Well, what's next for an old pastor?

We get this question on occasion.

Here's the most recent one, an email, hello, Pastor John, I'm 51 years old and have

pastored the same church for 17 years.

I love being a pastor, and I wish I could never retire from this work, but I know this

is probably not the best idea for the long term health of my church.

My question is this, what happens to us old pastors?

What should happen to us?

I don't have a ministry like yours, I can't publish a book any publisher would want, and

I get no invitations to speak a conference.

What work is there left for me to do?

Well, I think often about this question, probably because of my age, 74, and the fact that

I'm indeed privileged to be part of a ministry that grew up alongside me while I was pastoring.

But I often imagine what it would be like, what I would be doing, if there were no one

giving me structure to my life and expecting me to earn my salary at Desiring God.

This is the position of thousands of pastors who finish their pastorate at 65 or 70 or

75.

They have good years left, but what should they do?

The first thing I want to say is foundational, and then more specific.

Don't believe in the world's view of retirement, which usually revolves around recreation, fishing,

golfing, cruises, resorts, shopping.

There's not anything like that in the Bible, minister for 40 or 50 years, and then indulge

...