Every pastor needs at least one good pastor friend.

I'm thankful to serve and have served in churches with a good number of staff members I consider not only co-laborers, but friends. It's a blessing to do ministry with people you actually enjoy being with each week. I also don't buy into the myth pastors can't have friends who attend the church. Some of my best friends have been church members.

But, I also have several good friends who are pastors in other churches. And, it's like gold in my pocket for me.

Just like only a police officer can fully understand the work of another police officer, or only a nurse can fully understand the work of another nurse—only a pastor can fully understand the work of another pastor.

Again, not to say a pastor shouldn't have friends who aren't pastors. Absolutely. I have many.

But, every pastor needs at least one pastor friend.

A part of my online presence affords me the tremendous opportunity to interact with dozens of pastors every month. One thing I've observed in recent years is that many of the pastors I encounter aren't really looking for advice on how to lead a church. They are looking for a friend.

Sadly, many pastors don't have any friends—not the kind who know them well enough to speak into their lives. Perhaps even sadder is some don't seem to want one until they really need one.

And, I don't know all the reasons pastors avoid close friendships. (I know some, which may be the subject of another post.) But, so many pastors—in large churches and small churches—feel isolated in ministry.

I know some large church pastors who don't even socialize or know their church staff. I know some smaller church pastors who don't have anyone else serving with them during the week and haven't made friendships with pastors outside their church.

It simply isn't healthy. And, it's probably not sustainable. Isolation almost always leads to something undesirable, whether ineffectiveness or total destruction.

4 Reasons Every Pastor Needs a Good Pastor Friend

Companionship

"Two are better than one." (Eccl. 4:9) Let me be clear that my wife is my closest companion and should be. But I need pastor friends who understand the uniqueness of my role. They laugh at the same things I laugh at—and some days, all you can do is laugh, right? They understand the unique burden of being a pastor. They understand the pressure of "Sunday's coming".

And, on those hopefully rare days when I simply don't feel like being anyone's pastor (and only a pastor really understands those days) they understand that too and are not offended by me saying it. I'm not trying to be cute with words, but I need a "buddy" in ministry. (And, I'm thankful I have several.)

Remember, pastors, even Jesus asked the disciples to sit with and pray with Him.

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" (Prov. 17:17).

Protection

I did some professional counseling for a few years. I wasn't very good at it, but, one helpful thing in counseling was the ability to glean from one another in certain situations. Pastors encounter issues routinely, which don't need to be handled alone.

We are in strange days of ethical reviews and scrutinization of everything we say online, behind the podium on Sunday and in the hallways of church. And, certainly while some of this is good and needed change, we simply can't do this alone anymore and be successful long-term.

We are going to need to "compare notes" more with other pastors—and not just about how to build teams or plan services.

Iron sharpening.

"Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend" (Prov. 27:17).

Biblical insight. Idea critiques. Brainstorming. Best practice sharing. All those and so many more. We can learn best from those who are attempting to do what we are attempting to do.

Accountability

One the many reasons we need accountability is, as pastors, we could hide if we wanted. We have flexible schedules. We can always claim we were meeting with people. We could be "preparing for Sunday." There are lots of conferences and events we can go to almost weekly.

Frankly, and I know this is a hard word mostly if it's needed, but I know too many pastors who are hiding out because their real world is harder than they expected it to be. The demands upon them seem bigger than they can do at times. (And, they feel no one understands.)

Pastors, we need people in our life who know our life, and the demands of ministry, but can hold us accountable to our calling and work and speak into the deepest places of our life and work. As pastors, we aren't usually lacking people who can offer criticism, but every pastor needs a good pastor friend who can encourage us regularly, but also correct us in a healthy way when needed. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful" (Prov. 27:6).

Pastor, you need a pastor friend. And, as much as I love connecting via internet, certainly I am limited in my ability to "friend" everyone I encounter. You need one, two or three friends who you can get in a car or jump on a plane and actually spend some time with frequently.

And, to find one, for many pastors, it will take an intentional effort. It won't happen just because you want it to happen. To make a friend you'll have to be a friend. Take some positive steps. Ask a pastor to join you with coffee. Go through several pastors if you have to until you find the right one.

And, certainly (here's a great place for prayer), ask God to guide you, help you discern and give you the encouragement to seek out a friendship with another pastor.

I'm pulling for you.

Ron Edmondson is the senior pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky.

This article originally appeared at ronedmondson.com.

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