THE SHEPHERDING KIT APPRECIATING YOUR PASTOR BY PRAYING Clergy has taken a lot of criticism in recent months. More than the usual second-guessing about sermon content. Much has to do with interpersonal relationships. Rather than condemn, Fredreick Ezeji-Okoye says congregations should remember their pastors are human and pray. As an outgrowth of this belief, Frederick has written “Who Prays for the Pastor?” Michael recorded the audiobook version. Both are recommended reads (gifts) during October, Pastor Appreciation Month. Brother Fred gives background on the book.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR FREDRICK EZEJI-OKOYE Fredrick Ezeji-Okoye ministers as an evangelist. He is founder and president of Men of Faith Network, a fast-growing, diverse, multi-cultural network of pastors and leaders with a global outreach. The Men of Faith Network serves pastors by providing them a support system and encouragement, through relationships built and its monthly meetings. The founding chapter is in the Chicago area where EzejiOkoye, a native of Nigeria, lives, with his wife, Ijeoma, and daughters, Chisom, Nkiruka and Chinenye. LEARN MORE: Men of Faith Network.
M
ost people understand being a pastor can be a heavy load, even if they don’t know many details of what is involved. According to some statistics*, 75 percent of pastors report severe stress and resulting anguish, worry, anger, depression and fear, so perhaps it’s not surprising that 1500 pastors reportedly leave their ministries each month due to burnout, conflict or moral failure. Of pastors surveyed, 57 percent would leave if they had somewhere else to go or another vocation they could do. Pastors also rank high in statistics on drug abuse, alcoholism and suicide, along with doctors and lawyers. Information as this spoke to Fredrick EzejiOkoye. One Sunday morning during his pastor’s prayer to close the worship service, Ezeji-Okoye was listening with his heart, not just his head, and he began sensing the burden his pastor felt as he prayed for everyone in the congregation. In that moment, Fredrick said he heard God saying to him, “but…who prays for the pastor?” An ordained evangelist himself, he was convicted in that hour that he was to do something to support those in ministry who carry such a burden for their church members. And as he shared this powerful experience with his wife, he felt God calling him to begin a ministry to those who minister. And thus in 2009 the Men of Faith Network began in the Chicago area where Fredrick lives, keeping in action the ideas and stories that compelled him to write his book which offers practical information for pastors and parishioners aimed at supporting pastors in their life and work.
Listen or Purchase In addition to reading the entire book, Michael has created five segments as Soundcloud Devotionals. Listen to the devotionals free. Visit Amazon to purchase the paperback or the audiobook.
4
“Parishioners should share the burden of praying for our pastors. Week after week, we come to receive that which God has poured into them. We have many expectations of them, expressed and unexpressed,” Ezeji-Okoye explains. “How often does the average congregant stop to consider the pastor’s needs? If the pastor is doing all the pouring, how is he being replenished? It is time to become the ones who pray for our pastors.” With chapters ranging from stress and financial pressures, to others about wellness and family life, the book is one individuals may benefit from reading, and some groups have begun purchasing in quantity to share with congregations and organizations for pastors. The book even ends with a chapter of intercessory prayers provided by others.
