I am so into the TV show “Lost” right now. I know, I know, I’m years late but it is on Netflix for for free and I am watching episodes like crazy. I’m only on the second season as of right now (so do not ruin this for me), but for those who do not know, Lost is about a group of people who survived a plane crash on an island and they go an entire season thinking they are the only ones on the island. It’s not until the season finale that they realize there are other people on the island who they are a threat to them. They are known as “The Others” and they are intimidated, frightened, and nervous to make contact with them to talk and see what they are about.

Sadly, this is the way pastors feel about other pastors. They are good on their island and they need to fear the “others”. This is something that needs to change. There are no others, we are on the “team” if you will. I will admit, I will let my pride get in the way and I will either intentionally not read their stuff or walk by without stopping and talking because they, in my mind, are more successful than me. This is something I am slowly trying to break because the “others” mentality is just breaking down the church.

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul talks about how the body works together. Every part of the body is needed in order for the body as whole to do what it was designed to do. Each church, ministry, pastor, and congregation is a piece of that body and should be working together rather than co-existing together.

It’s time to stop seeing “the others” and check our pride at the door and find out what other pastors and ministries are doing that is working for them and maybe, just maybe, it could be the tipping point in our ministry if we ask for advice or start working together.

I love talking to other pastors, and how much would it help each ministry of we all shared what are the top things that are working in our own ministries so others my try to implement them and help someone else out. It would be awesome. Let’s set up a network and start having these conversations.


Areyou guilty of viewing some as “the others”? Do you regularly meet with other pastors and share ministry strategies and what is working or not working?