Clay in the Hands

Who pastors the pastor?

That is a question that has driven a ministry I participate in, and have for well over a decade. The need to offer a respite and encouragement to pastors has not gotten smaller with time. In fact, with the pandemic, this need has become more acute and urgent. In 2021, Catapult published results of a survey of over 3,100 pastors in America. One of the most staggering findings of that survey was that 55.7% of the pastors surveyed had actively sought to leave the pastorate in the previous year.

Proyecto Fortaleza (or The Strengthening Project) began in 2006, as an effort to encourage pastors and their spouses in Juarez, Mexico. Over the next few years, this ministry became more focused to encourage pastors and their spouses in the areas of spiritual progression and marriage enrichment. Now, one of the biggest things we do is offer an overnight retreat (at no cost to the couples) as a way of giving pastors and their spouses an opportunity to rest and renew.

This weekend, our Proyecto Fortaleza team will be offering a retreat for pastors and their spouses in McAllen, Texas, serving couples from the valley. Proverbs 27:17 says, As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. On Friday, over twenty couples will gather to be rest, to recuperate, to recover their joy and to sharpen one another.

I ask for your prayers for these faithful servants. Pray that God will use this time and our team to bring rest and renewal to those in attendance. There is truth to the statement – As the pastor goes, so goes the church. Renewed and passionate pastors make a huge difference in the churches the serve. So pray that God will work in the hearts and lives of these servants.

If you would like more information about this ministry, you can find it here.

Thank you for your prayers!