Dear Elim Grace,
Today marks my 8-year anniversary as Senior Pastor of Elim Grace Church. Over the last few years, to mark the date, I’ve taken the opportunity to share with you things I’ve learned as your pastor. I’ve linked what I’ve written in the past below.
Today I want to share 8 words (8 years in) that matter more now than ever.
1) REST –
Don’t forget to rest. To find something that refreshes you. That rejuvenates you. That reminds you and returns you to what is most important. And what is most important is the right perspective. Therein lies the secret to true rest: perspective. You can be physically rested and tired of heart because of your perspective. Having the right perspective on what is true and what is most important is essential to finding and enjoying true rest in your life.
2) POWER –
The power of the Holy Spirit is everything. He is the power of the kingdom. He is the power of Christ. He is the power of our new life in Christ. Many of us have spent decades seeking to live for God. But we’ve forgotten that the promise of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that in Him, by the power of the Spirit, we can now live a new life with God. In fact, the ONLY way to truly live for God is with God! (Galatians 2:20; 3:3; 4:19; Philippians 2:13). The busyness of ministry and the constant stream of both praise and criticism can make it all the more easy (and dangerous) to forget this.
3) HEALING –
Jesus heals the sick. It really is that simple for me. By His stripes we are both saved and healed. Yes, He forgives all my sins. Yes, He overcomes all my enemies. And, yes, He heals all my diseases. “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18, emphasis mine)
4) GENERATIONS –
As a pastor who leads worship, I often take advice on songs to lead and songs to introduce from my teenage and young adult children. If these are the songs that speak to their hearts, then by extension they represent generations in my church that I want to love and lead well to Jesus. In addition, they have good advice on what matters and is important to Gen Z and Gen Alpha. What kind of pastor would I be if I ignored what burdens and thrills their hearts?
5) FAITH –
The point of a sermon is not to preach it. The point of a sermon is to bring people to an encounter with Jesus. The living God and everlasting King. Yes, this happens as the Spirit of God takes the Word of God and impresses it like a seal on a person’s heart. But it also happens, at least for me, as I step out in faith at the end of my sermon and make space and give room to the Holy Spirit to act. This is as simple as making a short prayer and then keeping silent before the Spirit for a few minutes. In other words, I’m learning not to rush the “end” of a sermon to the end of the service. Between what God wants to do and what He accomplishes is faith.
6) FUTURE –
Make time for the future leaders, or the future will pass you by. Raising up new and younger leaders is one of my greatest joys as a pastor. It’s also one of the most burdensome. In a good way! This is a task I do not want to fail at. As the saying goes, failing to plan is planning to fail. Perhaps, then, succeeding at planning is planning to succeed. I don’t assume they’ll be new leaders and elders; I plan for it. One Saturday a month for nearly four years now, I have met with our new and younger leaders. I make room for them. I trust in them. I put them forward whenever possible. And, as a result, in many ways, I follow them and am better for it.
7) COURAGE –
In Jeremiah 15:19, God speaks to the prophet, “If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth.” This is a high calling. It is a courageous calling. To utter what is precious is what is tried and true, what is purified and refined, in the presence of God. To be “as my mouth,” to be a voice for God, means nothing less than to be submitted to God and obedient to whatever He wants to do and to say. What is “precious” may not be viewed or received as precious. It may be seen and heard as the opposite, as “worthless.” And for that reason, like Jeremiah, we may face stiff opposition. So be it. “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world,” says The King who commands and sends us (John 16:33).
8) TEAM –
I have a staff meeting once a month, and recently the number of those attending that meeting has grown. The last few times, I have sat there and listened to them share and give their updates and open their hearts, and I am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. I cannot believe God would send me and Elim Grace leaders such as them. I trust them; they trust me. I trust that when I’m doing the work that I’m called to do, they’re doing the work they’re called to do. And together, trusting in one another, the work being done is being multiplied. I can’t imagine doing ministry without them anymore.
Pastor Jonathan
7 years a pastor, 7 things I wouldn’t change: https://www.elimgrace.org/2024/09/06/7-years-a-pastor-7-things-i-wouldnt-change/
6 surprises after 6 years of pastoring: https://www.elimgrace.org/2023/09/15/6-surprises-after-6-years-of-pastoring/
5 years a pastor, 5 things I know for sure: https://www.elimgrace.org/2022/09/23/five-years-a-pastor-five-things-i-know-for-sure/