How is Ministry Designed?

Pastor4Pastors ministry is designed and structured around questions that dig into the core issue of a pastor's life as a spiritual leader.

After 40 years of pastoral ministry and seeing countless pastors come and go in ministry, I've concluded that what's right and what's wrong about our ministries is based upon a pastor's relationship with God. Sure, church people, nasty situations, evil intentions of others, overcoming the devil, church politics, need for more knowledge, new techniques, better church structures, financial pressure, new methods and better preaching skills are all contributing factors. But as pastors know, I could quote to you passage after passage of Scripture that tells us God will supply all your needs as you pastor your church and ministries, in any and every circumstance and situation. So in light of these Biblical promises, the core issue is that a pastor is able to connect closely with the Lord in a deep way through and in every situation he faces. That's what Pastor4Pastors is designed to focus upon. In short, it's a pastor's heart. It's the core of the core of the core of every pastor's ministry - His relationship with the Lord, which is the very foundation of our life and ministry.

The other day in reading scripture, it struck me afresh how bold and strong many Biblical prophets were to be able to stand and proclaim "Thus saith the Lord." Imagine how sure and confident you must be to say such a thing to people. Imagine what kind of an encounter one must have with the true God to speak like that! Imagine the power and force of such language all based on what? The prophet's relationship with God. But do we preach with such certainty, such strong leadership spiritually? Could it be because we are not as certain about our hearing of God? Could it be we are not as open to hearing God? Could it be we've settled for a little hearing of God instead of a lot of hearing of God?

Being a pastor is a very difficult job. It’s obviously not done for the pay. So why do people do it? Because they sense a real call from God, but often after personal struggles with sin, people battles at church, battles to bring change in church, and battles to preach, pastors become battle weary. The voice of the calling of God seems weaker and weaker and sometimes even forgotten.

The Pastor4Pastors ministry first and foremost deals with the core issue of why pastors are pastors: the very call of God in their life and what it means in every stage of ministry they encounter.

Pastors like everyone in the world, live in an evil sinful world. It makes ministry seem impossible. Sinners trying to help sinners while all of us are magnetized to the attractions of sin. All because sin is only attractive to sinners. Some day our purification from sin will be complete. But now it rages on the outside and inside of all of us. However, Christ has come not just to rescue us for our ultimate purification from sin and redemption to take us to heaven, but Christ also came to sanctify us now, to be in us and us in Him. (Jn. 14-16) He didn't just give us promises and principles. He gave us Himself and by His spirit within us, we can overcome sin in our lives and live holy and blameless lives before God and man.

When Paul the Apostle told Timothy he had fought the good fight of faith, I believe he wasn't referring to the fight outside as much as the fight inside his own soul (Romans 7), the fight every pastor must fight every day to be enabled to minister to others. Life in this fallen world with our fallen nature is not some nasty trick or impossible situation God has left us in. God has gifted us with the supernatural ability to grow and develop and experience sanctification. But in our modern church it seems few ever talk about sanctification anymore. As if the old doctrine were not contained in our Bible.

Pastor4Pastors zeroes in on the missing subject of sanctification and the power over sin that pastors, and all Christians, can have over sin inside themselves and in the world around us. Jesus didn't leave us to muscle through the Christian life and our ministries alone. He gave us himself and His ability in us to be more than conquerors. (Mt. 28:20 & Rom 8)

If you are a pastor who wants to join with other pastors to dive deep into understanding and implementing sanctification into your life, then the Pastor4Pastors ministry is for you.

Today we hear and read of so many pastors falling into sinful ways and leaving the ministry in shame and disgrace. Was it really just because they had a tough marriage at home? Was it really just because they had tough situations they grew up under and sinful patterns that could never be completely broken? Was it just because lust or greed, or hunger for power overcame them in a weak moment?

I suggest to you that what was lacking was the sanctification in those pastors’ lives. They didn't need a better self image, a better group of leadership skills or new fresh ideas of how to minister in their culture. They needed God and His sanctifying power over sin in their lives. My hope and prayer is to spend the rest of my life on earth addressing this need in pastors’ lives. I welcome you to come join me in my quest to know God.

My Practice

What can I offer a pastor who wants my help? Well, I can share from the journey that I've been on in pastoral ministry for over 40 years. Hopefully I can encourage you in that way. But even more than that, I hope to heat up your relationship with God.

I used to think being a pastor was all about what I could do. The amount of lives I could see changed, the size and creativity of our ministries at church and even the closeness of our commitment to one another and God. I still think all those things are very important to target and work towards, but I now see that to be a pastor is much more about who I am than what I can do. In practical terms, I could talk with pastors on the phone, we could meet together at a restaurant or we could email or text each other. But after doing that for other pastors for many years, I've come to realize that is not the best way I can really help other pastors.

In the past year I've consulted with many other pastoral mentoring ministries. All of this has confirmed to me that God is calling me to major on helping pastors with only one thing. To me it's the main thing and the most important thing a pastor can do and keep himself occupied within his ministry. Pastor4Pastors ministry helps pastors refocus on their relationship with God. Pastors are to be considered holy men and holiness is not a thing in and of itself, but only results from a close relationship with God as He molds a person into the character of Christ.

The basic biblical concept of being a pastor is a simple one, but very difficult to do. A pastor is put in authority over people spiritually in a church because he is spiritually close to God. The people in church are to follow his leadership because he is close to God and walks with God. But if a pastor wanders from God, or becomes weary in caring for his people, or resists God's promptings, he becomes stuck in a horrible place. His church, his ministry and his life all begin to fall apart. In recent days in the American church the examples of these failings are far too numerous to mention. Virtually all of them go back to a pastor's relationship with God.

In short, Pastor4Pastors helps pastors see God afresh and feel God's promptings once again, be renewed in a pastoral vision and mission and grow in his relationship with God.

How can I participate?

Pastor Marty can be contacted in the following ways: 

Call him at home: 609-268-2550

Text him: 609-790-0310

Send me an email - martyberglund@comcast.net

I don't consider myself a counselor, but maybe I can be of encouragement to you on your spiritual journey.  Sign up to be in the small group of Pastors I plan to meet with once a month.

Cost

This is a non-profit ministry. Pastors, church leaders, and others are encouraged to donate to help pastors. The needs are great and investment makes a huge difference in pastors and churches.

Donations Support:

 - Facilities

- Meals

- Special pastoral needs (often very heart moving needs) 

- Activities

- Rentals

- Printed materials

- Website

- And more

Donations to this ministry not only contribute to pastors’ changed lives, but also affect those leaders’ churches and the world. Pastor4Pastors is in the ministry of making disciples who will reproduce other disciples for Christ.

Donate: Cash or Check or select the Give button below.  

What is in the future for this ministry?

Many other forms will develop through this ministry as it develops in the next few years. 

We expect to see the Pastors4Pastors ministry develop blogs, specific teachings on selected current subjects, devotional helps for pastors, a book reading list, conferences, retreats, counseling resources and much more. Please pray with us as we seek to follow the Lord each step of the way in this vital ministry. The potential of renewal for pastors will result in the renewal of hundreds of churches and thousands of lives. Thank you for your participation.

Love Never Fails!