Stephen Altrogge writes:
“What is the best thing that you can do for you pastor? Compliment him on his “outstanding, almost Charles Spurgeon-like sermon”? Give money to the church? Give your time and skills to the church? Not heckle him? Admire him for his manly beard? While those are all wonderful things, they are not the best thing that you can do for you pastor.”
And readers of this blog over the last 38 days will know exactly where this is going.
Altrogge continues:
The absolute, most important, best thing that you can do for your pastor is to pray for him.
I was freshly reminded of that fact this morning when I read 2 Corinthians 1:11 –
You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.This is Paul talking. The apostle. The dude who wrote a significant portion of the New Testament. The guy who got blindsided by Jesus on Damascus Road. The guy who had the whole “taken up to the third heaven and seeing things too glorious for words” experience. This isn’t a little ol’ Average Pastor With Minimal Gifting. We are talking about THE Apostle Paul who studied under THE Gamaliel. If anyone could feel sure of his ministry success it was Paul. I would expect Paul to say, “I am confident of my success in the Lord, but your prayers would also be helpful.”
But that’s not what Paul says. He says, “You also MUST help us by prayer.” There’s a hint of desperation in his voice. He is pleading for the prayers of the Corinthians. Why? Why does Paul feel such a deep need for the prayers of others?
Because he knows that the depth of his fruitfulness hinges on the prayers of others. He knows that he will not be successful unless he is propelled forward by the prayers of the saints…
I couldn’t agree more. As a pastor, I need people to pray for me, desperately. If you’re from Edgewood, would you consider putting me, Mike Giebink, Jamie Thompson, Jeff Thompson and Jeremy Thompson on your lists? You might also want to consider Jane Neevel, Becky Faul and Brittany Kastein, part time staff but full-time servants. Matter of fact, why not take the back of a bulletin and make it a prayer list – then you’ll get all of our admin and elders too.
If you’re not from Edgewood…well, you know what to do. You might also pray regularly for your pastor’s wife and kids. Lately I have begun praying for the kids of our pastoral staff as well as spouses. I know nothing that can upset a person’s life faster than pain in the family, so it’s good to pray for his loved ones as well.
And if you add us to your prayer list, tell us, would you? It’s wonderful to be prayed for, but the icing on the cake is to know you’re being prayed for.
Entrusted with the Gospel 
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