Public Policy Issues Get Print Edition HOME Guestbook Resource Center Online Donations Lessons in Perfection and Grace by Andrea Vinley Joseph Taff was a Pentecostal preacher who worked six days a week building farm machinery and four nights and Sundays at church. That s all he knew. Calif. Years into his ministry, however, Joseph succumbed to the seductive power of alcohol, a problem he d had before he knew Christ. Though Joseph led his church more than 30 years ago, many pastors today have similar struggles or feel alone in their service for God.
Some churches never show their clergy any appreciation.
Some other congregations esteem their pastors so highly that when they fall, they find themselves at the bottom alone. After a severe welding accident at work, Joseph turned to drink. So he hid it as long as he could. His family didn t talk about it either. But when the church discovered the drinking, out went Joseph and his family.