And that’s what this is.

Not to discourage you. But to prepare you.

Because if God’s called you to this work, these five hard truths won’t disqualify you—they’ll refine you. They’re part of what it means to shepherd well. And with each one comes grace, strength, and hope.

1. You’ll Bleed in the Same Places You Bless.

You’ll love deeply, pray passionately, invest personally—and sometimes get betrayed profoundly.

The same people you’ve counseled and comforted may one day criticize you unfairly or leave without explanation. It’s disorienting. Painful. Personal.

Jesus knows exactly what that’s like. “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11). The betrayal didn’t disqualify Him—it revealed His love.

What do you do? Don’t let bitterness take root. Keep short accounts. Preach grace, and live it. If ministry wounds you, let it also drive you closer to the only One who was wounded for you. God often uses the deepest hurts to develop the deepest compassion. That’s part of how He makes you a true shepherd.

2. Your Family Will Live in a Glass House.

Your wife will feel it. Your kids will too. The glances. The whispers. The pressure to be perfect.

What most don’t realize is that while you’re giving your all to the church, your family often pays a price nobody else sees. They carry your burdens. They endure the pace. They give up time with you so others can have it.

What do you do? Protect your family at all costs. Set boundaries. Keep your word to them. Guard your day off. Say “no” when you need to. Take your wife on dates. Show up for your kids’ games and recitals. Remind your church that your first ministry is your family. And let your children grow up loving the church—not resenting it.

The health of your home will either sustain or sabotage your long-term ministry.

3. You’ll Preach Faith While Wrestling with Doubt.

There will be weeks you stand up to preach while walking through a storm yourself. You’ll open the Word with a broken heart. You’ll encourage others while wondering if the breakthrough will ever come for you.

That doesn’t make you a hypocrite. It makes you human.

Here’s what you do: Keep going. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17)—that means your own preaching can feed your faith too. Be honest with God. Talk to a trusted friend. Stay grounded in the Word. And know this: God often does His deepest work in you when you feel the weakest.

You’re not alone. Elijah doubted. John the Baptist questioned. Paul despaired. But God still used them—and He will use you too.

4. Success Will Be Harder to Measure Than You Think.

Pastoring in the social media age tempts us to measure everything—followers, likes, attendance, budget growth. And when those numbers dip, your confidence can too.

But here’s the reality: Faithfulness isn’t always flashy. And fruitfulness isn’t always fast.

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 25:21: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Not “famous.” Not “followed.” Faithful. That’s the goal.

Keep sowing seeds, even when it feels slow. Water the work with prayer. Stay obedient. You’ll never fully see on earth what God is doing through your ministry. But one day, you will.

In the meantime, let eternity—not applause—be your scoreboard.

5. You’ll Want to Quit More Than Once.

Nobody tells you how heavy the call can feel.

You’ll want to quit after a contentious meeting, a critical email, or a week when the sermon didn’t land and the room felt half empty. You’ll wonder if you’re making a difference—or just making noise.

But the fact that you feel that weight? That means you care. And that’s not a weakness. That’s a sign of a shepherd’s heart.

What do you do? Rest if you must. (Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap.) Talk to someone. Take a sabbath. But don’t quit just because it’s hard. God never promised pastoring would be easy—but He did promise to be with you. And He who called you is faithful, who also will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

If God hasn’t released you, then stay faithful where He’s planted you. The feelings will pass. The call will remain.

BONUS: The Call Will Cost You—But It’s Worth It.

This isn’t a job. It’s not a career. It’s a calling. And yes, the call will cost you. It’ll cost your time, your comfort, your preferences, and sometimes your peace. But it’s worth it. Because you’re giving your life to what matters most—souls, eternity, and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

And one day, when you stand before the Chief Shepherd, He won’t measure your worth by your numbers, your building size, or your platform. He’ll look for faithfulness.

So press on, brother pastor. Stay faithful. Keep going. Heaven is watching and cheering you on. And it’s still worth it.

The post Five Hard Things Nobody Tells You About Being a Pastor first appeared on bradwhitt.com.

I know times in our lives as pastors are sometimes hard and dark. We can experience the greatest of victories and the most devastating betrayals—often on the same day. Sometimes, we have to pinch pennies, rely on coupons, and thank God for breakfast at supper. We are often far away from family during the holidays and have to turn conferences into family vacations. Being a pastor certainly isn’t for sissies, but I love every minute of it.

I could easily list more, but let me share with you five reasons I love being a pastor.

1. It fulfills God’s call on my life

The call is where the joy and fulfillment come from. Out of all the people on the planet, God called me to be the pastor and preacher that I am. I didn’t choose this as a profession. I didn’t use this as a fallback when I couldn’t do something else. Being a pastor is what I believe God has called me to do and be. Once I settled this in my heart, all the other life questions became much easier. And when I lean into it, I feel more joy than I have ever experienced before. Is the ministry always happy? No, because happiness is determined by what happens to you. But there is a joy amid tragedies and triumphs that can’t be explained any other way than by saying, “God called me to this, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

2. I have a front seat in seeing God’s Kingdom expand

Christians are all called to be personally involved in the Great Commission. That is a non-negotiable of the Christian life. The difference for me as a pastor is that I get to see it up close. I have a front seat to seeing God’s Kingdom expand as the church I serve and the people I lead grow and live on mission. There is nothing like preaching the gospel and seeing souls saved. There is nothing like seeing a young man I’ve been praying for and talking with give his life to Jesus and then start bringing his friends to Christ. Watching a young mother teach her children about Jesus and then seeing them surrender their lives to him and grow spiritually – there is nothing like it. Cheering for my pastor friends as they lead their churches well and watching them grow and be a blessing in our community is so encouraging. As a pastor, I have a front seat to watch and be involved in seeing God’s kingdom expand in my community and around the world. Awesome!

3. I get to serve the Lord with my family

I grew up in a pastor’s family. My middle brother is an associate pastor, and my baby brother is an attorney who is faithful in his local church. We were blessed to be raised in a family that did ministry together. (We were at the church so much I can still tell you what the watered-down apple juice and little flower-shaped sugar cookies they served us in the children’s area at FBC Milan, TN, taste like forty years later.) Most nights, we were out with our dad or mom, visiting those who had visited the church, either telling them about the church or sharing the gospel with them. Now, I get to do that with my family. Our family doesn’t bifurcate our lives between family time and ministry time. We live our lives and do ministry together as a family. I’ve learned that if you pit your ministry against your family, your family will lose and they will grow bitter towards the church. Serving the Lord as a family brings a family together and builds a love for each other and the church.

4. I can invest my life in serving others

Service isn’t as popular of a word today as “stage,” “platform,” “crowd,” or even “leadership,” but it’s the heart of the ministry. Jesus didn’t come to be served; he came to serve. What I love about the ministry is serving the Lord by serving others. I am not spending my life or wasting my life. I’m investing it by pouring it into others and helping them in their walk with Jesus, helping them to know and apply the Bible, and helping them as they seek to raise their families and wrestle with the struggles of life. A shepherd should love and spend his life watching over and caring for his sheep. Ministry is service, so remember, “If service is beneath you, leadership is beyond you.

5. I have the privilege of walking with my people through the valleys and celebrating with them on the mountaintops of life

When I first became a pastor, I thought the ultimate goal of ministry was standing before the people and preaching the Bible. I firmly believe in the primacy of preaching as the highest and most significant thing we get to do as a pastor, for a host of reasons. However, don’t forget that they don’t let you come to the hospital and pray for them when they’re sick or lead out at their funerals or perform their wedding ceremonies because of your preaching. They come to hear you preach, and maybe even pay attention to what you say, because you visited them in the hospital, buried their parents, and married their children. Preaching is the privilege we get as pastors for being there for the moments and milestones of our people’s lives.

My pastor, the late Dr. Adrian Rogers, always told us young preachers that if God has called us to be pastors, we should not stoop to be kings. At first, I didn’t know how to take what he’d said. Now, 28 years later, I agree with that statement and want to share it with the generations coming behind. I echo what Paul said to his son in the ministry, Timothy, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.” There is no higher calling, no great honor, and nothing I love more than being a pastor!

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Adrian Rogers was born to Arden and Rose Rogers on September 12, 1931, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in West Palm Beach, Florida. He came to Christ as a fourteen-year-old boy at Northwood Baptist Church during a revival led by evangelist Fred Brown. Rogers struggled with assurance for a couple of years after that until one summer night, at the corner of Calvin and 39th Street in West Palm Beach, he asked God to give him the assurance of his salvation. He didn’t ask for a sign or a feeling but was willing to take God at His Word. He declared that if he were not already saved, he wanted to be saved, and if he was truly saved, this would not take it away. Under the light on that street corner, a teenage Adrian Rogers drove a stake in the ground and enjoyed the assurance of his salvation from that time forward.

Adrian Rogers surrendered to God’s call to preach under the ministry of his pastor, Guy Marlowe. Marlowe taught the young people of his church that God had a will for every person’s life and that they should discover what that plan was and get in on it. As a result, Rogers began to pray about God’s plan for his life. That plan became abundantly evident to him one night on his football practice field. He laid face down on the grass in the middle of the field, dug a little hole for his nose to get as low as he could, and said, “Lord, I’m as low as I know to get; I want you to use me.” He later said, “I didn’t speak in strange languages or feel any electric thrills or anything, but I really believe God anointed my life to preach.” I believe that Rogers’s personal experience and spiritual convictions led him to become the effective and consistent evangelistic preacher he became.

The Lord blessed me to watch Adrian Rogers’s ministry from a distance as a boy and young man and more up close as a young pastor. I grew up in a house where Adrian Rogers was a name that was often heard, and his sermons even more so. I was later blessed to serve at Bellevue Baptist Church during my seminary days at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary before being sent out by Dr. Rogers and Bellevue to start a church in Columbus, Ohio. I went on to write my PhD dissertation at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary on the public invitation in the preaching of Adrian Rogers.

During those years of listening to sermons, watching interactions, and studying Adrian Rogers’s invitations, I observed several things about his evangelistic emphasis and public invitations that I want to share as an encouragement and example for preachers today.

First, Adrian Rogers always preached Jesus. That was the passion and purpose of his ministry. I heard him say more than once when someone would ask him why he lived and preached the way he did, “I guess it’s because I’ve never gotten over getting saved.” This focus on Jesus and what He’d done in Rogers’s life was evident in his preaching. When you listen to sermons by Adrian Rogers, you will notice a recurring theme—it’s all about Jesus. He claimed the promise of John 12:32 that when Jesus is lifted up, He will draw all men to Himself.

Second, since Jesus was the focus of His preaching, inviting people to respond in faith by surrendering their lives to Him was the natural goal of His sermons. The entire sermon invited men and women to respond to Christ. In His sermons, he would share, illustrate, and enunciate the Gospel of Jesus; thus, the invitation to “come to Jesus” would be the expected way for Him to conclude his sermon.

Rogers developed a ten-point guide to help pastors give public invitations more consistently and effectively. He taught that preaches should give public invitations –

Courageously: Rogers believed that preachers should be courageous in giving an invitation even when they do not know whether people will respond. Preachers may demonstrate courage by giving an invitation even though others may disagree, become angry, and criticize the preacher for extending an invitation. The preacher is courageous, according to Rogers, when he gives the invitation even though he knows it will cost him, it will hurt him— “You get up and die a little every time you give an invitation.” Rogers taught that the preacher should be unapologetic in extending a call for people to respond personally, publicly, and immediately.

Clearly:  Rogers’s said, “Tell them exactly what you want [them] to do. Beware of cliches like, ‘Are you willing to make a profession of faith?’. . . Just make sure also when you give the invitation, give it clearly. You know, there are a lot of preachers who think they have preached the Gospel, and they haven’t preached the Gospel. They may preach a Bible message. It may be pertinent. It may be applicable and all that, but it’s not a Gospel message. . . . Get the Gospel into whatever you’re doing. It’s so very important that you are very clear.”

Concisely: Rogers emphasized leaving enough time at the end

of the sermon so as to avoid rushing the invitation or introducing anything new or confusing during the call for response. He said, “Save enough time for the invitation. Don’t go on and on in the invitation.” Rogers estimated it took about five minutes to explain how to be saved and how to respond. He also cautioned that the invitation should not be the time to introduce new factors. As Rogers said, “Don’t chase rabbits.”

Convincingly: Rogers taught that the invitation should be given with a sense of urgency, seeking to persuade hearers to respond to the Gospel, with the expectation that they would respond personally, publicly, and immediately. He shared, “Remember what Peter did on the day of Pentecost? ‘And with many other words, he did testify and exhort saying, ‘Save yourself from this untoward generation.’ Can’t you see Peter with the tears streaming down his cheeks? Can’t you see him with his arms stretched out? He doesn’t have a take-it-or-leave-it attitude. I mean, he wants to convince them that they need to be saved. The Bible says, ‘Go out the highways and the hedges, and compel them to come in.’ The Apostle Paul said, ‘Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.”

Cooperatively: Rogers believed it was important for the church to work and pray together to see people respond to the invitation. He counseled, “Let the entire church participate in the invitation. In a big auditorium, it’s better to stand at the front and let the church members work together. Teach your members how to pray during the invitation. . . And commend your congregation after the invitation. Thank them. Many times, I’ll say, ‘Oh people, let me thank you for your faithfulness and your prayerfulness during this invitation time. I love you so much.”

Consistently: A mark of Rogers’s ministry was consistently using the public invitation. Bob Sorrell, Rogers’s longtime Associate Pastor, observed how “virtually every sermon ended with a Gospel invitation.” Rogers taught preachers to “somehow, someway, be consistent. Give an invitation.” Putting it in the context of the planning and calendaring of the local church, Rogers advised, “Give the invitation consistently. Don’t wait till the revival meeting in July and August to invite people to Christ. Do it week by week by week and daily if you can, so the Lord is adding to the church daily such as should be saved.”

Creatively: Rogers believed the preacher should seek to be creative in giving the invitation. Bob Sorrell noted that Rogers “varied it [public invitation] depending on the circumstance.” Thus, a hallmark of Rogers’s invitations was creativity. While he often followed a similar flow of addressing Christians first, then those who were either lost or unsure of their salvation second, giving detailed instructions for how to respond, and finally addressing those who were watching via television, Rogers employed a great deal of creativity in his approach to the invitation.

Compassionately: Rogers thought that the pastor should be compassionate while giving the invitation. He counseled preachers, “Don’t be afraid of tears.” Rogers believed that emotion on the part of the preacher was a good thing and that he should consider the emotions and feelings of the people he was addressing during the invitation. This was not to be done to shirk his responsibility to confront sin or call for a response but rather to be more “biblical and fruitful” when inviting people to respond at the end of the sermon.

Convictionally: Rogers believed and taught that the preacher should rely on the power of the Holy Spirit in his preaching and the conviction of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those he was calling to respond. Rogers did not view extending the invitation as a way to get decisions but rather as a way to help people make a decision in response to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

Celebratorily: Rogers emphasized that the pastor and church should celebrate those who come during the invitation. He said, “After I give an invitation and people come, I say to the congregation, ‘Let’s rejoice with those who’ve come this morning. Praise the Lord, amen,’ and people begin to rejoice and sometimes even shout. The happiest time in our church ought to be when newborn babies are coming into the family of God.” Rogers recalled, “I had a doctor come to me, a medical doctor. He lived about 20 miles away. He said, ‘Are you going to be preaching Sunday?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘I’m going to be bringing a patient. The patient needs to be saved.’ He said, ‘I want to bring my patient.’ I said, ‘Well, wonderful, doctor. I’m so glad.’ But I said, ‘Why don’t you bring your patient to your own church?’ He said, ‘They don’t care about souls over there.”

Third, preaching Jesus and inviting people to respond personally, publicly, and immediately permeated the entire ministry of Bellevue Baptist Church. Rogers believed that the pastor’s emphasis becomes the church’s emphasis. I saw this firsthand while serving in the ministries and sitting in the pews under Adrian Rogers’s preaching. The old saying goes, “Evangelism is as much caught as it is taught,” and Rogers’s evangelistic passion and practice of inviting people to “come to Jesus” impacted my life and ministry, as well as the lives and ministries of countless preachers and pastors.

In his first sermon as Pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, Adrian Rogers said, “There are those who can preach the Gospel better than I can, but nobody can preach a better Gospel than I can because there’s only one Gospel, and that’s the Gospel of the Lord, Jesus Christ.” That is an apt summation of the evangelistic emphasis and public invitation in Adrian Rogers’s preaching ministry.

The post The Evangelistic Emphasis and Gospel Invitation in the Preaching Ministry of Adrian Rogers first appeared on bradwhitt.com.

I was raised in a pastor’s home. I do not remember a time in my life when I was not constantly exposed to and impacted by the ministry of Adrian Rogers. A black-and-white picture of him preaching at the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference hung above my father’s desk. His books were often found on the end table beside my father’s recliner. Cassette tapes and CDs from Love Worth Finding were either playing in my dad’s truck or placed in the cup holders. I remember my father pointing him out to me when I was an older child during our family’s vacation to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. I heard him preach Founders Days in chapel during my first semester at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Then, while I was a seminary student, I was able to work for a time in the college ministry at Bellevue Baptist Church before being sent to start a church in Ohio with Bellevue as one of our sponsors. The ministry of Adrian Rogers has impacted my entire life. I am thankful to have been mentored by him from afar early in my life and more closely in my early years as a pastor. My gratitude to him for instilling in me a love for God, His Word, and seeing people come to Jesus is beyond my ability to express adequately. So, I am honored to introduce you to my pastor, Adrian Rogers.

Rogers’s Legacy:

Few pastors in the modern era have as enduring and impactful a ministry legacy as Adrian Rogers. His ministry, which lasted more than five decades, reverberated within his beloved Bellevue Baptist Church, and continues to resound across continents and generations. As you learn more about this remarkably influential pastor’s personal and ministerial journey, you will discover a legacy and lessons that continue to shape and inspire pastors and believers worldwide.

Adrian Pierce Rogers, born on September 12, 1931, in sun-kissed West Palm Beach, Florida, became a towering figure in American evangelicalism. His experiences and education at Stetson University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary laid the groundwork for a ministry characterized by an unwavering stand for Christ, an uncompromising commitment to Scripture, and an unbridled passion for the Gospel.

In 1972, Rogers was called from the thriving FBC Merritt Island, Florida, in the shadow of the Kennedy Space Center at the height of the space race, to pastor the historic Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. Under his leadership, the congregation relocated from its landlocked location in downtown Memphis to the fast-growing area on the eastern edge of Shelby County, where it witnessed unprecedented growth and became one of the largest and most influential churches in the United States. However, beyond the significant growth seen in Bellevue’s buildings, budgets, and baptisms, Rogers’s influence went beyond geographical and denominational boundaries, reaching the far corners of the globe through Love Worth Finding, his TV, radio, and online broadcast ministry, as well as his books, and evangelistic crusades.

Rogers’s Lessons:

Watching and examining Adrian Rogers’s ministry, at first from a distance and then closer, I gleaned nuggets of wisdom and ministry principles that I believe can help equip modern pastors to have more faithful and fruitful ministries.

The Unshakeable Foundation of Scripture: At the heart of Adrian Rogers’s life and ministry was an unwavering belief in the authority, inerrancy, and sufficiency of Scripture. His preaching, unflinchingly grounded in the timeless and unchanging truth of Scripture, gave witness to the life-changing, church-building, world-impacting power of God’s Word. Rogers’s commitment to and proclamation of the Bible served as a trumpet call for his Southern Baptist Convention to embark on what has come to be known as the Conservative Resurgence, the first time a major US denomination had recovered from the advancing liberalism in modern times.

A Passionate Pursuit of Souls: Adrian Rogers was not merely a local church pastor but also a fervent evangelist, consumed by a consuming desire to see souls won for Christ. This evangelistic passion was seen in both his pastoral preaching and ministry and his broader public ministry. His heart beat with the urgency of the Great Commission as he tirelessly proclaimed the message of salvation for the lost and broken to “come to Jesus.” In fact, from the day when God saved him as a 15-year-old boy, his life was wrapped around Matthew 28:18-19, the Great Commission. Rogers’s enthusiasm and example of evangelism encourages and serves as an model for modern pastors and Christians to embrace a similar zeal for the lost, recognizing that eternity hangs in the balance.

Harnessing Technology for Kingdom Purposes: In an era characterized by rapid technological advancement, Adrian Rogers foresaw media’s potential as a vehicle for spreading the Gospel. Through his pioneering broadcast ministry, Love Worth Finding, Rogers leveraged the power of technology to reach hearts and homes worldwide. I find it interesting how, in 2024, some can look back and view his ministry as old-fashioned, but at the time, Rogers would have been at the forefront of using technology to reach the world with the good news of the Gospel. That’s why I believe his innovative spirit is a compelling reminder of the need for creativity and adaptability in advancing God’s Kingdom in the digital age.

A Pastor’s Heart: Beyond the pulpit, Adrian Rogers epitomized the role of a caring shepherd, tenderly guiding and nurturing God’s flock. His pastoral ministry was marked by genuine compassion, empathy, and a willingness to walk alongside his congregation through life’s joys and sorrows. Rogers’s example underscores the timeless truth that effective ministry flows from a heart of love and genuine concern for God’s people. I remember hearing him tell stories of how he had prayed with families during the loss of a loved one, as well as church members sharing how he had ministered to them during times of sorrow, suffering, and loss. It is remarkable to consider how, with tens of thousands of members, Rogers could pastor and minister so faithfully and effectively. His pastor’s heart is undoubtedly a reminder for modern pastors of the importance of “shepherding the flock of God.”

A Legacy of Faithfulness and Fruitfulness: Ultimately, Adrian Rogers’s enduring legacy resides not in buildings or budgets, institutions or organizations, accolades or achievements but in a life fully and faithfully lived for the glory of God. His unwavering commitment to the Gospel and relentless pursuit of excellence bore fruit that continues to flourish and multiply even today. His broadcast ministry, Love Worth Finding, continues to reach the world with his powerful, practical, and biblical preaching, seeing thousands give their life to Christ each year. Rogers’s life challenges believers to aspire to a similar standard of faithfulness, recognizing that true success in ministry is measured not by earthly metrics but by heavenly rewards.

My pastor, Adrian Rogers’s, ministry stands as a testament to the earthly and eternal impact that one life, surrendered to His purpose and plan, can have for the Kingdom of God. I pray that as you learn more about the legacy he left behind and the lessons he exemplified, you might be encouraged to live more faithfully for Jesus and proclaim Him more boldly, for as Dr. Rogers so often reminded us, “it’s getting gloriously dark!”

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In the relentless whirlwind of duties and responsibilities that is modern ministry, as pastors, we can sometimes forget that the most important ministry we’ve been entrusted with is the one that happens within the walls of our homes. We understand the importance of our calling to the church. Still, today, I want to talk to you about the importance of us, as pastors, spending quality time with our children, and then I want to suggest some practical ways to make those moments matter.

I am writing this to you as a pastor and a pastor’s son. I grew up in the glass house and pressure cooker of local church ministry. I know the struggles of having a father who was always on call, under the microscope, and struggled with balancing church and home. It certainly takes work. But it is critically important to put the time and effort into creating and cultivating a close relationship with your kids, not as their Pastor, but as their Dad.

The Sacred Balance

Balancing the sacred responsibilities of shepherding our congregations and being present and involved as parents to our children is a delicate tightrope walk. But why is it so vital?

1. Leading by Example: We are not just spiritual leaders on Sundays; we are spiritual leaders 24/7. Our actions at home, with our children, speak volumes about our faith and values. Paul even told Timothy how important this is: “For if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?” (1 Timothy 3:4)

2. Nurturing Their Faith: Just as we sow spiritual seeds in our congregations, we must do the same within our families. Engaging in spiritual conversations, reading Scripture, and praying together helps cultivate a faith-filled atmosphere at home. The point here is not to have the only time your children hear you talk about spiritual things be from the pulpit or at the church. Displaying a love for God and His Word should permeate your entire life and home.

3. Building Foundations: Our children need sturdy foundations to navigate life’s storms. Quality time with them lays the groundwork for Christian values, spiritual strength, and an unshakable identity rooted in Christ. The spiritual edification of your children is built on the foundation of the first two – your example in front of them and the spiritual nurturing you cultivate into their life at home. When this is done, it doesn’t create a division between church life and home life but shows your children how to incorporate what they believe with how they live.

4. Emotional Security: Our children should know they have a safe haven in us. By being present and involved, we offer emotional security that is invaluable in their lives. This security is perhaps even more critical for pastors’ kids because of the unrealistic expectations put upon them by the church so often. The time and attention you invest in our children will help them to stand up under the pressures of being “PKs.”

Making Time for Memories

Here are some practical suggestions to help us be more intentional in creating meaningful and lasting memories with our children:

1. Schedule Family Time: Set aside dedicated family nights where ministry takes a backseat. Use this time for laughter, games, and conversations that deepen your family bonds. One thing often missing in many pastors’ homes is when the family gathers around the table for dinner. This time, daily, of talking with each other and hearing about their day, struggles, and victories is vitally important.

2. Faith in the Everyday: Make faith a part of your daily routines. Pray together, share stories from the Bible, and engage in discussions about spiritual matters. An easy and impactful way to do this is to have a family devotional time each night where you read the Bible and pray together.

3. Attend Worship Together: Despite our busy roles, worshipping together strengthens your family’s faith journey. When able, sit together in worship as a family. Encourage your children’s participation in church activities. Give them opportunities to serve and lead as they grow. Help them develop meaningful relationships with the people in your church by spending time worshipping with them.

4. Get Away Together: Plan family vacations or retreats where you can disconnect from work and reconnect with each other. These moments are invaluable for creating lasting memories. A good rule of thumb is to get away together once a quarter, if possible.

5. Support Their Passions: Show genuine interest in your children’s hobbies and passions. Attend their school events, cheer them on at sports games, or applaud their achievements in the arts. You know the importance of showing up for important events in the lives of your church members; make double sure to be at the ballgames, track meets, concerts, and presentations your children are involved in.

6. Foster Open Communication: Cultivate an environment where your children can share their thoughts, questions, and concerns. Simply listening is a powerful way to connect with your children. So often, the ones who feel the least freedom to ask questions or share struggles with us as Pastors are our own children.

7. Delegate and Prioritize: Learn to delegate tasks within the church to trusted individuals, allowing you to carve out more time for your family. Of course, there will be seasons when the ministry is busier than others, and there are certain things at church that only you can do, but when and where you can give responsibilities to others so you can spend more time with your family,

8. Take your children with you: It may sound contradictory, but if you try to divide your life between the church and home, you’ll create a war where your family loses, and your children will grow to resent the church. One of the most important things I’ve learned as a dad is that I don’t leave my kids to go and do ministry; I take my kids with me to minister. I try to involve them in virtually every aspect of the church, and I try to make it fun. Going to visit the hospital? Take one of your children with you and get them a milkshake afterward. Preaching at a local church in the middle of the week? Take them with you and let them hang out at supper after the service. Have you worked hard to get ahead at church and have a few “free” days? Take them on a hunting trip or to the mountains overnight. They pay a price for being PKs; find a way for that reality to be something special or give them something extra so that the church isn’t a threat but a blessing.

As pastors, we hold unique and essential roles in our congregations and families. Prioritizing quality time with our children is a sacred duty that intertwines with our calling as spiritual leaders. May we recognize that our most profound ministry often occurs within the sanctuary of our homes, where we nurture the hearts of the next generation.

May God’s grace empower us to excel in our ministries and families as we seek to live out our faith in the pulpit and around our own dinner tables.

In His service and in love,

Dr. Brad Whitt

Husband, Father, Pastor of Abilene Baptist Church

The post Nurturing Hearts at Home: A Letter to Pastors On Our Vital Ministry as Fathers first appeared on bradwhitt.com.

Ministry can be demanding and fast-paced, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. In this simple post, I want to address the call to ministry, the challenges of ministry, the pace of ministry, and the joys of ministry. Let me share four key points to help you as a pastor start right to end right and experience a fulfilling and fruitful ministry in 2024.

The Call to Ministry

Remember/Rediscover Your Calling – The call to ministry is powerful and profound, and with it comes a life-long commitment to Christ and His Church. However, it’s not uncommon for pastors to lose sight of their initial calling amid the pressures and demands of the ministry. In the new year, take time to reflect on your calling. Reconnect with the passion and purpose that led you to serve in ministry. Consider seeking guidance from mentors or participating in retreats that allow you to deepen your spiritual connection.

Sharpen the Saw – Ministry is dynamic and constantly changing. That’s why staying up-to-date on current ministry trends, theological insights and developments, effective leadership strategies, etc., is vital to effective pastoral ministry. Make it a goal to invest in ongoing education and personal development in 2024. Attend workshops, conferences, and seminars to expand your knowledge, skills, and connections. Engage in regular study and reflection to continue growing as a pastor. Remember, “Readers are leaders, and leaders are readers,” and the moment you stop growing, you start dying.

The Challenges of Ministry

Self-Care Is Ministry Care – Pastors often put the needs of their congregation above their own well-being. It’s essential to recognize that taking care of yourself is not selfish; it’s a crucial aspect of effective ministry. In 2024, make self-care a priority. Ensure you have a support system, including friends, family, and fellow pastors, with whom you can share your struggles and successes. Regularly engage in activities that recharge your physical, emotional, and spiritual batteries. Spend time focusing on your soul by spending time in God’s Word and prayer every day. Take care of the body God gave you if you want to last out, not burn out or blow out.

Balance and Boundaries – One of the challenges pastors face is maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Ministry can be all-consuming, and burnout is a real risk. I know it isn’t easy and goes against what we’re taught and how we think, but in the new year, establish the edges and overflows of your pastoral ministry and personal life. Set realistic working hours, take regular breaks, honor your days off, and spend time with your family. Effective time management and delegation can help prevent overload. Remember, a strong man can do the work of ten men, but a smart man enlists ten men to do the work.

The Pace of Ministry

Time Management – Ministry often feels like a race against the clock. With endless meetings, pastoral care, sermon preparation, and administrative tasks, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Start 2024 by improving your time management skills. Prioritize tasks, use a calendar or digital tools to schedule your days, and create a weekly routine for focused work and rest.

Focusing on the Essentials – Remember that you can’t do it all. Ministry doesn’t mean saying “yes” to every request or opportunity that comes your way. Assess your priorities and invest your time and energy in the areas where you can make the most significant impact. This assessment might mean delegating specific tasks or partnering with others to share the load so you can invest your time and energy in things only you can do.

The Joys of Ministry

Celebrate Small Victories – Amidst all the challenges and struggles, ministry is filled with many moments of joy and fulfillment. In 2024, make a conscious effort to celebrate the small victories and milestones. Whether it’s a life transformed by Jesus because of you sharing the Gospel with them, a couple helped by your counsel, a successful outreach event, or simply a cup of coffee and meaningful conversation with a church member, take time to acknowledge and enjoy these moments. They serve as reminders of why you answered the call to ministry in the first place – to impact and enrich people’s lives for Jesus.

So, starting right in the new year as a pastor involves:

• Remembering and reaffirming your call to ministry
• Recognizing and addressing the challenges of ministry
• Effectively managing the pace of ministry
• Celebration the wins and savoring the joys in ministry

By focusing on and implementing these four key points in 2024, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the year ahead with purpose, resilience, and a renewed passion for serving Christ and your congregation. Remember that a healthy, fulfilled pastor is better positioned to lead and encourage others on their spiritual journey. Pray that the new year brings you many meaningful blessings in your ministry!

The post Start Right to End Right: A Simple Guide to a Fulfilling and Fruitful Year of Ministry first appeared on bradwhitt.com.

Here are 10 things I learned from being around my pastor, Adrian Rogers:

1. He loved Jesus

Dr. Adrian Rogers’ love for Jesus Christ was palpable. You heard it in every sermon and felt it in every conversation. His unwavering faith and devotion to our Savior served as a constant reminder of the profound impact a personal relationship with Christ can have on one’s life. He often said, “Our love for Jesus ought to be the center and circumference of everything we do.”

2. He loved the Bible

Dr. Rogers had a deep love and reverence for the Word of God. He firmly believed the Bible was inspired, inerrant, and the ultimate source of truth and guidance. His commitment to studying and teaching from Scripture was a testament to the power of God’s Word in transforming lives. His love for God’s Word compelled him to lead the Southern Baptist Convention back to a commitment to the truthfulness and authority of the Bible.

3. He loved people

One of the most striking qualities of Dr. Rogers was his genuine love for people. You felt it whenever you were near him. Whether you were a member of Bellevue Baptist church or just a stranger he met on the street, he treated everyone with kindness, compassion, and respect. I remember one of his children sharing the story of a man who interrupted their family dinner one night at a restaurant to say hello and have the opportunity to meet the well-known pastor of Bellevue. When the man left, his child noted that his father didn’t have anything disparaging to say about the man or even a negative remark about their dinner being interrupted. As his family noted, he was the same in the pulpit as outside the pulpit. His love for people reflected Christ’s command to love our neighbors as ourselves.

4. He loved the church

Pastor Adrian Rogers had a heart for the local church. He understood the vital role that the church plays in the life of a believer and the community. His commitment to strengthening and growing the church was unwavering. This love enabled him to lead Bellevue to become one of the largest and strongest churches in the nation – if not the world.

5. He loved preaching the Gospel

The pulpit was his passion, and proclaiming the Good News was his focus. Dr. Rogers approached preaching with passion and conviction, proclaiming the Gospel message with clarity and boldness. He believed that sharing the Good News of Christ’s salvation was the most important task for any believer, and he demonstrated this in both his public and personal life.

6. He loved preachers

Dr. Rogers deeply loved and respected fellow ministers of the Gospel. He mentored and encouraged many young preachers, recognizing the importance of equipping the next generation to proclaim God’s Word faithfully. The time he gave me as a young college and seminary student has left a deep, meaningful, and lasting imprint on my life.

7. He loved his denomination

Dr. Rogers loved his Southern Baptist Convention. He knew she was not and will never be perfect, but he also understood the tremendous impact tens of thousands of churches could have for Jesus when united, under the Word of God, to get the Gospel to the world. He believed that the body of Christ should be united in its mission to advance the Kingdom of God and worked with many mission organizations worldwide. This love led him to be willing to serve three terms as President of the Southern Baptist Convention at a time when the battle for the Bible was hottest in his denomination. His election as President in 1979 is commonly used to mark the beginning of what came to be known as the Conservative Resurgence.

8. He loved to laugh

Amidst the seriousness of ministry, Dr. Rogers had a wonderful sense of humor. He understood the value of laughter and the joy it brings to life. His laughter was infectious and reminded us that even in challenging times, we can find moments of levity. I remember the jokes he would crack in our preaching seminars at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary and the chuckle he would get when the little wire counterbalanced fisherman he knocked back and forth on the end table in his office. As he talked to us preacher boys, that little wire fisherman he knocked back and forth occasionally fell to the ground. He’d laugh, pick it back up, and start knocking it back and forth again.

9. He loved his friends

Pastor Adrian Rogers cherished his friendships. He understood the significance of having a support system and the encouragement from deep, meaningful relationships. His friends were a testament to the impact he had on others. You could tell the names of those he considered good friends when he would talk about them and share their stories in his sermons. He smiled and chuckled; his eyes would light up when he told of their exploits and adventures together.

10. He loved his family

Last but certainly not least, Dr. Rogers profoundly loved his family. He demonstrated the importance of prioritizing family amidst the demands of ministry. His love and devotion to his wife, children, and grandchildren were evident to all who knew him. I always admired how he would pull his wife, Mrs. Joyce, up close to his side on the pulpit at Bellevue, lean his head over, and kiss her on the cheek. I watched as he interacted with his son at the Pastors Training Institute and listened as he talked about his daughter with us students. His love for his family was obvious, evident, and an example for all.

As I sit this morning in my office at Abilene Baptist Church, the lessons I learned from being around my pastor, Adrian Rogers, continue to shape my faith and ministry. His love for Jesus, the Bible, people, the church, and so much more serves as a legacy and an inspiration for all who seek to follow Christ wholeheartedly. Dr. Rogers often told us, ministry students, “The most important thing in life is to love and serve the Lord faithfully.” May we all be reminded of that on this significant day.

The post 10 Things I Learned About Life and Leadership from My Pastor, Adrian Rogers first appeared on bradwhitt.com.

All of these things are nice and good. In fact, I believe it is an excellent idea for a church to take one month out of the year to do something special to show how much they appreciate the time, effort, love, and concern their pastor has for them.

I know that I’ve been blessed to pastor churches that do just that. Now, it wasn’t always that way. When I’d first come to a previous church, one of our new staff members, who had come from a larger church in North Carolina that knew how to show their love for their pastor, approached our deacon chairman and asked him if the church ever had a “Pastor Appreciation Day.” The deacon chairman said, “No. We never have. We just always paid ’em good.” My new associate shared how strange that sentiment was to him. He couldn’t understand how a man so successful in business could overlook something so simple as expressing love and appreciation for a year’s worth of ministry. I remember him telling me how his former church would try to outdo themselves every year when it came time for pastor appreciation month. I know that the pastor had to appreciate all they did to show him their love.

As I sat in my office this morning, I spent some time thinking about some of the gifts I know I have appreciated over the years as a pastor. I would like to share what I believe are the top ten gifts you should give your pastor, not just during Pastor Appreciation Month but the other eleven months of the year as well.

1. Your prayers. This is the greatest gift you can give your pastor. If you don’t love him as you should, begin to pray for him, and you will. Of course, if you already love him, then you’ll naturally want to pray for him. I’ve had several of our senior adults tell me when I call just to check in on them how they pray for me every day. That’s fuel for more ministry!

2. Your love. A pastor who shepherds his people will expend a significant amount of love. His heart will be stretched and often broken. Next to your prayers, the most important thing you can give your pastor is your love. By the way, if you love him, let him know it. Despite what some people think, I don’t know of any pastor who can read minds. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve received a card expressing a member’s love and prayers just when I thought nobody in the church liked me, much less loved me.

3. Your unconditional support. Dr. Jim Henry told our staff recently that researchers say that other than being the president of the United States, the most stressful “job” is being the pastor of a local church. I remember years ago, when one of my associate pastors was preaching, he made a statement that at first made me think that he was going to have to make a trip to the pastor’s office. He said, “The pastor is not always perfect….” I knew that. Everybody knows that. I didn’t think that somebody would say it from the pulpit. Then he added, “But he is always the pastor.”

4. A little grace. I’m amazed at how often people get their feelings hurt in church. Usually, it is because of something somebody did or said, or didn’t do or didn’t say. Sometimes, that somebody is the pastor. The next time you start to get upset with your pastor, take just a minute, breathe, and consider the possibility that he might just be human, too. Maybe, like you, he has good days and bad days. You never know what burden he might be carrying, what issue he’s having to deal with. It might be something at church or home. So, please give him a little grace and cut him some slack. You would want him to do the same for you.

5. A “good word” to your pastor. Everybody likes to hear when they’ve done something right or been a blessing to somebody. The sermon may have spoken to you. Perhaps the service blessed you. Maybe you appreciated his call or visit or liked his tie or new shoes. In a given week, the average pastor hears many things he’s done wrong. Please take a moment and share something that he’s done right.

6. A “good word” for your pastor. Tell your friends if your pastor is a gifted Bible preacher, a visionary leader, or a caring pastor. Invite them to come hear him preach and spend time with him. Brag on him. Make sure everybody knows just how great you think your pastor is. This news will get out and back and be a great and encouraging gift.

7. Your faithfulness. I had lunch with a pastor friend who served the same church for nearly 20 years and told me that instead of large receptions or lots of money, he’d rather have his people be faithful. I completely agree. Cash or cards don’t begin to say what a family’s faithfulness does. Your faithfulness to the ministry of your church speaks volumes about how much you love and appreciate your pastor. Don’t just say it or give it; show it.

8. Time with his family. He won’t be any good to your family if he’s not any good to his family. If you have a need that’s not an emergency, leave a message and tell him there’s no hurry. Or send an email or a direct message. No pastor minds taking a call or visiting if there is a real need, but make sure it is a real need before your call in the evening or on the weekend when he’s with his family. Another good idea is to insist, and if funds are available, ensure that the pastor and his family can have at least one week to get away on a vacation. (Two weeks would be even better.) In a day where most “faithful” church members miss at least one Sunday a month and take multiple trips or vacations a year, it’s not asking too much to make sure that he and his family have at least one.

9. Time by himself. The demands of being a pastor today are exponentially more significant than just 25 or 30 years ago. The pressure of meeting all the needs and living up to the expectations can get to the point that it just becomes too much to bear. This unrelenting pressure and overwhelming expectations explain why so many pastors are burning out and quitting — sometimes to never darken the door of a church with their families again. Let your pastor get away to a good conference where he can refresh. Send him on a hunting, fishing, or golf trip. Whatever he likes to do. Allow him to recharge his batteries so that he can return energized for the ministry the Lord has for him there.

10. A financial gift. There is a reason why this is last — because it’s last. For most pastors I know and have talked to, a love offering is way down at the bottom of a list of things they would like to receive from their church. Most pastors don’t become pastors to get rich. They do it because of the call of God on their life. So, consider giving a gift card for a nice meal. Or, even better, a little extra money to do whatever they want to do with it. Express your appreciation for the long hours of ministry and love that he gives, not just during October but the rest of the year as well.

These are just a few thoughts of a pastor who was raised in the home of a pastor and loves pastors. What gift will you give to your pastor today? Every day?

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