I can remember the excitement I felt when I took my first pastorate almost a quarter-century ago. After serving as an associate minister of a large downtown church, I accepted a call to a rural church. When I started my tenure, I had many dreams and plans for this small congregation and the surrounding communities. But I soon began to fight against the discouragement of complacent congregants, insufficient resources and unexpected pastoral responsibilities.
Discouragement is not an unusual phenomenon experienced by young pastors. Most pastors start their ministries in small churches that are devoid of adequate personnel and funding necessary to fulfill their ministerial vision. This often leads to discouragement and abandonment of a worthy and obtainable goal. Some ministers move to another ministry setting, where they continually repeat the cycle of failed dreams and discouragement, while others exchange their ministerial calling for a secular vocation.
If the message of Jesus Christ as Savior is to be spread throughout a lost world, then ministerial discouragement must be addressed by denominational agencies. One possible solution would be to align new ministers with experienced clergy. In my first pastorate, two former pastors resided nearby. These gentlemen mentored me with a spirit of camaraderie and Christian servanthood. This model helped me to evaluate my ministerial vision for my congregation and for me personally. Without these two Christian servants, I could have possibly become discouraged and found secular employment.
Therefore, as South Carolina Baptist Convention president, I would like to encourage all experienced ministers to seek out younger, inexperienced ministers for the purpose of support and encouragement. Equally, I would encourage younger ministers to seek out a ministerial mentor to assist them in assessing vocational and personal goals.
In 2 Timothy, the Apostle Paul leaves young Timothy with words of encouragement to accompany the spiritual torch that was being passed. May SCBC churches become a convention characterized by encouragement rather criticism. Thank you for the privilege of being your president.
— Tommy Kelly is pastor of Varnville First Baptist Church and president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.