personal weight of carrying the gospel into increasingly complex contexts. Too often, they step into ministry without the guidance of an older, wiser voice walking with them. This is where seasoned pastors—men who have faithfully labored for decades—are desperately needed. This will be a such a helpful ministry, in that it will provide a place for younger, less experienced ministers to have a connection point.

Here are 10 qualities I look for that I feel are not necessarily deal breakers, but nonetheless, are very important for pastoral ministry and fall within the framework of the fruit of the spirit in a Christian’s life:

Aspiring pastors are usually chomping at the bit to become pastors. Rightly so. Because of this, those aspiring to pastoral ministry often times dream to the future to one day serve in that capacity and miss some very significant ways he can serve his wife now that he cannot once he becomes the pastor preaching every week. Here are a few of those ways:

Dear brothers, if you find yourself discouraged, angry, wondering why some of your people do and say what they do and you can’t take it any more…do not forget the debt to mercy you owe. It is a debt greater than you and I could ever payback. It is a debt that should weigh heavier on our joyful hearts than the most difficult person in our church.

This might surprise you, but one of the most dangerous times for a pastor are the hours following his Sunday sermon. You step down from the pulpit still wired and juices flowing as you greet those leaving from the service.  Then, like after a good jog, you begin to calm down, your body starts to return to “I’m not preaching mode” which then brings a temporary, but real emotional let down with it.

In light of this seven year anniversary, it has been helpful to revisit several of these posts I wrote to honor Jackson and in doing so, honor the Savior he so faithfully served while here. I re-read them with the hopes to strive to be as faithful as he was. I have been freshly reminded of the sovereign God Jackson preached so tirelessly that continues to give me hope as I still feel this loss.