One pastor friend sought ref uge and renewal o f mind and spirit as well as body in a forest service look-out tower for a few weeks in the summer, spotting fires. Another friend, an ex-pastor, put it this way: “ I f I could have gotten away from it all just once in a while, I might not have cracked up and lost my minis try.” Then another said, “ I just can’t seem to let up as long as I am in town. The interruptions are con stant.” For pastors such as these there may be an answer to their need, someone to minister to them, ready and willing, in their own church. You may be that person, awaiting only the pointing out of the need. Jim and Priscilla Wiltsey of First Baptist Church, Salem, Ore gon, are just such a couple. They have transformed a barren river front into a little Eden where both rest o f mind and body can be found. This weary and burdened pas tor discovered the blessedness of being ministered to by these who love the Lord and the Lord’s ser vants. A few days spent with the Wiltseys at their retreat on the Siletz River a mile or two from the ocean tuned this pastor’s heart to notes o f rejoicing. “Maranatha,” as Jim and Pris cilla call their water-front haven, overlooks the Siletz River and In dian reservation on the other side. Steep hillsides across the river rise up hundreds of feet, covered with alder, spruce and a lush va riety of dense brush. When late afternoon shadows lengthen, deer come out to browse and frolic, careless of the two-legged audi ence delightedly watching them. The site with its dock out front is lovely indeed. There is a two- story tree house for youngsters, walled and windowed and with bunks for sleeping. A little red guest house, fully equipped, sits beneath a huge fire tree. Four ourselves, we chose a trailer space
Rev. Ben Owen is Pastor of the First W ho ministers to the pastor with a bruised spirit? Be hind the smiling face of your pas tor there may be a wounded heart in need o f soothing balm. The smile may be a necessary part of the whole, for he must at all times show a positive attitude and never permit a trace of con cern or discouragement to be seen. But pastors do become bruised in spirit, weary in the work, though not of the work. They do not work with angels, just people. People not only come in all sorts, sizes and shapes, but also in a complete spectrum o f mental, emotional and moral tempera ments. The care and feeding of the adult church member, though taught in pastoral theology at seminary, can be truly learned only by on-the-job experience. Of course, your pastor will take to heart the problems o f his people. He never can be complete ly dispassionate and removed from involvement in the lives of his people. He will sorrow over the wayward daughters and weep for the prodigal sons. The emo tionally disturbed will pour out their burdens to him and go away
Baptist Church, Redmond, Oregon relieved in mind and lighter in spirit. And the pastor? Why he is supposed to share the aches and ills of his people. He must en deavor to provide the moment of encouragement or s ilen t sym pathy, the word of comfort. By the Lord’s grace, he does. That is why he is your pastor. But who ministers to him? He is no superman, possessed of un limited reserves of strength. By the very nature o f his ministry to others he has his moments of need also. Many sincere members would shut up their over-burdened pas tor to scripture verses, such as: " . . . they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isa. 40:31). Therefore, let him wait! So the pastor tries to wait. Then the telephone rings. And rings again. His waiting is done for the day. The place o f waiting can be as vital as the attitude o f waiting, for the whole man is involved, body, soul and spirit. Every pas tor faces a basic need to get away from it all occasionally. Where shall they wait upon the Lord?
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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