Interview with Pastor Antonio Mendes - Practical Pastoral Ministry - Part 1
1. What is the greatest difficulty in pastoral practice?
There are so many difficulties that pastors face in ministry. However, one of the greatest challenges is dealing with people who are not trustworthy and loyal, those who silently stab us in the back, and spread rumors against the church and its pastor. The saddest part is that the rumors are false. They present themselves as pious "friends," but their hearts are not loyal. Nevertheless, we should not complain if someone of this kind appears in our ministry because Jesus also had one of these too. His name was Judas.
2. What are a pastor's greatest fears?
The greatest fear is of our responsibility. We will be evaluated by God and we don’t want to be found unfaithful in preaching the Word of God.
"Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." James 3.1
3. Can a pastor address private matters in preaching and counseling?
Never! Private matters should be addressed with the church's spiritual leadership, such as elders or deacons. If there is no trustworthy leadership, which would be absurd, seek first to talk with your wife, adult children, or colleagues you fully trust.
“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14
On the other side, the pastor should be attentive and observe the various issues within the church, carefully having the foundation in the Word of God. The pastor must live the church life twenty-four hours a day, being mindful of everything around them. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we pastors need to be careful by looking at the church situation and identifying problems around the congregation that must be addressed through preaching the Word or personal exhortation.
"And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, ten so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:9-11
The pastor should always use the Bible as the foundation and reference. No experience holds validity unless it aligns with the principles of God's Word. The Bible is the source of authority for the pastor, and all their wisdom and counsel should be grounded in it.
4. How does the pastor manage family and ministry?
This will depend greatly on the pastor’s understanding of the calling. If the pastor understands that the call is restricted to him and his wife is not part of his ministry, leaving her out of his daily work-life to the point of prioritizing his work and negligence of their family, especially his wife, he will have problems. As pastors, we must understand that our ministry has a scale of priorities. First comes God, then our family, and last but not least, the church. Our responsibility to the church is not just a job. It’s a calling that requires time and responsibility but under these priorities. So, the balance between a pastor’s personal relationship with God, time with family, and his responsibilities in the church is key for a successful pastor.
"Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his blood." Acts 20:28.
An example that reflects this idea is a famous pastor in the United States, Charles Stanley, pastor of a mega church, the First Baptist Church of Atlanta, in Georgia. Twenty years ago, his wife filed for divorce, and in her statement, she said, “I have been a faithful and supportive wife to Charles,” she wrote in a 1995 letter to his church. “Long ago, however, Charles, in effect, abandoned our marriage. He chose his priorities, and I have not been one of them.” (https://medium.com/belover/the-divorce-from-hell-7e6b01ed2af0)
6. What is more difficult? Plant a church or join an existing church?
My experience was as a planter. I planted a church in Atibaia at São Paulo State in Brazil, and I was a pastor there for 40 years until I retired. Personally, I would say that planting a church is better. The benefit of planting is that implementing your Biblical Philosophy of a Ministry from day one makes the process easier and that there are no “schemers” yet, who would also proclaim themselves as "owners of the church." Therefore, for those not planters, I recommend having a clear document with your theological positions and Biblical Philosophy of a Ministry before accepting the position.
Antonio Mendes
Church and Ministry Leadership Consultant
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