Pastor, let's talk.
One of the common ministry needs of any congregation is the spiritual care of hospitalized people. There is not a week that goes by that one of our members or someone connected to them is not in the hospital. People need to know at this critical time that the Lord and His church care for them. A hospital visit by a pastor, a deacon, a LifeGroup leader, or Christian friend demonstrates God’s care in a tangible and meaningful way.
I made two hospital visits yesterday. I arrived at St. Vincent's Southside at 5:30 a.m. to pray with a member of our church who was preparing for surgery. In the afternoon I visited a member of the church who was recovering from hip surgery. I made these visits between planning sessions with my staff.
I also had to:
- study for an upcoming sermon
- prepare for a trip to Ecuador
- arrange to have a member's burned mobile home demolished and removed
- oversee the staff
- return phone calls and emails
- schedule a wedding request
- strategize Easter planning
- sign purchase orders
- sign letters
- write a newsletter article
- call on church prospects
I enjoy making hospital visits. The problem arises when people assume the pastor can and should make all hospital visits. People often get mad when the pastor does not visit them, a loved one, a friend, or co-worker. It doesn't even matter if the person was visited by other staff members, deacons, or Life Group members.
There are three reasons why a pastor should not try to make every hospital visit.
1. Relational.
As our church grows larger it must also grow smaller. People need to know they are loved and valued. Relationships make this possible. The measure of a church's love is not based on if the pastor makes all the visits people think he should make. A measure of church health is if members are loving one another, caring for one another, and serving one another. Do a quick Bible search for all the "one another" verses in the Bible and you will discover the pastor was never meant to be the primary caregiver in the church.
2. Practical.
I cannot care for every hurting person who walks in the door of the church. I cannot personally fulfill every request for a visit. To try means I will neglect my calling as an elder, teacher, and overseer of the flock. I will become a bottleneck to the amount of care that is provided. I will neglect my family. I will burn out.
Congregational care is best when shared. Congregational care is best performed through our small group ministry, deacons, staff, and personal care from members. These people function as an extension of my pastoral ministry. I will not rob people of the joy of personal ministry. And I will not minimize their ministry as if it is less significant than when I do it.
3. Biblical.
The job of the pastor is to equip the saints to do their job of caring for one another. Our church functions best as members allow the pastor to equip them for ministry to one another.
“And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ…” (Ephesians 4:11-12, HCSB).
A pastor must recognize that he cannot bear the burdens of leadership alone. Instead, the pastor must devote his best time, attention, and energy to his primary calling which includes representing the people to God in prayer, teaching people the Word of God, and helping them apply the principles of Scripture to their daily lives so they can care for one another. Even the Apostles had to recalibrate their ministry to the church in the early days of Christianity in order to maintain their focus on the priorities of prayer and the Word of God (Acts 6:2–4).
A wise pastor will equip believers to share the care ministry of the church. This is what I am doing.
Pastor, who can you equip to help you in this ministry?
