As promised in my previous post regarding care for our new pastor's wife, this next post focuses on the stewardship we now possess with their five precious children.
When I pondered what to write, I felt led to search the subject at The Gospel Coalition. Up popped a terrific post entitled, "How Churches Can Care for Their Pastor’s Children." Author Chap Bettis begins the article this way:
A young pastor recently asked for my advice over lunch. His church plant was maturing, and he was looking down the road. His own children are ages 6, 4, and 1. Knowing the problems that pastors’ kids can have, he wisely desired to cast a vision of care for his children.
Too many children of pastors are casualties in the spiritual battle. After seeing the inner workings of the church, many do not want anything to do with the Lord or his people. As a teenager, I almost walked away from my faith because of the hypocrisy and disunity I saw in my church.
But in my conversation with this pastor, I was momentarily speechless as I realized how little I had thought about this important question. Why? Because the church that I had shepherded for 25 years had done an excellent job caring for my own children. Today they are 22, 20, 18, and 16, and have fond memories of our relationships there.
What had my own church done that so few churches do well? What can churches learn?
I doubt seriously that I can improve much at all with what this brother shares. I encourage you take the time to click on the link above and learn seven ways his church excelled in the treatment of his children.
Each tip will help us to please God in our care for the Botzet kiddoes--as Pastor Eric fondly calls them.
May we be one of the few churches that do this well!
