The called are falling and need prayer

This blog post is for all of you who have a burden to pray for pastors. It is officially pastor appreciation month, and I completely appreciate my pastor. He has welcomed us as full and appreciated members of our church family, even though he became our church's pastor after we were in Africa. He has visited us several times and checks in with us often. He is a good leader, a caring man, and a humble servant of God, and we are blessed to call him our pastor. It is through his support that we have remained strong here in Lesotho. Thank you Pastor Art!!!!!! Can't wait to see you in December!


Unfortunately, we have not had that kind of love and support from the pastors of the churches in Lesotho. We have been hurt over and over by watching these leaders fall. Power and prosperity have snuck their way in where God should have been. Lust and greed have woven into hearts that have become weak. Satan is winning the battle in taking down the leaders, those called to lead their flocks, and it is terrifying. We have attending 3 churches in our time in Lesotho, and in all 3 churches, the pastors have fallen. I realize that all of us our human and have a sinful nature, so I don't say this as a judgment to them, I say it from brokenness. When your leader falls and does not repent, your church, family and community could fall too.


"Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." Acts 20:28


"It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money."  1Timothy 3:1-3


Please pray for God to humble them, turn them from the path of destruction, and restore them to His side. Pray for their heart to be like the heart of David, a heart that saw the error of his way and turned, brokenhearted to God. I am praying that we can all be encouraging and loving and not full of gossip and spite. Please pray for the pastors in Africa, but also for those all over the world. The temptations and trials are harder for those in leadership, but with the help of God, all can walk an upright life.


Please encourage your pastors, not only this month, but every month.