Several years ago, my wife Carol and I boarded a plane at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport and flew to Taipei, Taiwan, to adopt our daughter Lauren. She would be our first child after almost nine years of marriage. After landing, we discovered that our host didn’t show up, and we could not speak Mandarin. Carol glanced across the information desk and noticed the logo of our hotel. She pointed it out to a taxi driver, and we were on our way. The next morning we were greeted in the hotel lobby by social workers who placed into our arms our daughter. This fragile, beautiful child felt as if she weighed thousands of pounds; I had never felt the weight of responsibility of being a father. My joy was inexpressible!

Vocational ministry is a rewarding and challenging calling. The Apostle Paul charged the Ephesian pastors to “pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28, ESV). Considering the magnitude of the minister’s responsibility, one should find it obvious that they need supportive relationships within the church.

Pastoring a church is the ultimate challenge, particularly in the current climate. When I answered the call to pastor more than twenty-five years ago, I couldn’t have anticipated the twists and turns of leadership in our current context; eagerly, I put my best foot forward, knowing that God had called me to a noble task (1 Timothy 3:1).

Now, in my role as a Southern Baptist denominational leader in Birmingham, Alabama, I support 180 churches, including around 500 pastors and church staff. Of the 100,000 members in our churches, only a small fraction grasps the complexities of ministry today. I’m guessing the same is true of Christians and pastors across the country. In light of the way Scripture speaks of the relationship between pastors and congregations (Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Peter 5:1–5), consider these five realities your pastor wishes you knew:

What is the missing ingredient in the post-pandemic church? Why are many churches slow to rebound and reengage in ministry and meaningful discipleship? I assert that corporate prayer is that missing ingredient. When Jesus Christ drove out the moneychangers from the Temple in Jerusalem, he quoted Isaiah, “My house will be called a house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13). Perhaps the decline of the church’s influence in culture runs parallel to the decrease of corporate prayer in churches.

Even with the challenges of the Delta variant of COVID-19, many are returning to worship services. But are churches prepared to receive members and guests as they return? Frankly, some churches were not prepared for guests before the pandemic. For some congregations, there is no sense of “expectation” regarding guests. I call this the “us four and no more” mentality. Sometimes, the Body of Christ needs to challenge themselves to think beyond the church’s walls and reach out to those who have yet to attend.

On Sunday, July 25, 2021, representatives from the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association (BMBA) celebrated the passing of the torch from Fairfield Highlands Baptist Church of Midfield to Faith Church. During the shared worship service between the congregations, pastor Aubrey Miller of Faith Church received the challenge from pastor Ed Cruce of Fairfield Highlands to “continue the vital ministry of Jesus Christ in the community.” Pastor Cruce remarked, “Although Fairfield Highlands is closing, the Gospel must continue.” In response, pastor Miller pledged, “We will do the work, and these facilities and your legacy will continue to bless here.”

I recently had the honor of joining Dr. Ric Camp of Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Jason Tipton of NAMB, and a team from Alabama and Georgia to visit three missionary families—the Haddens, Mouws, and Deibles in Porcupine, South Dakota, in the Badlands. These missionaries partner with the North American Mission Board and live on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Originally included within the Great Sioux Reservation territory, Pine Ridge was created by the Act of March 2, 1889, in the southwest corner of South Dakota on the Nebraska border. Today it consists of 3,468.85 square miles of land area and is one of the largest reservations in the United States.

On December 7, the Baptist Health System board voted to donate a 16,000 square foot facility to the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association. Located across the street from the building we are currently leasing, the facility is a generous donation, providing a permanent home for BMBA in Birmingham. This strategic location will provide a home office for serving Birmingham for years to come. In addition to the building, the Baptist Health System will provide $350,000 toward a goal of $500,000 to renovate the three-floor facility. Your gift will help us to complete the renovation.

Dear Birmingham Baptists,

Thanks to a gift from Baptist Health System, the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association will own a facility for our offices. The 16,000-square-foot building on Medical Park Drive NE is located directly across from our current location. The BHS board approved the gift of the facility and $350,000 to put toward improving the building. Birmingham Baptists are grateful for this remarkable act of generosity. God has blessed our association and provided an opportunity for immeasurable impact in the city!

Dear Birmingham Baptists,

Once, I had a pastor’s wife sit across from me—blotting tears. She said, “I have two special-needs children. Some of the ladies in our church don’t understand why my children don’t sit perfectly still like the other children. My children are created and loved by God, just like they are! Why can’t they see that? I am afraid it is going to hurt my husband’s job! It’s not fair. It’s just not fair. What do I do?” How many other professions are there in which the professional’s spouse and family are laden with expectations?

On October 26, 2019, the Birmingham and Bessemer Baptist Associations voted to dissolve both existing associations and form one association called the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association. Both associations were born from Canaan Baptist Church, Bessemer, Alabama, in 1833. As Bessemer began to grow in the 1940s, the churches in Bessemer and surrounding communities formed their association and distinct identity. As times and approaches to ministry have changed, God has reunited the associations to encourage, equip, and engage churches in the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.

Join other Baptists in praying for associations during the Week of Prayer for Baptist Associations on October 17–24, 2020. Associations are Baptist churches working together in geographic regions. Associational missionaries depend upon the prayers and support of people like you to do effective Kingdom ministry.

Knowing is half the battle. Simple awareness may help to prevent church conflicts in the early stages. It is best to stop the dispute quickly. “The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out” (Pr. 17:14). Below, I have listed seven critical causes of church conflict. Becoming aware may help your church leaders adjust expectations and make strides to prevent or resolve conflict. If you don’t believe that church conflicts are common, I will let you carry my cellphone for a day!

We have two extremes in conflict situations. Some desire to fight to prove themselves right. Others give in to the temptation to hide. Conflict resolved quickly prevents repercussions down the road. Jesus said, “Come to terms quickly with your accuser” (Matthew 5:25). Resolving conflict provides believers the opportunity to demonstrate the redemptive love of Jesus Christ to those watching. According to Dr. Porath, co-author of “The Cost of Bad Behavior,” only 20% of customers who observe rude behavior by a company’s employees will continue to do business with that company. Thus, solving conflict can add to the bottom line. One study indicated that conflict is a decisive factor in at least 90% of involuntary terminations, excluding cases of staff reduction due to downsizing, mergers, and restructuring.

Dear Birmingham and Bessemer Baptists,

Over 187 years ago, the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association was founded as the Canaan Baptist Association in what is now Bessemer, Alabama. The name “Canaan” was adopted in honor of the Canaan Baptist Church, the Association’s mother church. In 1890, the name of the Association was changed to the Birmingham Baptist Association. The Birmingham Baptist Association is comprised of a diverse group of churches across the metropolitan area. Although the legal name has not changed, the Association was rebranded as the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association (BMBA) in February 2019 to acknowledge that the Association’s mission extends beyond the City of Birmingham.

Paul wrote to Timothy, “For such a time is coming when people no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desire and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3, ESV). Without hesitation, I can say that we live in an age where churchgoers pursue their own desires. Unfortunately, some of those who serve in lay-leadership positions in their local church lean into personal preferences. Pastors experience the brunt of the selfish culture, which is pervasive in many congregations.

Memorial services, vigils, marches, and protests have spread across the world to remember George “Big” Floyd. Floyd, aged 46, was an African-American man who was killed when a police officer kneeled on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and forty-six during an arrest outside of Cup Foods in Minneapolis on May 25. Earthly possessions can be replaced, but George Floyd will never be able to sit across the table from his family again in this life. Our God is our refuge and strength. We pray for the Floyd family and our mourning nation that we may find comfort.

Since the time I served my first pastorate, I have held Southern Baptist Disaster Relief in the highest esteem. Several years ago, an EF5 tornado moved through several communities surrounding my church. Dozens of people lost their lives. I had no idea how to respond or lead my congregation in a recovery effort. The “yellow shirt army” moved into our area to clean up debris, feed hungry people, and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After one day of seeing the largest volunteer disaster relief organization in America at work, I was sold!

Dear Birmingham Baptists,

Your leadership has responded appropriately to the COVID-19 crisis by appointing a BMBA Crisis Leadership Team for this unprecedented time. This team will monitor our ministry and progress weekly to ensure that we meet the needs of our churches by continuing to encourage, equip, and engage in the Great Commission ministry.