What are the signs of a good pastor?
I meet a lot of pastors. Some have a tremendous amount of influence with the people they serve. You can tell they love their people and their people would fight hell with a water pistol for them. Others, no matter how hard they try, have limited influence at best. It feels transactional at best. I was reminded today of what often differentiates the two.
In one service at Piedmont Church in Marietta, Ga., student pastor Daniel Roberts was delivering the offering talk. He told the story of his wife, who teaches 2nd grade, overhearing a child telling his classmates that he has no bed and must sleep on the sofa. Daniel’s wife came home and asked if there was anything their family or the church could do.
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It was then Daniel said the words which is a sure sign you are a pastor people will follow. Daniel said, “I’ll call Marlon. He’ll know what to do.”
The Marlon he was referring to is Marlon Longacre, Piedmont’s community pastor. Marlon is incredibly popular in our church and community and a key catalyst for our church’s growth.
After hearing about this young child sleeping on a sofa, Marlon immediately went into action. He sent out a note to his email list and had not one, not two, but THREE beds within 24 hours. Additional calls are also coming in about sheets, pillows, bed spreads and delivery trucks.
