Pastors Are People Too What They Won't Tell You but You Need to Know

What are your top twenty expectations for your pastor? Now multiply your list by the number of people who attend church with you. Is it any wonder pastors are overwhelmed and underappreciated?

They’re expected to know every member by name, preach a “home run sermon” every Sunday, condemn sin without hurting anyone’s feelings, and be available to serve others 24/7 while not neglecting their own family. The intensity of these expectations and lack of appreciation can and does bring the majority of pastors to a place of despair and ultimately departure from pastoral ministry. This practical field guide offers tangible ways to better understand and care for the pastor who cares so deeply about you.

Jimmy Dodd is founder and president of PastorServe—a ministry that provides care, counseling, and friendship to pastors. Having been a pastor for more than thirty years, his passion is to see pastors thrive. He is a graduate of Wheaton College and Gordon-Conwell Seminary. Jimmy and his wife, Sally, have five children. Jimmy is also the author of Survive or Thrive: 6 Relationships Every Pastor Needs.

Larry Magnuson and his wife, Barbara, lead SonScape Retreats—a ministry that for over thirty years has provided week-long experiences in spectacular settings uniquely designed for the challenges facing pastoral couples. Larry’s career took him from inner-city Chicago to the suburbs of Minneapolis where he served in a variety of roles including youth pastor, associate pastor, church planter, and ultimately lead pastor. Larry is a graduate of Bethel University and North Park Seminary. Larry and Barbara have four children.

To the Pastor
To the Congregation
Introduction: Why the State of Pastors Should Matter to You

Chapter 1: Your Pastor Needs a Champion: It Could Be You
Chapter 2: Twenty-Four–Hour Pastor: Allow Your Pastor to Be a Real Person
Chapter 3: Pastor Superman: Managing Expectations
Chapter 4: Capacity: It’s Limited
Chapter 5: Friendship With Your Pastor: It’s Not For Most
Chapter 6: Pastoral Compensation: Reflecting God’s Generosity
Chapter 7: The Pastors Spouse: Life in a Minefield
Chapter 8: The Pastor’s Family: Kids as Collateral Damage
Chapter 9: Conflict: It’s Inevitable

Follow-Up: What’s At Stake
Acknowledgments
Appendix A: Vision of a Healthy Church: A Case Study of Friendswood Community Church
Appendix B: Praying for Your Pastor: Why Is It So Important?
Appendix C: 35 Practical Ways to Lovingly Support Your Pastor
Resources
End Notes/Bibliography
About the Authors