Pastor, your relationships matter.

You can’t have an effective ministry without deep, God-honoring relationships with people you can share your struggles with.

Many pastors have isolated lives. That’s a problem.

Some of your friends should be non-Christians.

God wants you to love everyone, show kindness to everyone, and help everyone you can.

If you don’t have any non-Christian friends, you won’t be around anyone you can share the Good News with.

But you also need strong Christian friends, including other people in ministry.

It’s always easier to pull people down than to pull them up.

That’s why you have to make sure the people you spend the most time with are moving you in the right direction. They should be building you up rather than tearing you down.

Where do you want to be in 10 years?

What kind of leader do you want to be?

I can tell you who you’ll be in 10 years by looking at these two things: the people you spend your time with and what you’re reading.

Those two factors will determine your future.

The Bible teaches us, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’” (1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV).

Your friends are too important to pick by chance.

You have to be intentional and take the initiative.

Join a small group of pastors, either in your church or among other local pastors.

If you can’t find a group that already exists, start one!

Take the initiative to organize a group of pastors to gather over lunch, share prayer requests, and study the Bible together. 

You need friends. Do whatever it takes to build those relationships.