In today’s fast-paced world, where productivity usually reigns supreme, the notion of slowness - or of slowing down - can seem countercultural. However, in pastoral ministry, slowness is not a weakness; it is an essential virtue.
Jesus often used agricultural metaphors to explain the Kingdom, not simply because that resonated with the people of His time (though it would have) but also because it explains something of how God is slowly at work in His world; tiny mustard seeds grow into huge trees.
Ministry involves engaging deeply with the messy complexities of human lives, and rushing through this work risks superficiality, exhaustion, extra pain, and missed opportunities for spiritual transformation. Thus, slowness becomes a vital practice for pastors striving to shepherd both themselves and their congregations faithfully.
Tired of 'plodding along' in ministry?
There is a reason why Paul reaches for farming when he wants to describe what faithful ministry looks like. Not …