| The duties of a pastor are dizzying in their variety. A pastor is expected to be a preacher, teacher, theologian, counselor, and leader. Pastors marry and bury and visit congregants. In a smaller church, their roles may expand to include accountant, custodian, and chair stacker. They do whatever needs to be done. Those roles are all real and important, but as Wesley Hill reminds us, there is one role that ministry is ultimately about: being a “news agent for God.” He writes: “In pastoral care, in particular, we do well to remember that we do not need to be experts in a million different fields to be faithful to our calling. We do not need to know how to handle every difficulty, hurt, or need presented to us. But we need to be faithful in this: proclaiming the news that Christ is risen.” Read more: Pastor, You Have One Job. Also, check out Developing Your Preaching and Teaching Style. This resource will help you hone your craft and become a more effective news agent for God. | 