Tag: pastors

What I Heard from Pastors/DSs in the Shepherds Circle Listening Groups

On By Rob PrinceLeave a comment

Two weeks ago, Shepherds Circle convened pastors from the majority of churches in the Church of the Nazarene (those churches with fewer than 100 people in attendance). Last week, I sat with pastors from the other end of the spectrum: those serving in the 5% of our churches with more than 250 in attendance, including nine pastors from the top 0.7% with attendance above 750. Then, a group of district superintendents came to the Nazarene Global Ministry Center.

Different churches. 
Different responsibilities. 
Different challenges.

But I walked away with one overwhelming realization: Every shepherd carries a heavy load.

The stressors may not be the same, but I’m not sure our hearts, minds, or bodies know the difference. Stress is stress. Pressure is pressure. And ministry can be tough at any size.

A church of 50 may be struggling to pay the electric bill. A church of 1,000 may be laying off staff because the mortgage has become too much. A district superintendent may be trying to find a pastor for a small, faithful congregation that simply cannot afford to pay a pastor a living wage. Different problems. Same weight.

It hurts when a long-time family leaves a church of 75 for a mega church down the road. It hurts when a long-time member of a larger church takes to social media to criticize the music, the pastor, or the perceived political bent of someone in leadership. And it hurts when long-time church leaders gossip concerning the district superintendent’s leadership style.

It’s lonely when a pastor in a church of 50 feels like there is no one to talk to. It can be just as lonely in a church of 1,000 when a pastor has no one trusted enough to have an honest conversation. And it’s lonely for a district superintendent who spends more time putting out troubling fires rather than experiencing Pentecostal fires in the district churches.

Besides those stressors (and so many other burdens in ministry), life happens to all of us. Troubles at home, health trials, extended family responsibilities will take a toll on anyone. Those circumstances aren’t church matters, but they affect the ability to minister well. 

Here’s the bottom line: 
Pastoring a smaller church is tough.
Pastoring a larger church is tough.
Being a district superintendent is tough.

All of these are callings. All are important. All are needed. Each pastor/district superintendent I met with is serving well and joyfully. But being called doesn’t mean being immune to stress, disappointment, criticism, loneliness, or exhaustion.

And that is why Shepherds Circle is being created.

Pastors need help. They need encouragement. They need someone who understands. They need someone they can trust. They need people who will listen without judgment, pray with them, walk alongside them, and remind them that they don’t have to carry the weight alone. They need to connect with someone who will hear them.

Pastors of small churches need that.
Pastors of large churches need that.
District superintendents need that.

Creating healthier pastors creates healthier churches which creates healthier districts—and ultimately strengthens the mission God has given us. No matter the size of the church, no matter the title, no matter the challenge: Shepherds need shepherding, too. Every shepherd needs a circle of people who are genuinely on their side. That’s what Shepherds Circle is all about.

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A Pastor’s Eulogy: “He was Full of it”

On By Rob Prince1 Comment

Maybe because I’m inching closer to the finish line than the starting gates of life, but lately I’ve found myself thinking—morbidly, perhaps—about the perfect pastor’s eulogy. What will be said or written about me when I’m gone?

What would I want someone to say?

Would I care about the number of sermons preached? The number of people in the pews? The dollars collected? The programs started? In my final Annual Pastor’s Report, what would I want said? What would I really want included in the summary of my life and ministry?

Luke gives us a pretty remarkable answer in Acts 6.

Luke, the careful historian, writing Stephen’s obituary tells how he performed great wonders and signs among the people, but Luke doesn’t give us the details. We don’t know exactly what Stephen did or didn’t do. There is nothing in Stephen’s obituary that sounds like an entry on an Annual Pastor’s Report. No attendance figures. No financial totals. No list of accomplishments. Yet in two phrases, containing thirteen words, Luke basically says, Stephen was full of it.

A drug addicted, thief once said that about me after I advised his dad not to give the man any more money. He was not pleased with me at all. But I don’t think he and Luke meant the same thing. Being “full of it” in the conversation with the thieving son was not a compliment.

But in describing Stephen, Luke said, Stephen was “full of faith and the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5) and “full of God’s grace and power” (Acts 6:8).

Stephen was full of “it.” The “it” being faith, the Holy Spirit, grace, and power. I want to be full of that too. Being full of it meant there was no room for Stephen to be full of pride, greed, significance, or self. 

But being full of “it” didn’t mean Stephen was spared hardship.
He was the first Christian martyr.

Being full of “it” didn’t mean he avoided pain or suffering.
He was dragged outside the city and stoned to death.

And yet, being full of “it,” his next to last words were, “Look! I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56).

Then, like Jesus, Stephen entrusted himself to God and prayed that the Lord would forgive those who were killing him.

It’s quite a eulogy from Luke. Stephen’s life was quite a life.

So, Pastor, maybe your Annual Pastor’s Report doesn’t contain numbers that would wow anyone at the Global Ministry Center. Maybe it isn’t filled with impressive attendance figures or record-breaking dollars. Maybe the statistics don’t tell the story you wish they did. 

That’s not the goal.

The goal is to be full of it.

Full of faith.
Full of the Holy Spirit.
Full of God’s grace.
Full of God’s power.

When the final report is written, those are the things I hope can be said about me.

I hope they can be said about you, too.

Confession from a Preacher Who Hasn’t Preached

On By Rob Prince2 Comments

Shepherds Circle is going to help a lot of pastors.

It will be an encouragement center. An equipping center. A place where weary shepherds can catch their breath, where healthy pastors become healthier, and where those sensing God’s call can discern it with wisdom and confidence. It is a needed ministry—for pastors, future pastors, and those just beginning to wonder if the Lord might be calling them. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to help build it. Thank you, Nazarene Bible College!

But there is something I’ve discovered over these last few months.
I miss preaching.
Not a little.
A lot.

To my fellow preachers: never become so familiar with the pulpit that you lose your wonder of it. There is nothing quite like the moment when the Holy Spirit takes hours of hidden prayer, study, and preparation and breathes on them. Truth catches fire. Eyes brighten. Hearts awaken. The Bible is expounded. Christ is lifted. God is magnified. And somehow, in His mercy, He chooses to use ordinary people holding open Bibles to accomplish extraordinary things.

I’ve missed that.

Stepping into the pulpit (and yes, I know many of us haven’t stood behind an actual wooden pulpit in years) is one of the greatest privileges entrusted to a person. It is also one of the greatest responsibilities. Every sermon is more than a talk. It’s not a speech. It is an act of stewardship. The preacher stands between an open Bible and hungry souls.

When the preacher has prayed, studied, wrestled with the text, depended on the Spirit, and then faithfully proclaims God’s Word, something holy happens.

The lost find Christ.
The wanderers come home.
The weary are strengthened.
The proud are humbled.
The broken find hope and healing.
The lonely realize the Lord is with them.
The believer is shaped a little more into Christlikeness.

Not because of the preacher’s talent, but because the Spirit delights to work through faithful proclamation. There is a joy in being part of that miracle that is difficult to describe. It is not the applause of people. It is not even the satisfaction of delivering a good sermon. It is the quiet, settled wonder of knowing that, for a few sacred moments, God allowed you to carry His Word to His people.

My Bible-proclaiming brothers and sisters, stay faithful.
Stay on your knees.
Stay in the Word.
Stay filled with the Spirit.
The world is full of opinions. The church (the world) needs God’s indescribable power.

Keep opening the Book. Keep lifting up Christ. Keep trusting that the Lord is doing far more than you could ever see.

I look forward to filling pulpits again, preaching renewal services, and encouraging pastors through retreats and conferences. But this season away from regular preaching has reminded me of something I never want to forget.

The privilege of preaching is too precious to presume upon.
Every opportunity to proclaim Christ is a gift.
Every sermon is grace.
And there is no joy quite like watching God use His Word to change a human heart.

Is NYC (Nazarene Youth Conference) the Best Event Hosted by the Church of the Nazarene? 

On By Rob PrinceLeave a comment

This was my first Nazarene Youth Conference (NYC). My blog about attending NYC prior to the event is here. As a veteran of exactly one NYC, here are a few random observations:

  • There were other old people at NYC. It wasn’t just youth and youth workers. District Superintendents, vendors, college representatives and assorted grey heads (like yours truly) were present and accounted for. 
  • The students that I encountered either in the convention venue or in the hotel or restaurants were all kind, polite and a true blessing. We can be very hopeful concerning the next generation. 
  • The old people (like me) that I encountered all had good attitudes too. I heard no complaints about the music being too loud or the students being too rowdy. No one yelled, “Get off my lawn.”  I love it when various generations love one another.
  • The currency of NYC is not cash or credit. It’s t-shirts. T-shirts were traded left and right. Each district had its own t-shirt, and the colleges also were giving out freebies.  From my vantage point the most coveted (can I say people were covetous at a holiness event?) was the Eastern Michigan District hockey jersey. Canada, Hawaii and Prairie Lakes were also in the running for the champion t-shirt. 
  • Ten thousand youth (and the smattering of old people) worshipping and praising Jesus was pretty great.
  • The speakers were engaging and most connected well with the students. 
  • It takes a lot of planning to put on such an event. NYI gets a big “Great Job Everybody!!” congratulatory award!

NYC became a community of grace and kindness and worship and service (the students all had a serve day during the event). All this to say, NYC is probably the best event hosted by the Church of the Nazarene.

Of course, the question becomes: Can other Nazarene events (General Assembly, M-29, even camp meetings and district assemblies) learn from NYC?  Is it possible for the other gatherings to have the same devotion and commitment and holiness and zeal? 

I hate to write what’s coming. You might hate to read it. Here goes: Old people need to learn from young people. No one was jockeying for position (unless it was to get a t-shirt). There were no church politics. No grumpiness. No phoniness. No “we-haven’t-done-it-that-way” attitudes. No sacred cows that had to be observed. None of the students that I observed, seemed to be worried about others noticing their devotion or expression of faithfulness. They were singing and leaning into a holy devotion that would have made Phineas F Bresee proud. 

I pray that we old timers at our next Nazarene gathering can likewise live out the holiness we say we believe. Let’s make our gatherings less like a political convention and more like NYC. Less like a fashion show, and more like NYC. Less like a funeral procession and more like NYC. Less look at me, and more look to Jesus (in other words).

Why are 65% of Nazarene Pastors NOT Taking Free Money?

On By Rob Prince1 Comment

The latest quarterly edition of the Nazarene Benefits USA has been released, and director Kevin Gilmore reported an increase of participants in the annual pension supplement system. Participation in the program has gone from 33.8% in 2024 to 35% in 2025. Participants are inching upwards. That’s good, but why are the number of participants still so low?

As a reminder, the simple version of the system is that if a pastor (and/or local church and pastor) contribute $5,000, the denomination will give a 50% match or $2,500. This is a far better deal than the old system when every pastor received $200, then was matched up to and additional $250. I’m not a math whiz but $2500 in free money is better than the maximum amount of $450 in free money in the old plan (churches need to participate in the pension apportionment system through the denomination to qualify). 

The big question should be: Of the 5,500 eligible ministers in USA, why are only 35% are taking advantage of this free money? What are the other 65% of pastors thinking who aren’t participating? What part of “free money” don’t they understand?

Why are 65% of Nazarene pastors are not taking advantage of the free money?  Maybe these are the reasons:

  1. Some pastors don’t feel that they have even a dime to spare. Living paycheck to paycheck they have zero extra dollars to put away for the future. 
  2. Maybe church boards don’t understand the importance of assisting their pastor’s planning for the future. 
  3. Maybe for whatever reason, the pastor doesn’t think she/he is eligible. If the minister is a full-time pastor (full time workload regardless of pay). He/she is eligible.
  4. It could be that the pastor already has a 403b account through their spouse or another job. Umm.. it’s still free money.
  5. It could be that the minister simply hasn’t taken the time to set up their Nazarene Fidelity account through the Nazarene Benefits office. Whatcha waiting on?
  6. Or maybe the minister hasn’t heard about it (It’s been repeatedly communicated).

My guess is that the reason that 65% of Nazarene pastors aren’t taking the free money is a combination of all the above. Whatever the reason, all full-time pastors should beg, borrow or (please do not) steal the $5,000 to get the free $2500. When it’s time to retire, the pastor will be glad he/she did. Even if pastor can’t come up with the full $5,000, something is better than nothing. 

If pastors are 59 ½ years old, they could put in $5,000 and withdraw $7500. It’s free money.  And if it is a young pastor, it’s even more essential that he/she put the full amount into the program. If a 25-year-old pastor’s fidelity account has $7500 placed in it every year at an annual rate of 6% (a very conservative number) at age 65 that person will have $1.16 million in their account. If the annual return was 8%, the 403b account would have nearly 2 million dollars. This is far better than the old, old plan where a Nazarene pastor received a pension of less than $400 a month after 40 years of service to the church. 

USA Nazarene pastors take the free money! Find $5,000 somewhere (or as much as you can) and receive a 50% match from the denomination. With questions mounting regarding the social security system (reports that it will default without action from congress in 2032), pastors and churches need to do all they can to provide for themselves in retirement. The Nazarene Benefit structure greatly helps to ensure that Nazarene pastors can have the resources to retire. C’mon pastors, think ahead and plan accordingly! 

Equal Pay for Nazarene Pastors in USA/Canada?

On By Rob Prince3 Comments

What if all Nazarene pastors in USA/Canada—regardless of the size or location of their church—earned the same salary? Large church. Small church. Urban church. Rural church. It wouldn’t matter. Compensation would be standardized. There could still be a sliding scale based on years of service, education, or experience, but pastors with similar credentials would receive the same pay.

(Funny-only-to-me alert: Last week, I was called a “capitalist” because of something I wrote on this blog. I assume cries of “socialist” or “communist” are forthcoming.)

Think about it: every pastor receiving the same compensation package, the same healthcare coverage, and the same benefits. Maybe everyone would be bi-vocational. Maybe no one would be. Either way, all pastors would be in the same boat. While we’re at it, what about a pay scale for district superintendents, too? (Uh-oh. Now I’ve struck a nerve.)

The idea isn’t completely unprecedented. Nazarene missionaries are compensated according to a standardized system and receive the same healthcare benefits. It seems I read somewhere that the early church shared all things in common? (See Acts 4:32). Wasn’t Paul a tentmaker who supported himself through additional work? Yes, he was.

Let me be clear: no Nazarene pastor is getting rich from serving a local church. In some denominations or independent churches, perhaps, but you won’t find Nazarene pastors living in mansions or driving a Bugatti. What you will find too often are pastors who are struggling financially, trying to support their families on salaries that barely cover basic expenses. For many, it’s a difficult reality.

One argument against equal compensation is that it could encourage laziness. Some pastors might do very little while earning the same salary as those who work tirelessly. Yup, that’s a possibility. I know this—when I was pastoring, I never felt that I was working for a paycheck. I was working for the Lord. Giving my best to Christ was never about my bank account. I suspect most pastors would say the same. Not all, of course. Let’s be honest—there would be some lazy pastors under this model.

There are also practical challenges. A proposal like this would likely require a significant increase in district apportionments or the creation of a new compensation fund. Some churches would undoubtedly try to avoid the system. Large churches might have to reduce staff to contribute. Some pastors would take a pay cut. I’m not suggesting implementation would be easy. Any serious proposal would need careful consideration by people far smarter than me.

The system would also need to account for regional differences in the cost of living. A pastor serving in a high-cost city faces different financial realities than one serving in a rural community. But that’s not an impossible challenge. The denomination already addresses similar issues with missionaries. A missionary serving in the Philippines does not require the same level of support as one living in Paris because the cost of living is dramatically different.

Reality Alert: All the above is a pipe dream. Too many obstacles. Too much money. Too many paychecks would be impacted. To those who say, “it shouldn’t be about the money.” It’s always about the money. Who’s a capitalist now?  

Even if we can’t make pastors pay equal across the board, can’t we at least think more intentionally about clergy compensation? Pastoring is difficult, regardless of church size. The pressures, responsibilities, and stresses are real. What if we found ways to reduce at least some of the financial burden? Can we discuss ways to help pastors at the lower end of the pay scale? Can we ensure that no pastor is living below the poverty line and that all have access to adequate healthcare for their families?

The United Methodist Church has established compensation minimums for clergy. Perhaps the Church of the Nazarene should consider something similar. Here’s the question of the week: Can the Church of the Nazarene in USA/Canada care for its pastors in a more equitable way?

Crunching Numbers on Nazarenes in the USA/Canada Region

On By Rob Prince7 Comments

Here are USA/Canada basic stats for the Church of the Nazarene: There are 78 Districts, 4,316 churches,11,103 elders, 2,134 district licensed ministers, 515 deacons and 364,029 worshipping the Lord every week. That means the total of elders, deacons and district licensed ministers is 13,752 clergy. When crunching those numbers that means, there is: 

  • One clergyperson for every 27 people who are showing up on a Sunday morning. 
  • There were 21987 baptisms last year or one clergyperson for a little over one and a half baptisms. 
  • 19466 people were received into membership by profession of faith (not a sheep changing pastures but a new believer) or one clergyperson for a little under one and a half of those new believers. 

Permission to write freely: These are not great numbers. I know the attendance numbers have increased the last two years. That’s good.  First time in 50 years (or something like that) that USA/Canada has had two consecutive years of growth. Good. Good. Double good! But crunching the numbers a little more shows some things that aren’t totally great. 

What are the 13,752 pastors doing?  Seriously? What. Are. We. Doing. (I’ve put myself in this discussion because I am one of those 13,752 clergypersons). 

I’m not sure how many of the 13,752 clergy are unable to serve in any meaningful way. Maybe they are in a nursing home or too sick to lead a person to Jesus. Sometimes, where a person is serving is difficult. It’s not fertile ground. Didn’t Elmer F. Schmelzenbach go years and years before his first convert in Africa?  So maybe some of my clergy brothers and sisters might be in tough circumstances. I get it. It’s not always easy.

But come on… Not even two baptisms per pastor?  Less than that of those who led a person to start following Jesus. If I didn’t know better, I’d say there is an evangelism problem amongst me and my fellow pastors. Could I say it this way, the numbers show a lack of evangelistic fervor amongst the clergy in the USA/Canada region. Again, there are spots where true evangelism is happening. A few churches here and there are doing great things for the Kingdom. At a recent district assembly, it was reported that nearly half of that district’s baptisms were from one church. Hooray for that that one church, but to the rest of us, I want to say, “C’mon!  Get Going!” 

Obviously, it’s not all on the pastors to do all the evangelizing in a church. We are protestants after all. We still believe in the priesthood of all believers. But if there are 13,000+ clergy, wouldn’t you think that there would be a higher percentage of converts? We still believe that people are hurting, lonely, and lost. We still believe that Jesus is the answer. We still believe that without Him people are eternally doomed. Where’s the urgency?

I’m praying that in my new role with the Nazarene Bible College and in creating a Center to help pastors, that I will be available to make a difference. I hope to help lead in evangelism, holiness, integrity, connectivity, generosity, and stewardship. Good News for pastors: Help is on the way (in other words).

In the meantime, my fellow pastors, can we make it a goal, a personal goal, to win and baptize two, just two people in the coming year. Imagine if we set the example and folks in our churches started following suit, and they started to pray and then evangelize a person or two who doesn’t know Jesus. Do you know what will happen? Revival just might break out. Set the example pastors!  Let’s reach people for Jesus! Let’s pray for revival!

Is AI the Answer to the Prayers of the Church (in unexpected ways)? 

On By Rob PrinceLeave a comment

Like it or not, AI is coming. It will affect the church. This is not about pastors using ChatGPT to write sermons or AI producing a better church software.  It will be much more impactful. Here’s the kicker: Is it possible that AI is the answer to the church’s prayers (in unexpected ways)?

The Bad News: If one Googles “job losses caused by AI” there are numerous reports from a variety of news sources citing the coming labor crash (one example is HERE).  The consensus: people will lose jobs. It’s already happening. Of course, that is not good. The social impact of AI will be startling. Here’s more bad news: when church people lose jobs, church income is also reduced. Programs are lost. Ministries are cut. How can this be good for the church? 

Look at these facts:

Fact 1: AI induced job losses are coming (See above).
Fact 2: Pastors are getting older. More pastors are over 60 than under 60 in the USA.
Fact 3: There are not enough pastors-in-training in the current pipeline (in colleges or course of study) to fill the upcoming (and already here) pastor shortage.

The result: Individuals, who have college degrees but have lost their jobs because of AI, start looking and praying for a new career. Suddenly, but not surprisingly, they hear from the Lord. Could those unemployed college graduates, in their unanticipated job search, discover that God is calling them to something better? Could God use the AI created job market black hole to call men and women into full time ministry?  It makes sense. Why not? The fields are still “white unto harvest” and AI can’t replace pastors.

Moreover, in times of social upheaval and uncertainty (also coming, thanks to AI), people are more apt to turn to God. When people are at a loss, when times are challenging, people turn to Jesus. Could AI induce a revival? Again, why not? 

More pastors and a coming revival—aren’t those the very things for which we’ve been praying?

Please understand, I’m not advocating problematic social upheaval. I don’t want it, any more than anyone else. I’m simply noticing the winds of change. We are on the cusp of a new AI world. Moreover, the church needs to be prepared. (Shameless plug alert) Places like Nazarene Bible College are needed more than ever. We need pastors. Lots of pastors. They need to be trained. That need is going to grow, not lessen, because of AI. We’ve been praying for revival. It may be the unanticipated result of the coming AI revolution. So, heed the words of Jesus:

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.  –Jesus (Luke 10:2)

Hey, Pastors, Help Me so I can Help You!

On By Rob Prince2 Comments

As you may have seen, I have taken on a new role in connection with the Nazarene Bible College to create a center for pastoral excellence. (Here’s the link to the new job). I technically started last Friday (I write “technically” because prior to May 1, I had already been in meetings with the Bible college and with others connected to this start-up venture). Today is “technically” day four into a whole new world for me.

The big question I’ve been asked since leaving Flint Central Church is: “What in the Center going to do?”  It’s a good question. The simple answer is that Nazarene Bible College wants to help pastors. We want to care for them and their families. We want pastors to thrive when too often many feel isolated and alone. We want to regain a sense of holy, evangelistic urgency in a world that has lost its way. We recognize that District Superintendents need help too. They want to help and encourage pastors but too much of their time is putting out fires and dealing with legal wranglings. Additionally, we want to locate and assist those who are exploring a call into ministry. We hope to assist in training and empowering future pastors to be on-fire, evangelistic, holiness preachers. In other words, we want to restore (or start) a burning, holy fire deep inside the hearts of those called by God and in so doing flip the trajectory of many churches. 

Quite frankly, it’s a big job. Impossible maybe. It’s certainly bigger than me.  Someone once said, “Nothing is impossible with God.” I believe that is still true!

The Center doesn’t have a name. I don’t have a mailing address (I think I will be moving into the Global Ministry Center in Lenexa). I don’t have a phone extension or a work phone number. I don’t have a desk, stapler or official letterhead. I don’t have an assistant. I don’t have really anything other than a desire to help pastors and district superintendents in these challenging times. 

I do have an email address!  Please answer a few of the following questions (don’t answer all 19, you have better things you should be doing). Email me at rsprince@nbc.edu

  1. What do you see as the biggest obstacles that pastors face today?
  • Do you know a pastor who feels lonely or isolated? Without giving names, how do you know this to be true?
  • Would a pastor take advantage of a free (or close to free) retreat space?  If so, where should a retreat center be located? Should there be some spiritual direction in such a space or just let the pastors figure it out on their own?
  • Do you think pastors would take advantage of a low cost or no cost tele-help anonymous counselling service? In your opinion is such a service needed?
  • Do you consider it as unreasonable to expect bi-vocational pastors to work a 40 hour a week job, pastor a church, raise a family and complete the required course for ordination? Explain why or why not.
  • Do you think evangelism is a priority in most churches today?
  • How could pastors (and leaders) be trained into more/better in evangelism?
  • How often should a preacher preach on holiness? 
  • Do you think there are enough holiness resources available for today’s preachers? If not, what would you suggest could be improved? 
  1. Who would you like to hear speak at a conference?
  1. What do you see as the biggest obstacle that district superintendents face?
  1. I’ve heard of pastoral burnout, but not district superintendent burnout. Is that a thing?
  1. Do you think that men and women are being called with the same frequency as in years past?  If so, where are they? 
  1. How would you suggest District Superintendents fill empty pulpits in churches where the faithful members are dwindling and they can no longer afford a full-time pastor in an area with little employment opportunities for a bi-vocational pastor?
  1. With more pastors over 60 years old than under 60, and fewer men and women in the “ministerial pipeline,” what do you think will happen in ten years when the current faithful shepherds retire or get promoted to Glory?
  1. What do you think would be more appealing to those churches where pastoral placement is difficult—a “circuit riding” pastor that covers two or even three churches; a video type sermon offered by a leading regional pastor and leaders trained to cover the other pastoral duties; a trained “lay” pastor from a current member or the waving the white flag of surrender? 
  1. If money were no object, what would you do for pastors? For District Superintendents? 
  1. How do you view the future for denominations like the Church of the Nazarene?
  1. What else do you think I should know?

Thanks for your help. I’ll looking for help as we strive to come up with the answers our pastors and district superintendents desperately need.

The Next Chapter

On By Rob Prince1 Comment

Twelve and a half years ago, people kept asking me, “Why would you leave a great church like Central Church in Lenexa, Kansas to go to Flint, Michigan?”

Lenexa is a beautiful city with every amenity you could want. The church is practically in the back yard of the Global Ministry Center of the Church of the Nazarene. The pastor who preceded me is a General Superintendent. It was (and still is) a fantastic church. So why leave? Especially to a city that, at the time, carried the unwanted moniker of “murder capital of the United States” — complete with notoriously bumpy Michigan roads. 

Now, twelve and a half years later — after a water crisis, a global pandemic, and everything else the Enemy could throw at us (yes, the roads are still bumpy) — I’m hearing the same question again: “Why would you leave a great church like Flint Central? God has done such powerful things here — why leave now?”  

The answer is the same both times: We believe God is calling us to a new adventure. (Honesty alert: Having our grandkids living close by in Kansas didn’t hurt in the decision making process. The Lord is good.)

This next chapter involves working through the Nazarene Bible College to launch a new pastoral training center — one still waiting for the right name. Its purpose is clear: to come alongside struggling, isolated, and lonely pastors with a simple message — “We are here for you.”  The vision is to encourage, equip, shape, and form a new generation of evangelistic holiness preachers — then mobilize them into a world that desperately needs the hope of Jesus. We want to help District Superintendents identify and release dynamic, fire-in-their-bones pastors ready to step into fields that are still “white unto harvest.”

I’m deeply honored to be on the ground floor of this effort. It’s incredibly exciting. The time for action is now. Simply put, we need courageous, on fire for Jesus pastors— more than ever. We aren’t looking for warm bodies to fill troubled pulpits. We need a God-empowered, Jesus-like, Spirit-filled army of men and women who are ready to answer the call. Whether it’s busy metropolises, small rural towns or the far corners of the earth (my first church was in Bad Axe, Michigan — qualifying as both a small rural town and a “far corner of the earth”), we believe God is not finished with any place or any people.

It’s a new day. Revival is on the horizon. Do you sense it? God is raising up men and women for ministry right now. The master of roadblocks and procrastination — our Enemy — is whispering lies: “God might be calling you… but not yet. Wait for a better time.” Don’t listen. There is no better time. Your wires aren’t crossed. God is calling — and help is on the way. This new Center will walk with people as they step fully into God’s call in fresh, dynamic, and life-changing ways. People living in darkness are about to encounter the light of Christ through pastors loving and living into the calling God has placed upon their lives.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
— Isaiah 43:19

The Nazarene Pastor Shortage and What One Church is Doing About It

On By Rob PrinceLeave a comment

On Flint Central Church’s recent mission trip to Panama, a high school student preached the Sunday morning message (with a translator) in the Panamanian church. By all accounts, she did great. Two students came home from the mission trip announcing that they were sensing a call into ministry. There are at least two other high schoolers who also have expressed an interest in becoming a pastor. If you are counting at home that is 5 students expressing an interest in ministry.*

Why does Central church have so many young men and women called into the ministry? 

There are probably a variety of reasons. I’ll list a few possible answers: 

1) There is a healthy church culture. The board and pastoral staff are aligned. Students view ministry positively because of the church culture that has developed. 

2) The church emphasizes “Growing Together.” Students have seen in their parents, grandparents or many other adults a faithful witness. There is a mutual love between the older, seasoned Christians and students.

3) The church has had great youth pastors who have inspired our students on what they could become and have modeled faithfulness before them.

4) Opportunities have been given for students to hear from the Lord: Mission trips, NYC, D-Now, retreats and camps. God speaks when students getaway and can listen to God. 

5) God calling people into ministry is mentioned from the pulpit and in youth group from time to time. The students have seen their peers called into ministry and have been open to God speaking to themselves too. Sometimes it’s a snowball effect, one student is called into ministry then another and another and another… it just keeps growing.

6) There have been opportunities for ministers-in-training to serve at Central as volunteers and interns. For example, yesterday’s summer combined adult and student Sunday School class was taught by a recent high school graduate.

7) The church puts its money where its mouth is. This year Central Church gave out over $26,000 to in scholarships to 18 Olivet Nazarene University students. There has been an emphasis on education and the church has helped provide for it.

And most importantly, 

8) Central church is a praying church. They’ve followed Jesus’ instructions: “pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2). The church has prayed and God has answered!

Corporately, the Church of the Nazarene needs to pray too. The Church of the Nazarene is in desperate need for young men and women to be called into the ministry. The current clergy are aging (writer included. Deep Sigh!) and we need more pastors. On our district there are 8 churches in need of a pastor. From what I can tell (I may be wrong) none of those churches have any prospects. No interviews are lined up. No one is knocking on the church doors to become the next pastor. The Eastern Michigan district is not alone. There is a pastor shortage and it’s going to get worse as we old timers die off.  After all these years, Jesus words are still true. The fields are still ready. We need to pray for (and develop) workers more than ever.

*This is not a new phenomenon at Central Church. Here are the 20-somethings from Central Church in ministry (or training): Bryce Potts is a student at Taylor University studying to be a worship pastor. He is interning at Central Church this summer. Two students are in Olivet’s summer PR groups (Tyler Chapin and Grace Bedell). Sarah Hurd is a youth pastor in Illinois. Tyler and Hannah VanSteenburg are pastoring in Madison Heights, Michigan. Of course, Haley (VanSteenburg) Baker is the wife of Central Church’s Mid-High Youth pastor, Tyler. While Justin Hilliard doesn’t have a ministry degree or pastor’s license, trust me, Central Church’s tech director (who grew up at Central church) is in ministry. Even though the Close sisters, Lydia and Sophie, expressed a call to ministry before coming to Central Church, I will include them too. Lydia and husband, Caleb, are pastoring the Refinery Nazarene Church in Brandon, Michigan. Sophie and husband, Ethan, are on staff at Devoted City Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. Another 20-something, Allie Degner, starts next week working at the Global Ministry Center of the Church of the Nazarene in the communications department, These are just the pastors and leaders in their 20’s—Flint Central has many other pastors age 30 and above who list Central church as their “home” church (including our own 30 somethings Pastors Sauer—Tyler and sister, Emily). If you are counting at home that’s 13 people from Central church in their 20’s in ministry.

Pastor, the New Year is in Sight… you can make it!

On By Rob PrinceLeave a comment

Christmas season is in full swing. It’s the busy season for retailers– and pastors too. There’s parties, programs, gift exchanges, benevolence requests, of course, sermons to write and everything else that goes into the season. Then it gets busier. Toss in a sick child, a funeral, a broken down car, a troubled teenager, a disgruntled member, a financial crisis either at home or at the church (you know, the everyday life of a pastor) and it gets even more complicated. It was 17 years ago this week (December 20, 2007), while reading a letter from a disgruntled member during a financial crisis that my brain hemorrhage occurred. I’m convinced (and my neurologists concur) that the reason for the aneurism was (in part) due to the stressful season. 

Stress is an ever present “friend” for pastors. Besides the burden of carrying the parishioners’ troubles and sicknesses and the pastor’s own family circumstances, there are all the church financial and building issues. Pastors get anonymous letters and a few signed by disgruntled members over any number of topics. Top that off with pastors enduring the lies, rumors, and troublemakers’ shenanigans. Social media has made the stress level of pastors’ lives rise to new heights. All of these stressors are compounded at Christmas time. 

Pastors, if your worship attendance numbers, offering total or sermon wasn’t great this past Sunday. It’s OK. To, in part, quote the late great, Tony Campolo, “It’s Monday, but another Sunday is a comin’.”  In other words, you get another chance this week for all those things to improve. If you received an unwanted email about this or that (I received one over the weekend), take a deep breath, count to ten and give that person over to Jesus (I’m still working on that one, to be honest). If you’ve got to take a break, take it. If you need to hand off some duty to someone in the congregation, do it. If you need to simply settle it for a long winter’s nap, sleep away. 

Pastors, during the hectic Christmas season make sure you take care of yourself. The Kingdom needs you healthy and well. Your church needs you healthy and well. Your family (and you) need you well too. So stop listening to the naysayers, go for a walk and enjoy the crisp winter air. We’re in the homestretch toward Christmas. You can make it! Take care of yourself, drink a cup of hot chocolate (or eggnog) and enjoy the season once more.

Merry Christmas! The lights of the New Year are in sight, you’ve almost made it.

What makes a “Joyful and Triumphant” Pastor? 

On By Rob PrinceLeave a comment

The Pastors’ Christmas Banquet is tonight on the Eastern Michigan District. The district is blessed to have Frankenmuth, a quaint Christmas village, nearby (technically, the town is located in the Michigan District’s territory but the drive is not too far for most EMD pastors). The dinner is at the iconic Zehnder’s restaurant and its famous family style chicken dinners. Karla and I always leave a little early for the dinner so we can stop at Bronner’s (the world’s largest Christmas store) in Frankenmuth to purchase a few ornaments. All this to say, the Eastern Michigan Pastors’ Christmas dinner is a far cry from some districts’ pastor’s Christmas dinners in musty church fellowship halls or at greasy truck stops along the freeway. 

When I first started attending this event, it was a much more dress-up affair. I once called the gathering the “Nazarene Prom.” It’s not as “promy” these days. There will be still be red sweaters and a few Christmas ties, but no gowns or corsages. We will eat chicken (and schnitzel), sing Silent Night and see pastor friends from across the district. It will be a nice evening.

I’m thankful for the brother and sisterhood of ministry. Some of the finest people, I know are pastors. While pastoring has its moments of glorious victories, there are also many times of disappointment, betrayal, loneliness and heartache. It’s not always easy being a pastor (believe me, I know). Some have toiled in difficult situations with little thanks, yet are still faithful. Some have been slandered, lied about, criticized by carnal members and still serve Jesus. Social media has butchered plenty of fine pastors (or their families) and caused many sleepless nights. Some have been passed over because leaders have listened (whether consciously or not) to those corrupt and sinful voices. They have endured loss and hurt but press on. It’s a calling not a job. It’s that calling that gets them up every day and keeps them working hard into the night. There once was a commercial saying being a U.S. marine was “the toughest job you will ever love.” Not true. Being a pastor has that distinction.

All this to say, tonight, as we are singing “O Come All Ye Faithful,” I will look around the roomful of pastors and see plenty who are “joyful and triumphant.” They are so, not because of accolades or church statistics. Instead these faithful shepherds, empowered and enabled by Jesus, are fulfilling the call He placed upon their lives. The Kingdom is enlarged because of these “joyful and triumphant” men and women

I will be honored to be standing in their midst. 

Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. Jeremiah 3:15

There are 31,354 Clergy in the Church of the Nazarene, Here’s What you Need to Know

On By Rob Prince1 Comment

There are 31,354 clergy in the Church of the Nazarene. 19,321 elders. 893 deacons. 11,140 district licensed ministers. Of the 19,321 elders, exactly 11,003 are from USA/Canada. 

As one of the 31,354, I am proud of my co-laborers across the globe. Obviously I don’t know all 11,002 of my fellow elders in USA/Canada. I am sure there are a few stinkers in the bunch, but just a few. 

Here’s what I know about Nazarene clergy: they work hard. They don’t often get paid well. Until this year, their retirement stink, stank, stunk (thank you P&B for greatly improving the denominational investment in the retirement plan). Pastors are loving, kind, and generous. There’s not a lot of complaining from them, just a lot of praying and preaching and visiting the sick and the million other jobs of a pastor. Social media has made their job infinitely harder; the cultural circling of the drain has made it harder still; and pastoring in an election year makes it even harder than that. Still they faithfully serve. 

Pastors aren’t perfect (neither are you, non-pastors, who might be reading). Pastors are usually strong, but sometimes are weak. Usually right, but sometimes are wrong. Usually preach good sermons, but sometimes preach a bad one. Usually use good discernment, but sometime mess up. Usually are thrilled to be serving in their location, but sometimes want out. Usually lead well, but sometimes get off track. Pastors are humans, in other words (again so are you).

Most folks in the congregation would say they love their pastor and they know she/he loves them. You probably feel this way, so why tell you what you already know? Simple, don’t let the social media naysayers allow you to think that (your pastor excluded) the other 11,002 USA/Canada Nazarene pastors are goobers or worse. If you watch the internet too much, you’ll hear of moral failures and a bugaboo elder or two, but that’s the minority. The extreme minority. Again, most Nazarene pastors love Jesus, the Church of the Nazarene and their flock (well, most of the flock. There are a few goober laymen too… but not many). The vast majority of Nazarenes pastors and people (my antidotal guess is 99.8%) are trying hard to serve Jesus.

We’ve all heard the saying, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.” In our social-media-gone-mad world, maybe the statement if relating to the clergy in the Church of the Nazarene should read “the squeaky two hundredths of one per percent of 11,003 get the notoriety.” Pay little attention to the hullabaloo. Social media stalking of the sinful or heretical borders on mindless chatter at best and gossip at worst. You’ve got better things to do—like telling your own pastor that you support her/him; praying for him/her; and appreciate his/her efforts to lead the charge against the Enemy in your hometown. 

Laypeople reading this might not be able to encourage all 31,354 Nazarene pastors, but I bet you could cheer on one or two! Pastors reading this know you have 31,353 other pastors in the Church of the Nazarene who just like you are doing their best to represent Jesus! Be encouraged. The overwhelming majority are faithfully serving (just like you). And to the teeny tiny minority of pastors who’ve had their struggles, sins, trips and falls, please remember the One who called you is still faithful, even if you haven’t been. Ministry might be out of the question, but you’re not too far gone, no matter what you or others might think. Confess. Move forward (in ministry or not). Finish the race. 

All this to say, most (not all, but most by far) of 31,354 ministers in the Church of the Nazarene love Jesus and want to see His Kingdom built wherever they are serving.