What to Expect When God Shifts You From Prophet to Pastor
by Apostle Chaifa Berry
When I asked a friend what it was like to have a baby later in life, she exclaimed, “I have zero regrets. I know who I am and I can enjoy my child and give 100%. I couldn’t do that before.”
It takes a whole and healed person to pastor God’s people. When God calls you to pastoral ministry, you can liken it to motherhood. It’s a 100% give. There’s nothing fair about 3 am feeds, or dirty diapers one after another. Mommy time is a rare occasion.
In exchange, your reward is this: To see a person grow strong and healthy and to know you were a part of their process.
The Truth About Ministry
People are needy.
Like a baby who hungers at 3 am and doesn’t consider that Mommy's tired, so too will demands be made of you, at your emptiest. Will you see past the thorns to see the person that needs Jesus in you? Or will you trigger hurts from your childhood, when nobody was there for you?
Don’t skip your process of dealing with brokenness in you, lest you take life, instead of giving it. You must be whole and healed to nurture God’s people.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” John 10:11
You Need to Grow in Favor With Man
“A prophet’s goal is to represent the Lord and to draw people to Christ. A pastor walks with the people - in Christ - every single day.” - Apostle Colette Toach
You can’t get away from the crowd - like you used to. Your home is with the people now. A pastor counsels, teaches, reteaches, and does life with God’s people until Christ forms in them. Learn to be likeable because nobody opens their heart to a brick wall.
Expect God to put you in difficult relationships until you learn to make it work. It can look like: A co-worker you don’t like, a mother-in-law you can’t divorce, or a needy neighbor that has no friends. Your home is with the people now - make it work.
At first, it’s tough, but I promise, His grace will come! You’ll know you’ve arrived when it’s easy to love the unlovely.
You Were God’s Mouth - Now You’re His Hands!
“May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10
Each fivefold ministry brings heaven down to earth in its unique way. If the prophet is God’s mouthpiece, the pastor is His hands and feet. As you shift from prophet to pastor, you become a master at creating community. Prophet, you always craved a sense of belonging. You wanted to fit in, but never could. Now, you have the anointing to provide for others what you always desired for yourself.
You have the best of both worlds. You have the anointing of a prophet to see God’s blueprint and to birth it in the Spirit. And, you have the pastoral ability to organize that blueprint on earth.
The shift is turbulent at first, but the results are worth it. By the end of your process, you become a leader who knows who you are and who’s at peace. A leader who can enjoy the gift of relationships, with God’s people, and give 100%.
Apostles Craig and Colette go even deeper into this subject. Listen to this podcast, for more on what to expect “When a Prophet Becomes a Pastor”!
