Tom Nelson - The Flourishing Pastor: Recovering the Lost Art of Shepherd Leadership

P astors arent superheroes! This was a tough lesson for me to learn. Growing up, I loved reading the stories of Iron Man, Captain America, and Superman. They were perfection personified. Physically invincible, morally uncompromising, endowed with unparalleled intellect, and always clear minded concerning their purpose and life mission (or so it seemed to me as a child). The amazing saga of their lives played out right before my eyes in each new edition of their comic books or episode of their cartoon series. In my daydreams and playdates with friends I would make believe that I was one of these men of renown. My only disappointment was knowing they were merely characters on a page whom I would never meet in real life.

So you can only imagine the overwhelming joy I felt as a young thirteen-year-old when I walked into the youth meeting at my childhood church and met what felt like my first real-life superhero. His name was Eugene Broadway. He didnt wear a cape or a mask, but I swear he was just as incredible as any of the characters in my comic books. He was a youth pastor who to me seemed just as invincible, uncompromising, wise, and clear minded about his purpose and mission as Captain America or Superman. He had awesome superpowers. He could mesmerize a group of teenagers with the passion of his preaching. His prayers transformed human hearts. He offered wise counsel to my deepest problems at the drop of a hat, in a way that astonished my parents. He even had this cool green car, kind of like his own Batmobile, that he would drive around town picking up teens for church so they could experience the transcendent love of Christ-centered community.

From the day I met Eugene Broadway, I wanted to emulate him. In my heart I determined that I wanted to be a ministry superhero just like him. I began to study my Bible like him, pray like him, and I even developed a preaching style that was just like his.

But a strange thing happened the older I got and the more time I spent with him. I began to see how human he was. There were times when he grew tired, was afraid, didnt have answers to tough questions, prayed prayers of lament, and even seemed unclear about the direction of his life. And then one day the inconceivable happened; he got sick and, shortly after, passed away. I was bewildered and confused. It was only after his death that I came to grips with the hard truth that as great of a man as he was, Eugene Broadway was no superhero. And sadly, this meant neither was I.

Over the years, I have struggled to accept my own humanity. Maybe you can relate. After all, it is hard to admit that I am often anxious, frequently uncertain, and even emotionally immature at times. The good news is that, through the years, friends like Tom Nelson have helped me to see that I dont have to pretend to be Superman. Ordination certificates dont come with capes and pastors arent superheroes. But, praise God, we serve a sovereign Savior. My flourishing does not depend on my superpowers, and neither does yours. The Flourishing Pastor is a joyful reminder that we are products of the supernatural grace of God expressed through the victory of the cross of Christ and the triumph of the gospel in our lives.

The wisdom in the pages you are about to read shows us a better way to flourish than pretending to be superheroes. We can be vulnerable if our faith is in Jesus and our anchor is in the Scriptures. We can lead our churches when we accept that our wholeness is in Christ alone. We are his apprentices, learning from our master how to live fully integrated lives. My friend Tom has done research in the lab of real-life ministry. God has used him to show many pastors how the gospel gives us power for work and worship for Sundays as well as Mondays. Ultimately the apostle Paul was right, his strength is made perfect in our weakness (see 2 Cor 12:9). This means we can take off the mask and stop measuring ourselves by attendance numbers, offering totals, and the amount of likes on our social media posts. In my life, Tom has been a wise sage whose humble wisdom comes from allowing the Lord to truly be his shepherd. I trust that you will find him worth listening to as well, because the godly guidance found in these pages will not only encourage your heart but also will allow you to finish well. So take off your cape, put on Gods grace, and let the journey begin!

Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.