Dan Holloway on Encouragement

by Dan Holloway

Devotional from the Shift 2.0 Seminar 8, April, 2024

As we remember our friend and colleague Dan Holloway, we discovered this devotional he contributed to our Shift 2.0 Seminar back in April, 2024. We wanted to share this with you in deep gratitude for Dan’s recognition of the critical need for encouragement in ministry.

I want to read a text from First Thessalonians 5:9, 10, and 11. For God has destined us not for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build up each other as indeed you are doing.

I've been thinking a lot recently about encouragement and how important that is and how powerful that is. I was thinking about that a lot recently when I saw a brief report from Barna group which said that in 2015, pastors reported that 37% of them felt like they had a good support system… colleagues, clergy, friends, coaches, whatever. In 2023 the Barna survey showed 19% of pastors felt like they had that level of support. So it had gone from 37% down to 19% over the last nine years. That grieves me. And I hope that we will make it part of our calling to support each other and to encourage each other, even as the scripture invites us to do.

And so with that said, I hope that you will do two things today. One, think of the people in your life who have been encouragers for you, who have given you that word of hope at a moment when you needed it. And just in your own mind and heart right now, give thanks to God for that person or those persons. And then the other thing is, think of somebody in your circle who might need that word of encouragement today.

And perhaps you'd be the one to pick up the phone or send an email or in some way. Let that person know, “I'm in your corner, I'm cheering for you, and it is gonna be okay.” Let's get through this together. That's my invitation to all of us today. And with that said, let’s have a prayer for us. Please. Let's pray.

God, we have all been blessed by the gift of encouragers in our lives. And for that we are so grateful. We pray that we may be thankful in a direct way for those who've been that for us. And also this day, perhaps reach out to someone else who needs to know that we care for them. In the name of the Christ who loves us all unconditionally, we pray. Amen.