Bryan SammsMinistry Endurance: An Interview with Brent Armstrong
This podcast episode is more of a round table discussion that I had with my close friend, Brent Armstrong. Over the years, Brent has been influential in my ministry and my personal life. What I admire the most about him is his unwavering faithfulness and longevity in pastoral ministry. So when Aaron and I got the chance to sit down and discuss our respective journeys, we thought it would be a great idea to record the conversation. Below are some of the highlights we discuss, which I hope will be of help to you.
90% of Pastors will not retire as Pastors.
Along the way, God will test and try you so that you can endure.
Being a pastor is unlike any profession in the world. Ministry endurance is critical. The book of Luke (2:52) provides a model for us. We must work on these four aspects:
Mental
Spiritual
Physical
Emotional
Here are some keys to help you endure in the ministry:
Your family has particular challenges. The pressure of always being on is real. If you are going to stay in ministry for a long time, you must focus on your family first. We often focus on the ministry to the neglect of our families.
Avoid the approval of other ministries to determine your success. You cannot worry about your notoriety with other pastors.
Concerning your physical life, exercising helps you mentally and physically. It also gives you an opportunity to be open to God speaking to you when you have a change of scenery.
Concerning your emotional and mental life: have three accountability partners in your life. You also need a person to open up to and talk to. You also need to take breaks to refuel and replenish.
Connect with Pastor Brent Armstrong: