Last week (Oct. 27, 2025) Ellen and I attended a beautiful banquet, prepared and served by Grace Today Ministries for pastors, missionaries, Christian workers, and wives. It was hosted by Lew Hunter, Founder and President of Grace Today Ministries, and his wife Pam. Designed as a gesture of genuine appreciation for God’s servants in vocational ministries, it was the 8th such banquet. The delicious meal and dynamic message—plus Christ-honoring music—all came at “no charge” to any of the guests.
Dr. Bud Steadman, Missions Mentor and former Executive Director of Baptist World Mission, delivered a stirring Bible message from the Gospel of Mark. Brother Hunter presented a Faithful Servant’s Award to Rev. Wayne Denton, the President of Indiana Baptist College. The fellowship around the beautifully decorated tables as we enjoyed the scrumptious food was, as one might expect, rich! I hope that, if you live within distance of this banquet venue next October, you will put it on your calendar as a “must do!” There were 80 adult guests, so it is growing each year. Appropriately, the banquet was held in October—a month set aside by many as “Pastors Appreciation Month.”
Now, no matter where you live, as a Grace Today board member, I’d like to introduce you to this ministry of helps that Lew Hunter was burdened to start several yeas ago. His introductory brochure says, “There are many needs in the lives of pastors, servants, and churches today. One of the greatest needs is that of encouragement. The burdens of ministry are heavy and the pressures our people face are difficult. Let’s face it, we live in trying times. Pastors, their families, and churches need the sweet encouragement of God’s Word.”
He continues, “Pam and I are grateful for the journeys which God has carried us through. He has given us the opportunity to minister in a number of settings. Through them we have learned the burdens are real, the struggles are great, yet God’s grace is sufficient. All too often though, Pastors feel they have nowhere to turn, and no one to share their innermost struggles with. Grace Today Ministries seeks to meet these needs through preaching/teaching, personal counsel, writing and music; all with the understanding that it is the Bible, God’s Word, which holds the answer to all our needs.”
In another section, Brother Hunter highlights the severity of the problems that are surfacing today in ministries and in the lives of ministers:
- 80% of pastors feel they are on call 24/7
- 80% of pastors believe ministry has negatively impacted their families
- 65% of pastors feel they have not taken enough vacation time with their family
- 22% of pastor’s spouses report the ministry places undue expectations on the family
- 95% of pastors report not praying daily with their spouses
- 57% of pastors report being unable to pay their bills
- 54% of pastors find the role of a pastor overwhelming
- 40% of pastors report a serious conflict with a church member at least once over the past year
- 35% of pastors battle depression or fears of inadequacy
- 26% of pastors report feeling fatigued
- 27% report not having someone to turn to for help in a crisis situation
- 34% of pastors wrestle with the temptation of pornography—or visit pornographic sites
- 57% of pastors feel fulfilled yet discouraged, stressed, and fatigued
- 84% of pastors desire to have close fellowship with someone they can trust and confide in
- 42% of pastors were thinking of leaving the ministry in 2022
Lew Hunter pleads, “Don’t be a statistic.” He wants to reach out to those who need a helping hand and a hearing heart. You can confide in him and he will give you beneficial and Biblical counsel. There is no cost to you! Lew says, “If you can get to us (the Indianapolis area), we will take care of the rest.” The rest would include housing and meals, etc.
Grace Today Ministries exists to encourage, strengthen and restore. It is endorsed by Brother Hunter’s local church pastor, Bert Bunner of Grace Baptist Church in Coatesville, Indiana; by Dr. Harry Ramsey, Bible Teacher/Evangelist; by Pastor Warren Dafoe, Pastor Emeritus of Crosspointe Baptist Church in Indianapolis; by Pastor Mike Abbott, Brownsburg Baptist Church of Brownsburg, Indiana, and many, many others.
If you (or someone you know and love) need an encouraging word to pull you through a difficult place in your ministry, please contact Brother Lew Hunter at lew@gracetodayministries.org, or call him at (317) 908-9418.
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 15:13)
YOU and GOD 