Life has assumed a frenetic pace since fall - being injured in a car accident, working with an attorney to persuade the automobile insurance company to cover my medical costs, handling church crises, caring for ailing in-laws, meeting basic ministerial obligations. Although I knew I was stressed, I did not realize how badly I needed down time and time with my peers. When I began to sing Sunday night as I packed and continued to sing as I drove to our meeting, I realized that I was singing in anticipation, that the heaviness that was weighing down my spirit was being lifted before I even arrived at my destination because I knew that I would soon be surrounded by peers who genuinely cared about me and who could relate to all of struggles. I was not disappointed.
Reviewing our role as facilitators, learning more about how we relate via the DISC personality assessment, and discussing case studies all left me feeling better prepared to serve as a facilitator. In addition, making new contacts and gathering ideas for ministry falls beyond the stated purpose of our gathering but is also quite beneficial. Thanks to another facilitator, for example, I am now familiar with a number of new media clips and music videos that I may incorporate into my church’s blended worship service. In addition, I’m expanding my plan to focus on relationships on Sunday, February 14, by holding a marriage reaffirmation service for anyone interested following worship.
Studies show that a high proportion of pastors leave the ministry during the first ten years. Since I’m in my fifteenth year of ministry, I naively thought I had bypassed that season of ministry. However, the resistance I have met recently has led me seriously to consider leaving. For the last year and a half, ICE has kept me in the ministry. On my worst days I have reminded myself that God has put ICE in my path for a reason - to encourage me and teach me how to make my ministry rich in spite of the challenges of being a pastor. I thank God for the opportunity to work with pastors both in my Facilitator Peer Group and my future group. — ICE Facilitator, Winter, 2010
