From the Field - February 2025

In May of 2024, I followed the Lord’s leading to a very interesting church setting in need of a pastor. To the surprise of many, I took a position at a church in a town of 1,500 people that was averaging only 20 in attendance on Sunday mornings. Though warned this would likely be a tough ministry position, the Lord’s leading was abundantly clear! 

Just a few months into the position, I learned very quickly that this particular context was very different from most of my ministry friends at various churches across the country. As I began to make myself available to the community, the schools, and of course the church, I realized that “success” would look very different for me than other pastor friends. This first made itself known on a particular Sunday where the church had the highest attendance in almost a decade: 35 people. The church was thrilled, and it spilled over to me! I remember sharing with some ministry friends afterwards and though likely well intended, responses ranged from “That’s it? You moved there for that?” to “I think the lowest I have ever had was around 50”. Another instance happened shortly after, when the youth group that averages 3 students had a Wednesday night with a record twelve in attendance! 

What was made clear very quickly is that what I would consider “victories” in my particular ministry context would not necessarily be similar to those of my ministry counterparts both local and nationwide. But the reality is that Sunday morning we had more people in attendance than the church had seen in more than a decade was absolutely worth celebrating! Having four times the teenagers that normally come to a youth group meeting is a celebration worthy to be had! Just because the numbers look different from anywhere else, does not mean the Lord is not just as much in your midst. You all know the phrase, “Comparison is a thief of joy,” and that absolutely holds true in ministry. 

My encouragement to you is to celebrate the victories in ministry with which the Lord blesses you! If that victory is hundreds of people raising a certain amount of money for a missions effort, sending out people to the mission field, CELEBRATE IT! I celebrate with my ministry friends that are at churches that see hundreds any given Sunday, I celebrate for those massive revival events that see dozens of people baptized, and I even celebrate when a small church in the middle-of-nowhere Texas is excited for 30 people who come in the door including a dozen teenagers. Those numbers might make others chuckle and feel bad for you, but do you know what that means? Thirty people got to hear the gospel that morning, and a dozen teenagers go to experience Jesus in a town that desperately needs a spiritual revival, and that, my friends, is a victory worth celebrating. 

The Lord has called you to where you are serving for a reason, and celebrating Him in the victories, whatever they might look like for you, reminds you of His faithfulness and his work wherever you find yourself serving Him. 

Jordan LaBry

Pastor

First Baptist Church Sabinal