Is Church Just Another Social Club or Is It Where We Gather to Hear God's Word?

A pastor friend of mine is in trouble.  His church has been dwindling in numbers over the years and now a handful of pillars of the church want to fire him.  Although he is not perfect, I have heard his sermons many times.  He does preach through the biblical texts, and as far as I can tell he does a fine job of it.

Preparing to preach every week is hard enough work.  But managing the administrative end of a church is just as taxing, not to mention the pastoral care side of things.  Visitation has to be done, funds need to be raised.  Evangelism and outreach ministries must be done.

None of this happens overnight.  People have to believe in you and support your ministry if the church is to grow spiritually and add new members on a regular basis.  

On top of all this, the pastor must maintain a healthy relationship with his wife and his children.  Few people in the churches understand how stressful the ministry can be on a minister and his family.  

Please pray for my friend.  I will not call his name or name the church.  But God surely knows, and God does hear our prayers.  (James 5:16 ESV)

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16 NKJ)

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. (Psalm 34:15 NKJ)