Hey pastor….
“Why haven’t you said more about racism?”
“You talk too much about racism.”
“Why didn’t you pray for George Floyd’s family?”
“Why don’t you say more about all the good cops out there?”
“You are opening the church too soon.”
“Are you fearful? Is that why you haven’t opened the church yet?”
“This quarantine is killing me; my depression is worse than ever.”
“I love the quarantine. I’m making more on unemployment than I was working,”
“If you make me wear a mask, I’m not coming to church.”
“If people aren’t wearing masks, I’m not coming to church.”
“I like watching the service in my PJ and sipping on my Folgers, I’m not coming back to church.”
“If you don’t have the nursery open, I’m not coming to church.”
“I won’t be back in church until my kids have been vaccinated for the virus.”
“Why doesn’t the denomination say more about racism? I’m considering leaving the church.”
“Too many in the denomination are supporting the ______ (fill in the political party—I’ve heard from both sides). I’m considering leaving the church.”
“You don’t preach enough about _______ (fill in the blank to whatever societal ill is out there). I’m leaving the church.”
But I’ve also had these conversations, which I like much, much better.
They have gone like this:
Hey pastor…
“Thanks for trying.”
“We appreciate the hard work of everyone at the church.”
“Let’s talk.”
“I’m with you!”
…and the words that I like to hear most of all,
“Hey, Pastor… I’m praying for you.”
Rob Prince's Blog 
Reblogged this on Buddy Cook.
Truly, I pray for you and all of the Pastors every day! Not just sucking up—-you all need us to pray for you every day!! God puts the right people where he needs them !!
Pastor we love you Karla, and our chruch. Can’t wait to see you and set in our pew. Lol. Only one person in this world can answer all our question and that is Jesus. So to all wondering way you haven’t done something I would say seek God !!!! Just saying!!!
Pastor Rob, I have still not settled on a church since moving to Arizona last year. I’ve been so grateful for your live stream messages, especially during the quarantine. I appreciate your leadership, your messages, wisdom and insights. I love your humor and ability to always challenge me with personal applications within your messages. (I’m finding this lacking in so many churches I’ve visited here). I’m saddened to read some of the conversations you have had to deal with the past couple weeks. The burdens you carry, I pray that the Lord will carry them for you.
I belong to a small neighborhood women’s bible study group. Two weeks ago we started meeting at 7:30 AM outdoors so we could ‘social distance’. Why 7:30 AM, because its June in Arizona and the temperature is already in the 80’s when we start and 90’s+ before we leave. We are reading and discussing the book “Building Up One Another” by Gene Getz. This book is about building up the body of Christ and building up one another in the church. Today, one of the things we discussed was Jesus’ prayer for His body of believers, His church…
John 17:11 English Standard Version (ESV)
11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
and, John 17:20-23 English Standard Version (ESV)
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
My prayer for Flint Central Church of the Nazarene is that the body of Christ will become one, just as Jesus and the Father are one….”so that the world may know that You send Me and loved them even as You (God) loved Me (Jesus).
May God continue to bless you, your staff and your leadership at Central! Thank you for all you do!
Dude, I never knew being a lead pastor was so hard until March 2020! Ugh!