There’s a man by the name of Karl Hans Albrecht. You may or may not have heard of him. If not, here are a few things about him to get you acquainted: Currently, he’s 94 years old. He has a wife and two kids. He’s a German entrepreneur who co-founded Aldi, a discount mini-market chain with his brother, Theo Albrecht, many years ago. And it’s still going strong all throughout the world today. He’s also the 24th richest person in the world, according to Forbes Magazine, and the richest person in all of Germany.
There’s a good chance, without having the privilege of meeting him, we can assume he’s made a handful of wise choices in his life. And, because we as humans have been known to wallow in our sin nature, he’s probably made a handful of mistakes as well. Nevertheless, it’s a safe bet that our old friend knows a thing or two about serving customers.
Mr. Albrecht said something that really made me think. It really changes the game for those of us who have left full-time ministry behind and, especially, for those who find themselves lost on this journey, confused or not sure where to go next.
He said, “If you’re not serving the customer, you’d better be serving someone who is.”
“If you’re not serving the customer, you’d better be serving someone who is.”
When I heard it, it reminded me of a handful of people in the Bible. I thought of Jonathan’s armor-bearer. A kid, some might suggest, but brave and loyal, willing to risk his life simply because he had a commitment to serve someone who was serving someone a lot greater.
I thought of Aaron and Hur and their service toward Moses, lifting his hands so that God could work through him. I thought of Paul and his commission to follow his example as he followed the example of Christ. I thought of the early church, the disciples getting caught up in the busy work, not able to do the job God called them to do. Instead, they chose a handful of people to serve them so that they could serve a greater purpose: to preach the gospel.
For many years after I resigned my last pastoral role, I struggled to find my place. I was grabbing at straws, if you will, trying to find what God had for me next, if He had anything for me at all. Trying to find where I fit in. I struggled, for a couple years, to let go of the anger I had for myself and the frustration I had toward the people and the situations that led to my exit.
I didn’t stop loving the church and I never gave up on my relationship with God. But I was very close to giving up on the idea of never going back into full-time pastoral ministry again. In fact, I spit the words many of us have said: “I don’t think I’ll ever be a pastor again.”
That was seven years ago. I’ve since gone back to work in the church but not in a pastoral role. And, for now, I’m just fine with that. I’d be fine never going back to serving as pastor. But, as I’ve learned or have at least come to believe, God isn’t done with me yet.
To be honest, there have been a lot of things I wish I would’ve known before leaving the ministry. It took many years struggling through my emotions and trying to learn how to forgive and heal. I latched on to anything I could get my hands on. I attended several churches, trying to find a place I could call home. I latched on to anonymity. But, although I’m a proponent of anonymity for those who have called it quits, everything has a season.
I wish my season was shorter than it was. I wish I would’ve learned a little sooner the importance of what Mr. Albrecht said. I wish I would’ve learned that healing takes place in anonymity and forgiveness and time but also through service. I wish it wouldn’t have taken me seven years to realize that my place, although it had appeared to change in my eyes, has always remained the same: I have been called to serve.
It’s brilliant, his thought, isn’t it?
“If you’re not serving the customer, you’d better be serving someone who is.”
I could get lost in this thought quite easily because it’s so simple. But I think it’s the simplicity that’s especially important for me and you, for those of us who have stepped away from what some would say the call of God on our lives.
Even though we may have called it quits, we might be lost in the direction God has for us or the call He’s placed on our lives, we’re never called to quit serving. God is calling you. He’s calling me. And He isn’t done with us yet. If God was done with you, he never would’ve used you to begin with.
If God was done with you, he never would’ve used you to begin with.
It may look different than what we anticipated. It might feel different. But I am confident in this one thing: If you’ve left full-time pastoral ministry and you don’t know what to do next … if you’re not serving, you better start serve someone who is.
What better way – especially for those of us who feel lost, abandoned, and hopeless – to find our way back to the call of God on our lives.
Sheryl F
I agree with Mr.Albrecht and with you — when I can be of service to others no matter what my vocation I am fulfilling what God created me to be. I spent many years considering ministry but could never “see” myself in pastoral ministry. When I began working for an ecumenical organization counseling with clergy I realized I had found my place. My life has certainly had its bumps, disappointments as well as joys but I am much more connected to God because of the healing and forgiveness I have experienced. Today, I work a 12 step program in recovery from an eating disorder. One of the things I commit to in my program is to abstain from negative thinking and the other most important is to be of service to others.
Bo Lane
That’s great news, Sheryl. Thanks for the comment and for sharing a part of your story. God’s not done with either of us yet!
beazenuttz
I don’t agree. How can you serve someone when they do not respect you? I’ve tried. And now I am tired of trying. I walked away from the ministry fourteen years ago and the denomination I left is worse off theologically than when I left. I’m no longer sure I want to remain even as a member.
Bo Lane
My suggestion: find someone else to serve. There are many people out there doing great things for the Kingdom. And they’re always looking for help. I’m sure you can relate since you were once in ministry. Find someone else. Serve them. Thanks for the comment and for engaging on the site!
Phil Foster
I am certain we don’t always understand what God is doing when we experience “failure.” I am reminded of what C.S.Lewis said, “God doesn’t call us to success, He calls us to obedience. Success and failure are up to Him.” I can appreciate the frustration of working with difficult people, and not always being appreciated for what I have to say. After all, I am a psychologist. I try to remind myself that Jesus worked with a similar crowd. I always try to assure those I work with that even though we don’t see any good we may have done, if God called you to be there, He had a purpose. Trust that if you were obedient to your call, you did a good work. You may need a rest after spending yourself in such a situation, but please trust in what Bo is saying. God isn’t done. There is a need for what you have to offer. Godspeed.
Bo Lane
Thanks for the comment and encouragement, Phil. Your quote reminded me of what Churchill once said. I was going to include it in this article but it didn’t make the cut. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
Tony Bolen
Thanks for the encouraging words!
Bo Lane
No problem, Tony. Thanks for the comment. Stay encouraged, brother.
Phil Foster
Or, as another famous dignitary once said, “Nothing’s so unnerving as a servant who’s not serving.”–Lumiere, “Beauty and the Beast”
Bo Lane
Doesn’t get better than Beauty and the Beast, or so I’m told. I’ve yet to see it.
Bart Breen
Very true and encouraging words. I left ministry about 10 years ago, voluntarily in part because I needed to care better for my family and ministry with its constant moves and political maneuvering which was just too much for us.
My view of church and clergy has has changed now to a more anabaptist perspective where there is no clergy/laity division, but despite those changes in views I see a lot of what you’re saying here applying not just to “fallen” or “ex-clergy” but in general how we treat one another in the body of Christ across the board.
I’d be open I suppose in the right circumstances to returning to formal ministry (though it’s not likely) but the biggest shift I’ve had since leaving is that I no longer want anything to do with “country club” churches where saints wear masks and try to convince themselves and the world outside that they have no problems and their poop doesn’t stink.
No way.
Give me a hospital with confessed and open sinners who aren’t afraid to drop their mask, and love others coming in who are no better or no worse than they are. In fact, I’d even not worry about hierarchy in churches if that attitude and practice were truly there.
I just haven’t ever really seen it at work before and until I do, Institutional Church and the role of clergy in them, just don’t seem that important to me anymore.
Bo Lane
Great thoughts, Bart. And thanks for the comment. There could be an argument made on the state of the institutional church. And I’m not sure which side would win, to be honest. But I guess the more important thing, like you mentioned, is putting a greater focus and investment in our families and our ministries.
Abba Poemen the Ubermensch
If God _were_ done: the conditional form of _to be_ is not _was_.
Enjoying your site very much, BTW.
Michael Pierce
Mr. Lane, I have sent you a PM via Facebook. I wasn’t sure if you were still on or not. Thanks for your time!