The Annual Meeting

This is without a doubt the hardest work day of the year for me as a pastor. It is The Annual Meeting. It is a day when someone whom you love and shepherd could stand to their feet and make a motion that you go find another place to pastor.

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't think for a second that it will happen. Things are going awesome here in Hawley. We just had 75 people make first time decisions for Christ at our Power Team Crusade. I don't see a hit-and-run happening this afternoon.

Although I do remember an Annual Meeting about twelve years ago. We were pastoring in Northern Wisconsin. My salary was about $235 a week. I was looking to get a pay increase of about $30 a week. The church had grown. I had been there for more than two years. At the meeting a man whom I had a lot of respect for stood and said in front of the whole congregation, "He's not worth it." Granted those were not his exact words, but those are the words I heard and have carried to every Annual Meeting since then.

I did get the raise that year, and God has always proved Himself sufficient. The problem is insecurities. Please pray with me that I am strong and leaning not upon my own understanding.

Go Bears!