--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A pastor who does not pray daily for his…" description: "\"A pastor who does not pray daily for his congregation is not a pastor.\" — Dietrich Bonhoeffer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_congregation_a-pastor-who-does-not-pray-daily-for-his_2389911.jpg" --- # A pastor who does not pray daily for his congregation is… ![“A pastor who does not pray daily for his congregation is not a pastor.” quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_congregation_a-pastor-who-does-not-pray-daily-for-his_2389911.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_congregation_a-pastor-who-does-not-pray-daily-for-his_2389911.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_congregation_a-pastor-who-does-not-pray-daily-for-his_2389911.jpg) > “A pastor who does not pray daily for his congregation is not a pastor.” [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A pastor must pray daily for his flock; neglecting this duty means he fails his role. **In simple terms:** Pastors need daily prayer for their people. Key Takeaway Prioritize daily intercession for those you lead. Themes faith leadership spirituality Mood reflective serious Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - church leadership - personal spiritual practice - mentoring - community care Key Concepts pastoral duty prayer discipline Questions to Reflect On - How does personal prayer shape your leadership? - What barriers stop you from praying for others? A Different Perspective If a pastor is overwhelmed, daily prayer may be unrealistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Congregation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congregation/) [Congregation Pastor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congregation-pastor-5949847/) [Daily Congregation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daily-congregation-1470368/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Pastor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pastor/) [Pastor Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pastor-does-1470367/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) ## Related quotes > [“A congregation that does not pray for the ministry of its pastor,” Bonhoeffer warns, “is no longer a congregation.”11 He then adds, “A pastor who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/a-congregation-that-does-not-pray-for-the-ministry-of-its-pastor/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [The most important thing a pastor does is stand in a pulpit every Sunday and say, 'Let us worship God.' If that ceases to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/the-most-important-thing-a-pastor-does-is-stand-in-a-pulpit-every/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [The assumption behind any theology that I've ever been familiar with is that there is a profound beauty in being, simply in itself. Poetry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/the-assumption-behind-any-theology-that-i-ve-ever-been-familiar-with/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer, before taking off his prison garb, kneeling on the floor praying fervently to his God. I was most deeply moved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/i-saw-pastor-bonhoeffer-before-taking-off-his-prison-garb-kneeling-on/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [That's a big fear, right, and when I talk with black pastors, the same thing: If we try to have this move towards interracial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/that-s-a-big-fear-right-and-when-i-talk-with-black-pastors-the-same/) [Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/) > [I am a pastor, and I teach and preach the Bible to my congregation every week. But the Bible is not a manufacturer's handbook.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-hamilton/i-am-a-pastor-and-i-teach-and-preach-the-bible-to-my-congregation/) [Adam Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hamilton/) > [Ideally, a good pastor wants to empower a congregation to the point where they don't need him. You want everyone to leave feeling better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/ideally-a-good-pastor-wants-to-empower-a-congregation-to-the-point/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [I am a follower of Jesus Christ. The Bible is my primary way of knowing Him and what it means to follow Him. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-hamilton/i-am-a-follower-of-jesus-christ-the-bible-is-my-primary-way-of/) [Adam Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hamilton/) > [A group is as healthy as its 'social contract' is clear; a congregation as faithful as its covenant is mutually understood; a pastor as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-group-is-as-healthy-as-its-social-contract-is-clear-a-congregation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think a pastor used to be viewed as the one-stop ministry shop. 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Fortunately, there have always been pastors who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/theology-is-not-a-private-subject-for-theologians-only-nor-is-it-a/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [I go farther, and say, that it is plainly our duty to desire pastors and teachers to take the care of such congregations, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nelson-darby/i-go-farther-and-say-that-it-is-plainly-our-duty-to-desire-pastors/) [John Nelson Darby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-nelson-darby/) > [It can be difficult to be an introvert in church, especially if you happen to be the pastor. Liking to be alone can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-brown-taylor/it-can-be-difficult-to-be-an-introvert-in-church-especially-if-you/) [Barbara Brown Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-brown-taylor/) > [The pastors and ministry leaders came away energized to have voter registration drives at their churches and motivated to encourage their congregations to "vote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-smith/the-pastors-and-ministry-leaders-came-away-energized-to-have-voter/) [Paul Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-smith/) ## More by Dietrich Bonhoeffer > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [...Gratitude transforms the torment of memory of good things now gone into silent joy. 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This is the true catholic church that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-is-only-one-church-the-church-of-faith-ruled-by-the-word-of/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“As Christians, we needn’t be at all ashamed of some impatience, longing, opposition to what is unnatural, and our full share of desire for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/as-christians-we-needn-t-be-at-all-ashamed-of-some-impatience-longing/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/those-who-love-their-dream-of-a-christian-community-more-than-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“From now on there can be no more wars of faith. The only way to overcome our enemy is by loving him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/from-now-on-there-can-be-no-more-wars-of-faith-the-only-way-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The scriptures do not present us with a series of Christian types to be imitated according to choice; they preach to us in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-scriptures-do-not-present-us-with-a-series-of-christian-types-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/we-are-not-to-simply-bandage-the-wounds-of-victims-beneath-the-wheels/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) [Explore all 711 Dietrich Bonhoeffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## More Congregation quotes > [Wherever God erects a house of prayer the Devil always builds a chapel there; And 't will be found, upon examination, the latter has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/wherever-god-erects-a-house-of-prayer-the-devil-always-builds-a/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-north/and-he-that-blasphemeth-the-name-of-the-lord-he-shall-surely-be-put/) [Gary North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-north/) > [When we see the many grave-stones which have fallen in, which have been defaced by the footsteps of the congregation, which lie buried under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/when-we-see-the-many-grave-stones-which-have-fallen-in-which-have/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [A group is as healthy as its 'social contract' is clear; a congregation as faithful as its covenant is mutually understood; a pastor as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-group-is-as-healthy-as-its-social-contract-is-clear-a-congregation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To see with one's own eyes, to feel and judge without succumbing to the suggestive power of the fashion of the day, to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/to-see-with-one-s-own-eyes-to-feel-and-judge-without-succumbing-to/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [But I think it's up to a local congregation to determine whether or not a marriage should be blessed of God. And it shouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/but-i-think-it-s-up-to-a-local-congregation-to-determine-whether-or/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [Preachers are stewards whom the Lord has ‘set over his household servants to provide them with food at the proper time.’ After all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-farrar-capon/preachers-are-stewards-whom-the-lord-has-set-over-his-household/) [Robert Farrar Capon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-farrar-capon/) > [I think it's of huge importance to us as worship leaders...to ask ourselves these two questions: What were the words we put into our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-getty/i-think-it-s-of-huge-importance-to-us-as-worship-leaders-to-ask/) [Keith Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-getty/) > [If my life is any example, the work that youth workers are doing is very, very important. 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Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) [Browse all 242 Congregation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congregation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A pastor who does not pray daily for his congregation is not a pastor.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dietrich Bonhoeffer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/a-pastor-who-does-not-pray-daily-for-his-congregation-is-not-a-pastor/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Congregation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/a-pastor-who-does-not-pray-daily-for-his-congregation-is-not-a-pastor/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_congregation_a-pastor-who-does-not-pray-daily-for-his_2389911.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_congregation_a-pastor-who-does-not-pray-daily-for-his_2389911.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_congregation_a-pastor-who-does-not-pray-daily-for-his_2389911.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A pastor who does not pray daily for his congregation is not a pastor.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dietrich Bonhoeffer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A pastor who does not pray...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/a-pastor-who-does-not-pray-daily-for-his-congregation-is-not-a-pastor/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/a-pastor-who-does-not-pray-daily-for-his-congregation-is-not-a-pastor/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```