By Juleun A. Johnson
I will never forget my yes to ministry. It was not dramatic or some Pauline experience of blindness and a voice. It was something that I always knew. E.E. Cleveland, a legendary Adventist Evangelist of the 20th Century said that were three ways a person was called to ministry. The three ways included association, birth, or direct confrontation. As a second-generation Adventist minister, I guess you could call it association and birth. My father never made me choose ministry, but I saw it and felt it in my home and interactions with others.
As a kid, I saw the ministry as something to be revered, respected, and it looked fun. My father honestly made it look easy. He was pretty serious about his work, but there was something he had that I see missing today. He had friends—best friends in the ministry. Too often, the loneliness of the work and the pressures to perform can drive any and all to a point of Elijah-like isolation.
I know what isolation feels like all too well. As a pastor’s kid, I grew up in major metropolitan areas of the United States. However, when I entered pastoral ministry, I was sent to extreme rural areas of the country. The pressures of ministry notwithstanding, I was newly married, and serving as the sole pastor of three congregations. I felt alone and wondered, did God forget about me.
I was reminded on several occasions after praying that God did not forget about me. One of my churches had a very faithful pianist. One Sabbath, I literally prayed to see someone I had not seen in a long time. The person who came arrived from 900 miles away and was a concert pianist. No matter your ministry assignment, every ministry placement has two reasons. First, God is calling you there to show you he can work through you. Secondly, God is giving you an opportunity to work on your own character. God wants you to grow.
Over my years of ministry, I have learned a few lessons about leading myself, leading others, and leading for results. My first task as a leader is to realize God has called me as a servant leader. My first parish is my family. As l lead myself, my call and responsibility is to find myself daily as an inspiration to those who I am called to first; my family. Hebrews 11:7 says, By faith, Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.
Once I accepted that my first and primary calling in leadership was to my family, it changed everything. I realized that I had to prioritize the needs of those in my own home. Recently, I had one of my best friends in life and ministry ask me a unique question. He asked, “How is your batting average?” Before I heard the entire question, I answered how well I was doing on my job in my ministry role. He let me speak and then quickly said, “I am not talking about work.” He went on to ask, “How is your batting average at home?” Stunned, I responded with the reality, I was not doing as good as I would have liked.
The reality is that self-leadership involves so much more than just talk. It is the day-to-day grind of doing, being, nurturing, and growing oneself. In my role as a chaplain and administrator, I grow more daily than I ever have before. I get to share, nurture, and give grace to others so that I can assist them in their growth as well. No day in ministry is the same, but I get the opportunity to see lives transformed and strategies developed. What a joy it is to serve.
From the perspective of leading others, it is not the same as it once was. The post-pandemic recovery is real. Recently, the US Surgeon General, the highest health official in the United States, said there is an epidemic of loneliness.1 In fact, 54% of Americans say they are lonely and have feelings of isolation.
We are leading people who are not only lonely, but angry, anxious, and, at times, on the brink of depression. So how do you lead people who feel alone when you feel alone? In many assignments that I have had in ministry, I have found that connecting with groups in the community and serving has provided me with opportunities to restore my joy and hope.
I believe the nexus of burnout and satisfaction lies in service.
I would suggest you do something for others, and get others involved in serving. The greatest days of my ministry have been when we as a church, group, or team have shut everything down, including the worship service and served. Even the cantankerous, pessimistic grinches in your church, office, or team soften up when it is time to serve.
The last element is leading for results. You can lead for results and show leadership as you pursue results. I have learned an important principle. People are more important than things. In my mind, people are significantly more important. Without people, we would have no churches, communities, or a world; people are important including you.
From a leadership perspective, what does not get measured does not get done. In my mind (and career), baptism and tithe gains are the foundational elements of ministry. There are so many things that you do as a minister that also need to be included as essential elements. Are you measuring the community contacts and the conversations with businesses you support? How many non-profits have you served, and how many visitors have been to your church this year/month? As you measure these items that are important to your local context, keep them before all your levels of leadership; from local to administrative.
Yes, my friend in ministry, you are doing so much more than any entity can imagine, but how you empower your team, your church, or entity depends on what you deem as valuable and what you measure.
I want you to know that beyond the shadow of a doubt, I still say yes to ministry. There are challenges ahead, but there have been many blessings that show a beam of light behind me to light my path. I know that there are blessings awaiting you this year. Please know that you are not alone; God has a plan for your life. God is waiting to continue to bless you, your family, and ministry. I will be praying God’s blessings on you and your family in this year, and for the journey ahead.
—Dr. Juleun Johnson serves as vice president for mission and ministry at AdventHealth. Republished by permission from North American Division Ministerial Association Stories & Commentaries post, January 8, 2024. Photo supplied.
