Sure, we’re happy that they’re still serving Jesus and attending a good, Bible-believing church after they leave our congregation. That’s truly all that matters. So it feels petty to think, feel and admit this, but it’s true.

It hurts.

Maybe it shouldn’t.

Maybe it shows lack of character, spiritual maturity or generosity.

But it still hurts.

If We Don’t Want Credit, Why Did I Write This?

Other than the first point receiving a glancing mention in The Grasshopper Myth, and a few “yeah, I get it” conversations with other small church pastors, this is the first time that I’ve talked about these issues.

But, if we’re not looking for credit, why mention them at all?

Because I’ve had a few of those “yeah, I get it” conversations recently, that have been filled with more frustration – even anger – than usual.

So this article is not written to complain to my megachurch pastor friends. It’s to encourage my fellow small church pastors.

What you do matters. Even if it feels like you’re doing more work for less credit, keep doing it.

We all have a vital role to play in the body of Christ.

Sometimes, doing work that is almost literally in the shadow of a bigger church can be discouraging. But that doesn’t make the work any less valuable.

In the end, we’re only doing this to hear “well done” from one person.

Even if no one else gets how you feel, Jesus does. He sees what you’re doing in the shadows. And he is pleased wih the light you’re shining there.

Copyright © 2017 by the author or Christianity Today.
Click here to read our guidelines concerning reprint permissions.