A successful pastorate is as much dependent on the church as it is on the pastor. Since 2012 I have been privileged to pastor Central Baptist Church in Waycross, GA. There have been seasons of great joy and great sorrow, but there has not been a day I was not thankful for this fellowship. Recently, I have been reflecting on how pastoral ministry differs once you pass the 10-year point. Below are my observations of eight blessings that have come from pastoring CBC over ten years.

I like consistency. I run the same route every day for my morning run. I know the exact places on the course where I will hit distance goals. I know the houses where there are dogs and which ones bark, which ones will come out to meet me, and which ones just watch me run by. I know where the pavement is uneven and where it is smooth. The consistency of running the same route and learning all these details allows me to give little attention to where I am and where I am going. It allows me the freedom to just enjoy the run because the details of the route, distance, and road hazards are so well known they require little notice.

The familiarity provided by consistency also allows me to focus on other things. I have employed prayer prompts for many years to remind me to pray for certain things. Prayer prompts are places and things that remind you to pray for a specific need when you see them or pass them by. Once, a pastor asked me to pray for an issue his family was facing. So, every morning when I ran past his home, I prayed for him and his family. Over the years, the specifics of what I pray as changed. But every morning, as I run down his road, I still pray for him, his family, and his church.