Rev. Dr. Devin Strong

Spirit of Peace Lutheran Church

According to Google, only nine percent of us complete our plans when we resolve to take up self-improvement, like exercising more regularly, eating better, or reading more books.

But just tell someone out loud what you are working on, and the chances that you’ll succeed jump to 65%; get someone to join you in your healthy endeavor, and the chances that both of you will actually do what you set out to do are 95-98%!

We know from our masochistic experiences with failed New Year’s resolutions that solo journeys are usually doomed. That’s why Weight Watchers has weigh-ins, AA has sponsors, and our Lutheran Church assigns mentors to new pastors and new church-planters. Accountability and partnership make all the difference.

I learned this first-hand in early 2023. At that point I had more than 30 years of professional ministry behind me, and I was tired, but the congregation was in no position to offer me a full sabbatical. Fortunately, I read in our denominational newsletter that our synod had small grants available to pastors for a mini sabbatical that they called a “respite.” I applied immediately (!) and was given the grant, on one condition. I had to find an accountability partner.

The synod wanted to help me unlearn some of the bad habits that made me so tired in the first place.

I reached out to my dear friend and fellow Lutheran pastor Jason Tallsness about walking with me in this effort toward selfcare, and we have been meeting monthly ever since.

The questions that we ask each other in our sessions are hardly rocket science. We talk about our recent successes in ministry as well as our challenges. We ask how our congregations have supported us in the past month and how we need them to support us.

Importantly, we ask each other how we have cared for ourselves since we last talked. We ask about our respective relationships with God. We check in on each other’s families, and we ask how we can be praying for each other in the coming month. That’s it, but I absolutely cherish these monthly chats. They make me feel loved and cared about, and best of all, I make better decisions each month because I know that Jason is going to ask me about my choices. Ironically, even when we are willing to let ourselves down, we don’t want to let a friend down, and we definitely don’t want to get called out for staying stuck in a rut!

One of my dreams is that everyone reading this article will find an accountability partner for their Christian walk.

Imagine how many lives could be changed for the better! So how do you want to grow as a disciple? What would a closer relationship to Jesus look like for you? Which of your gifts are going unused in God’s kingdom?

For whom does the Lord need you to step up right now?

I say grab a trusted friend and start talking about these important questions and others besides. Accountability is the difference between a pipe dream and an action plan, between wishful thinking and honest-to-God-progress. People say that they can believe in Jesus without church, and that’s true – but I say that Jesus never intended for us to walk through this tough life alone. Partnership is what the church is for, and accountability changes lives.