How to develop friendships?

[missmuffet]

17 hours ago, ozrick33 said:

Part of the challenge in being a Pastor is loneliness. I am friends with many of the people in our church but there is and most likely always be some degree of separation between them and me. A recent survey found 78% of Pastors have no close friends. 

What I am not sure of is how to find and make new friends. 

I welcome any input.

Thanks very much

Rick

 

I do not see why you can not make some Christian friends within your Church. There are good places and very bad places to find friends. I have had many "friends" in my lifetime but no " best friends" who stay with you unconditionally. They are far and few between in this world.

[johnthebaptist]

On 5/24/2019 at 4:49 AM, ozrick33 said:

Part of the challenge in being a Pastor is loneliness. I am friends with many of the people in our church but there is and most likely always be some degree of separation between them and me. A recent survey found 78% of Pastors have no close friends. 

What I am not sure of is how to find and make new friends. 

I welcome any input.

Thanks very much

Rick

 

Being in constant prayer with the Lord (1 Thess 5:17) perhaps makes it unnecessary to have close friends. I am very active in my church, but when the activity is over, I go home and am alone with the Lord. I do confide closely with my brother via email. But having close friends isn't a goal of mine. I just have friends through my church activities.

[ozrick33]

10 hours ago, johnthebaptist said:

Being in constant prayer with the Lord (1 Thess 5:17) perhaps makes it unnecessary to have close friends. I am very active in my church, but when the activity is over, I go home and am alone with the Lord. I do confide closely with my brother via email. But having close friends isn't a goal of mine. I just have friends through my church activities.

I am not wired that way. Certainly we need to walk close with God but I need human relationships too. 

[johnthebaptist]

4 minutes ago, ozrick33 said:

I am not wired that way. Certainly we need to walk close with God but I need human relationships too. 

But you should have plenty of fellowship in your daily church work, shouldn't you? Don't pastors constantly have meetings to go to and ministries to tend to? Seems like you'd be around people a lot. Are you married?

[ozrick33]

13 minutes ago, johnthebaptist said:

But you should have plenty of fellowship in your daily church work, shouldn't you? Don't pastors constantly have meetings to go to and ministries to tend to? Seems like you'd be around people a lot. Are you married?

Yes I am married and I am constantly with people, but, there is a vast difference between being a husband and a Pastor to having someone as an intimate friend. 

[johnthebaptist]

1 minute ago, ozrick33 said:

Yes I am married and I am constantly with people, but, there is a vast difference between being a husband and a Pastor to having someone as an intimate friend. 

Are you approachable?

[johnthebaptist]

11 minutes ago, ozrick33 said:

Yes I am married and I am constantly with people, but, there is a vast difference between being a husband and a Pastor to having someone as an intimate friend. 

 

10 minutes ago, johnthebaptist said:

Are you approachable?

I think some pastors I've known befriend other pastors.

[Willa]

Our pastor had several couples that were in a prayer group with him.  They were directed by the Lord to plant a new church in our area knowing only that there were high power lines over the area.  They moved here as 3 couples and had their first meeting in a Motel 6.   Their first home was under giant high power lines spanning a wide river.  These families have remained close, especially the pastor and assc. pastor.  They and staff have been close as well as elders.  Much of the staff are the wives of the pastors, which are 5 or more now.

[ozrick33]

37 minutes ago, johnthebaptist said:

Are you approachable?

Definitely. People say I am warm, funny and friendly. 

[ozrick33]

16 minutes ago, Willa said:

Our pastor had several couples that were in a prayer group with him.  They were directed by the Lord to plant a new church in our area knowing only that there were high power lines over the area.  They moved here as 3 couples and had their first meeting in a Motel 6.   Their first home was under giant high power lines spanning a wide river.  These families have remained close, especially the pastor and assc. pastor.  They and staff have been close as well as elders.  Much of the staff are the wives of the pastors, which are 5 or more now.

That’s wonderful