If a pastor or church leader makes the national news, it’s usually not good news. But most pastors are not like those we read about in the national news.

If you have a church dinner and a good time is had by all, that won’t be news. If you have a church dinner and a major fight breaks out, it might be. If your pastor routinely does his work as a humble and faithful leader, it most surely will not make headlines.

Most of us are able to take for granted that we’ll receive good pastoring. It will be flawed. No one congregation will get the best preaching, best shepherding, best administration, etc. Imagine going to work and bearing up under the expectation that your work match the best in the country at each aspect of your job. That burden shouldn’t be on anyone’s shoulders.

We are blessed to have great examples of shepherds and gentlemen who, while imperfect and candid about that, have made a huge difference among Christ’s flock. Since the last issue of the magazine was printed, we’ve remembered the lives of Missionary Gene Spear, Rev. Jack White, and Rev. Norman Carson. It was a privilege to know these kind shepherds whose humble work reached many. If you don’t know them I’d encourage you to read about their lives. I’d love to spend an entire issue of the magazine talking about each one.

To get the sort of shepherding we want to see, we have a responsibility to create fertile ground for growth. Once our society as a whole made it easier for pastors to minister; as a pastor’s son I know. But as the world makes the work harder, the church must step up even more—supporting them, encouraging them, protecting them, easing extra-heavy burdens. And, as a recent PCA survey found, pastors’ wives and families are feeling heavy burdens too and need our concerted support.

I’m afraid that social media hasn’t helped the problems. In my observation it distorts and distracts from healthy pastor/member communications. So many topics are easily misinterpreted when sent to a broad audience, whether opinions on church matters or theological discussions or political and social posts. If I were ruler of the world for a minute and could decree that all of social media be forever rid of such posts, I would. That would force such topics to be broached in person, where they are much more likely to bring about healthy discussion and godly change.

As the culture, politics, and technology keep promising greater unity but keep delivering greater isolation, members and pastors need to focus on fostering real community, starting with their local church and local neighborhood. We won’t solve the world’s problems using the world’s methods, at least not if they diverge from Christ’s methods.

If none of my points has struck home with you, I hope at least this one does. Support your pastor because God directs you often in Scripture to do so (e.g., Gal. 6:6; Heb. 13:17; 1 Thess. 5:12-14 ). In that way, your pastor will be better equipped, and you and your church and your community will be more greatly blessed of God.