They carry the weight that’s left behind from counseling meetings. They shoulder the burden of dozens of sheep at once.
They tend to know the worst and most heartbreaking news found within the families of the church.
They know about the failing marriages, miscarriages, wayward children, abusive spouses, private addictions, personal struggles and demonic attacks levied against their people.
Their phones and brains stay full.
They are constantly praying, planning, training and executing. They cast vision and weigh every option and angle and impact. They daily hope the plans God has shown them are received and engaged by their people. They hope their faith is strong enough and the narrative is clear enough.
They desire unity and trust from the people they serve. They don’t want trouble. They just want to follow God rather than men. They preach and counsel what God tells them, hoping it lands well. They don’t want to run people off. Not at all.
They spend hours in prayer and Bible study. They dig and strain and labor in doctrine, trying to feed their own souls, while making sure they have a meal to feed their sheep. They drive to church hoping their people will be there to worship with them. Yes, it’s discouraging to *all pastors when people miss for unnecessary reasons.
They juggle to stay balanced as ministry men and family men. They’re on call on holidays and off days. They have kids whose lives are flying by and wives they’ve been called to prioritize over their vocation. They deal with comparisons to the former regime and out-of-left-field assumptions and insinuations from brothers across town and behind screens.
Most aren’t in it for the fame, notoriety or money. They sincerely want people to be saved and discipled and to have stored up crowns in Heaven to cast at Jesus’ feet.
They are human and need grace. They need and crave the word they preach. They need mercy, understanding and a space to continue their own sanctification. They need vacations and free time. They need loyalty and love.
They need you.
Pray for your pastors! There is far more behind the pulpit than you could ever imagine!
We pray for you and Pastor daily. We love you both dearly and so appreciate all you do. ALWAYS thankful that the Lord led you all to Tabernacle!
That was a very good job description, Marci. The Apostle Paul said, “I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.” Sometimes that happens but the godly pastor does not stop loving or “spending”(serving). He carries many burdens alone that even the wife does not know of the situation. We pray, but he carries the vast burden. God is his supreme source of strength. We, the congregation, may not always agree on a decision, because we do not understand all the facts, but we can all agree that we have a godly pastor who loves us and is going to guard his flock like a good under shepherd. Thank you, Pastor and Marci, for loving and guarding your flock and feeding us the riches of God’s Word. Praying always for you! 💕
Love you both and pray for God to give wisdom, encouragement, and strength as you seek to lead us in God’s paths.
Praying for you both, often. Love you both!
I pray for both of you every day.
Your in our thoughts and prayers daily. We appreciate all you do. Sending love and hugs❤️
Thank you both for all you do! Don't be weary in well doing: for in due season you shall reap, if you faint not. Gal. 6:9. I am praying for your strength in the Lord.
Well said, Marci. I often say to the Lord, “I have no idea what is going on, but my job is just to pray for them so that is what I am going to do!”
Prayers are every day for our pastor and his family. 🙏🙏❤️
I pray for my Pastor and his family. ❤️
What tender words you have shared. We pray for our Pastor often. We love him and understand the pressures he's under and the tremendous responsibility. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
You two are always in our thoughts and prayers!
Always in my daily prayers for strength and wisdom pastor and Marci 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Praying
Thank you for sharing. Pastor and you are in my prayers. You both are very good to “us sheep”. We love you ❤️
You are in my thoughts and prayers daily, Pastor, Ms Marci, and the whole Baker family. Thank God for placing you in our lives, and thank you for all that you do for us. ❤️
I appreciate you and Pastor so very much! Praying for God's protection for you both 🙏
Sometimes we need to be reminded of the behind the scenes going ons that many of us do not see or do not think about around the clock. Thank you for explaining all the different aspects and reminding to pray over our Pastor, wife and family. Prayers! ❤️❤️
I often think about the burdens he carries, and not just him, but you too! ♥️🙏♥️
We pray for strength and wisdom every day! 🙏❤️