“Allow me to add a final plea for this priority to find its way into ever shepherd’s ministry. It takes a pastor to recognize a pastor. As you look for those who have the gift to serve in pastoral ministry, try to set aside for a moment a person’s apparent immaturity and discern who may have a special gift from God to teach his word and care for his people. Even if you don’t have a formal process for identifying and training, you can start by taking this individual to the hospital with you. Let them tag along on your visits to shut-ins. When you sense it’s time, let them lead a Sunday school class or a small group Bible study where you can observe them…The process begins with pastors. If pastors do not accept this role and make this a priority, who will? If pastors do not look to identify and train leaders, who will?”
"The hospital room and the funeral home are some of the best classrooms in which to learn pastoral ministry. I have held the hands of elderly saints and prayed over them as they took their last breath. I have won over my ‘enemies’ because I took the time to visit them when they were in the hospital. I have watched despair turn to hope as I’ve sat with a grieving widow and talked about Christ. The hospital room and the funeral home present pastors with learning opportunities that can’t be found elsewhere. Death reminds us of our frailty and brokenness. It jolts our hearts out of the delusion of invincibility. Death restores our focus on the eternal things when we are daily tempted to live in the temporal."
- Michael Carlino
Compassion
"When a pastor senses he is growing frustrated with a weaker person or is growing impatient over the lack of change and growth, it’s helpful to take a step back and consider this question: How does my timeline for change contrast with God’s timeline? The truth is that we are never guaranteed a certain rate of growth that is the same for every individual. Each person is unique, facing different challenges in the fight against sin."
- Michael Carlino
Compassion
"The godly, faithful life of pastors, or lack thereof, will set the tone for the entire church they serve."
- Michael Carlino
Integrity
"Don’t excuse yourself from the biblical calling to set an example for the flock. Yes, you are a sinner, and you are not perfect. God knows that pastors need the cleansing blood of Jesus and the good news of what Jesus has done, just as much as anyone else. But we also know that God sets a higher standard for leaders. Our acceptance before God has already been fully met for us in Christ. So seek to be an example to others in freedom, knowing Christ has already met the standard you could never meet."
- Michael Carlino
Integrity
"Pastors are called to be guardians of the truth. And like a father protecting his daughter from attack, this calling requires courageous, sacrificial action. A pastor must care for his people, yes, but it means guarding them and guarding the truth by protecting them from false teaching. It means helping them understand and grow in the good news of God’s word…if we lose the truth, we have nothing left to give our people."
- Michael Carlino
Courage
"Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
Leadership
"Pay attention to those employees who respectfully ask why. They are demonstrating an interest in their jobs and exhibiting a curiosity that could eventually translate into leadership ability."
- Harvey Mackay
Leadership
"Everyone talks about building a relationship with your customer. I think you build one with your employees first."
- Angela Ahrendts
Leadership
"Leaders can let you fail and yet not let you be a failure."
- Stanley McChrystal
Leadership
"An organization's ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive advantage."
- Jack Welch
Leadership