Emerson part 2

Emerson's third part of what it takes to be a scholar is 'action'. I've bee saying that there are similarities between his qualifications for being a scholar and what I believe is needed for a pastor.

I believe that pastors need to be actively involved in what I call 'front-line' ministry. It is not enough to run the church, establish programs and ministries and preach. We need to get our hands dirty with 'action. No matter how big the church or extensive the obligations of the pastor, we need to be intimately involved in the lives of individuals. Discipling on a regular basis. Sharing, teaching and praying. Building into lives. Paul says in Ephesians that pastors are to train the people to do the work of ministry. But this does not abdicate our responsibility also to do ministry. We need to be in the trenches alongside our people. As pastors, we can't adopt an attitude of "Do as I say, not as I do".

Wherever I end up on a permanent basis, leading a men's group as I am doing now will be a priority. Front-line ministry