"Another Church Home?" - by Rev. Weldon Bares

Over the course of my ministry, I have had the good fortune of serving for many years at each church where I was the pastor. I am now in my 16th year serving as the senior pastor at First United Methodist Church in downtown Lake Charles.

Serving for a long time in the same church has helped me to learn a few important things about myself and also about church members.

One of the things I have learned is that more often than not, church members stay active in the local church. But sometimes, church members become inactive. Over time, some seem to vanish.

Over the years, I have occasionally heard, “Haven’t you heard? So and so is now going to another church.” I have to admit that in the early days of my ministry, this would somewhat hurt my feelings. Who am I kidding here? It still hurts a little bit.

Pastors have feelings, just like everyone else. And pastors don’t like to lose members. But it happens. It is just a fact of church life.

But I am so thankful that God’s grace has helped me to grow a little bit over the years. So now when I sometimes hear, “Haven’t you heard? So and so is now going to another church,” I quietly thank God that they are active in a church. I pray for their faith to be strong. And I am thankful to God for the time in which our paths have crossed and that I was able to be in ministry to them for at least a season in their lives.

Being a pastor is so meaningful, but it can also be challenging. It sure has its ups and downs, good days and not-so-good days. I am thankful that God’s grace helps us to keep on going and to keep on growing.