The Ohio Independent Baptist, September 1963

o church members exp ect too much from thei r p astor? Food for thought l,1ktr1 fr\111 \ 11111,ll'l·, 1 ifl' ln,t1r– ' ti t t \'' 111 a11) ... lat1,t1c, How Many Hours Can a Minist r Squeeze Out? ~ t t111,tl'r, ,1, ,l gr(.'llf' arc l'l (.1l1,1l1l, ill'altl1 t'r ('11, ,1 ',111, atltl 111c11tall\ tl1:111 tlll' ' t rict,plc. l~ ttt 1tc111, l1kl: tt c c \."'t111t1nth.: lt) ,1ppc,1r ir1 1t1r na– t1" 11,1l pt1lil1c,1ttl1n" ..\ 1 1rg1nia 1111i,– tcr ( l nt1ncti 1n ~lcntal l11"titt1tion." Hert; - there - and all a ro, s t~1c c 'ttntr, grt1,, 1ng nt1r11bcr. f 111ini - ... .... tcr, ,1rc hrcak.ing ti ,, n. ... Why Does It Happen? 1ght and da\. there arc 16 ~ ~ l1(,t1r 1n an,· ne· ,veek. Our mini - ~ ter .. ~ t no more than the re t of ti . \ " et ne congregation that ur- , e) d it lf learned they e pec ted ~ 2 hot1r of \\'Ork from their n1i ni - ter 1n one \Veek - 49 % of hi total tin1e ! And Th is Is Not An Isolated Instance: 1an 1 mini ter work 70 hour and more for their congregation each \\ eek. They have to do it in order to keep up the func ti on of their job . ale Divinit)' School profe or of theology enumerate the e ix func– tion : Functions Of a Minister - Duties Pa tor Sow piritual well being among the congregation. Preacher - Deliver ermon that give guidance in the relation hip of God to man. Prie t - Admini ter acrament and perform wedding and funeral . Teacher - Direct church' religiou educational program. Admini trator - Re pon ible for church finance and phy ical upkeep. Organizer - Provide the park for church group , fund drive and pecial event . A group of Methodi t mini ter found that mo t of them u ed more than 15 hours a week in pa toral ,,i iting. They put about the ame amount of time into preparing er– mons. conducting ervice , attending church meeting and general tudy. Church business required from five to 14 hour and counselling five hour or les That's how a minister can so easily put in a ten-hour seven-day week. If )'OU allow him eight hours of leep at night \\' ith four hours in which to eat, bathe, dress, etc., he has Page 14, SEPTEMBER 1963 t 1, ct I t 111 ..., ., l, f h i, l I a i I y 2 4 I le tl1c11 l1as l\\ () ll()ll( \ cl c.la f(lf' l1i111"clt. l1at \ha ll 11c tic) \\iitl, tl1c111 '> (,o ,hop11ing tc1r a pair c)f ,hoc~ he r1ccc.i"? fake Iii, on lt) tl1c c.lcnt1,t? \ ' olttnlccr t . crvc on a c1,,ic co111111 itt cc he fa ors? Ho\ ah t1t the n1an hin1. elf'? D cs he ha c enough time t keep abrea~t of ct1rrcnt events, take in a ba ll game, pla 1 g If occa i na ll y or give pr per a tten ti n to a reading progran1? n1ini tcr i o nly human. He ge t tir ed and worn OLit ju t like the re t of t i . Bt1t he, more likely to 'run hi battery a ll the way down ' bc– cau e of the long hour we require of hin1. H e need time to "regenerate" him elf - time to re t hi tired body and unwind hi bu y mind - time to partake in private development . Thi mean time for elf-improving tudy - time for a quiet moment of conversation with hi wife - time to romp with his hop-scotcn girl and hi kite-flying boy. All of these refre h him ,phy ically, n1entally and spiritually. And re– member , the better man he i , the better mini ter he can be. Your minister didn't dedicate hi life to your church because it was going to be an easy job. But to do what he mu t a well a a man can do , he need help from you, a a lay leader or member of his congre– gation. And What Can you Do? You can willingly take an active part in vi itation and evangeli m re– cruiting church chool teacher and other act of s tewardship. The time you can give can be of enormou a i tance to your mini ter in per– forming hi function as an admin– i trator and organizer. It' up to you to see that there i a balance between the time you ask of him and the help you give to him. The Bible Evangelist Who Believes and Preaches: • The O ld Book • Th e Precious Blood • The New Birth • The Blessed Hope Rev. Leland G. Arntz Evange listic and Pulpit Supply Ministry RR# 3 , Hudsonville, Michigan HOW TO PUBLISH YOUR BOOK Join our successful authors in a complete and reliable publishing program: pub– licity, advertising, handsome books. Speed y, efficient service. Send for FREE man– uscript report & copy of Publish Your Book. C A R l T O N P R E S S De pt. OIQ, 84 Fifth Ave. , New York 11, N. Y. CLEVELAND HEBREW MISSION Our 59th Year A staff of eighteen full-time or IJart-time workers witnessing to our Lord's "brethren" in Ohio, West Virginia, Brazil; and other areas by radio and the mailing ministry. Our policy to cooperate with local New Testament churches in the ac– cepted methods of Scriptural evangel– ism, and the placing of new converts. We express our appreciation to the pastors and friends in 51 of our Ohio Association Churches who in the past year have helped make this ministry possible. Staff members arc happy to visit churches in the spirit of Acts 15: 4 to share reports and inspirational messages concerning the ministry. Write for free copy - "Trumpeter for Israel" a quarterly devoted to Jewish Prophecies, Current News about the Jews and thrilling reports &om missionaries. Gerald V. Smelser, Supt. P .O . Box 3556, Cleveland 18, Ohio The OHIO INDEPENDENT BAPTIST