Many of you may be reading this thinking “all you ministers are misfits”. I know that the typical stereotype of me and what I do is a little bit off. My hospice co-workers say I’m not the typical chaplain, so I guess that’s a compliment? 🙂
I have felt somewhat out of place over the last few months since I stepped out of a church staff position. Some people act like I’m disobeying God. I visit some churches, and they act like I don’t exist. But I have to give a shout-out to one particular church (but this isn’t the only church).
During the summer of 2014, I made a new pastor friend. He’s my age and has been pastoring the same church for a little over 4 1/2 years. He invited me several times to fill in for their worship leader while I was on staff elsewhere. When I stepped down from my recent position, he reached out to me and has been wonderful to me and my family. He knows I will probably be back in a staff position ultimately, but he has gone out of his way to involve me in the church. He has been a pastor to this pastor.
Most of you who read this blog probably aren’t local, but I think Corinth Baptist Church in Seneca, SC is one of the best kept secrets in town. I was impressed by the fact that the people knew me four years after I brought my old youth worship team to lead their VBS music. It isn’t a large church, but they strive for organization and excellence.
I don’t know what my future holds, but I’m thankful for pastors like Tim Tate and churches like Corinth who minister to ministers. After being in a ministerial position for several years, it means a lot to walk into a church and feel like somebody (not because the church pays me to do things but because I’m valued as a person). As I said, there are other churches I could name that have treated me well during this time also. To all who have ministered to me and refreshed me during the season of transition, you know who you are. I love you and thank God for those of you who continue to love this “misfit”.
Matthew Winters (Honest Thoughts from a Pastor) 