We Were Never Meant to Lead Alone
How Can Pastors Be Better Together?
Pastoral ministry can be deeply rewarding—and deeply lonely. We spend our lives caring for others through grief, crisis, conflict, disappointment, and uncertainty. Yet sometimes the people who care for everyone else have the hardest time letting someone care for them.
But God never intended pastoral ministry to be lived alone.
At Converge Great Lakes, we often say “Better together.” That phrase is more than a statement about organizational partnership. It is a biblical reality. We are an interconnected movement of churches because we believe we can accomplish more for the gospel together—but also because we can care for one another better together.
Strengthen One Another
When David was weary and under pressure, Jonathan went to him and “strengthened his hand in God” (1 Samuel 23:16). Jonathan didn't solve David's circumstances. He showed up. He encouraged him. He reminded his friend of God's faithfulness.
Sometimes that is exactly what a pastor needs from another pastor.
The New Testament repeatedly calls believers to practice the “one anothers”: encourage one another, pray for one another, bear one another's burdens, serve one another, forgive one another, confess to one another, and love one another. These commands aren't limited to church members sitting in our pews. They should shape the relationships we cultivate with fellow pastors.
Paul writes, “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
Pastors need this, too.
We can become accustomed to being the person others call when they have a problem. We can become skilled at giving encouragement while becoming uncomfortable receiving it. We can know how to shepherd others while neglecting our own souls.
We don't simply pastor our churches. We need to pastor one another.
That means moving beyond networking toward friendship. Beyond occasional conversations toward genuine relationship. Beyond asking, “How is the church doing?” toward asking, “How are you really doing?”
A Different Way to Lead
Perhaps the question isn't simply whether we have other pastors we know. The deeper question is whether we have pastors who know us.
So take a moment to reflect on these five questions:
Who knows what is really happening in my heart—not just what is happening in my church?
Who can I call when ministry becomes difficult, and am I willing to make that call before I reach a crisis?
Am I intentionally investing in pastor-to-pastor relationships, or am I allowing the demands of ministry to keep me isolated?
Do I create enough margin in my leadership to listen, encourage, pray with, and carry the burdens of other pastors?
If another pastor in our movement were struggling today, would he or she know that I am someone they could call?
These questions challenge us to consider not only what we are doing in ministry, but how we are doing it.
Go Deeper
The invitation is simple: go deeper with another pastor.
Make the phone call. Invite someone for coffee. Share something you normally keep to yourself. Ask better questions. Pray together. Be willing to listen without fixing. And perhaps most importantly, allow yourself to be known.
Our churches are better when their pastors are healthy, encouraged, and connected. Our movement is stronger when we refuse to lead in isolation.
Better together means we don't go at the mission alone.
When ministry is flourishing, we celebrate together. When ministry is difficult, we stand together. When one of us is weary, we strengthen one another in God.
That is more than partnership.
That is gospel partnership.
