Lessons Learned
Submitted by John on April 13, 2008 - 8:46pm.
- Sunday comes every 7 days! Brilliant isn’t it? I love preaching and the pressure of preparation, staying sharp, looking for illustrations and hearing from God each week. I was made for this job! It is both a calling and a consuming fire in my soul. Be faithful in you teaching of God’s Word; it pays eternal dividends.
- People take priority over programs. You reach families one person at a time. I love the pastoral attention I can give my people. I am enjoying hanging out, going to baseball games, meeting neighbors. It is all about the relationships. It is fun being a “pastor” again.
- Develop your leaders, don’t just talk about it! I meet with my elders every Wednesday morning from 6:15- 8 am. We are reading through the book the Unity Factor by Larry Osborne. Great times of prayer, discussion and decision making. I am doing a training thing for our ministry leaders (about 25 people) at the end of June. We are focusing on our mission and vision. We see that equipping our core is essential as we build the base for future growth.
- Transitions can be stressful on your marriage! Cheryl and I finally moved 3 weeks ago after over 2 months of commuting 83 miles one way. Buying a house and turning our current home into a rental property caused us to employ all our best communication skills. Divorce was never uttered but murder was contemplated! J We have committed to try and pray every day together. If you haven’t ever done that in your marriage…. it is harder than you think!
- Take the time to grieve the loss of your former ministry. We had 6 great years (well maybe 4…J)at YL Friends. The commuting actually allowed us to disengage in a very healthy way. Cheryl finished up at YLFC on May 27 and we moved to Moorpark on May 29th. The relationships we had there won’t be rebuilt over night. Sometimes it is lonely, but mostly we are in awe about how quickly we have adapted and how welcoming our new church is.
- Solitude as a “solo” pastor is refreshing. I don’t get interruptions, I don’t sign payment approvals, the phone doesn’t ring, I actually get time to think, and my fear of being isolated hasn’t proven to be an issue. I enjoy the long hours of silence, reflection and study. I actually think I am hearing God more clearly today than ever in my life.
- I am finding the balance between being healthy productivity vs. unhealthy busyness. I don’t have an assistant, only 2 part time staff…children’s and worship, no church building and yet everything seems to get done. I am very focused and have to prioritize like crazy, but it in the end the truly important things seem to get done!
- Patience and timing are new vocabulary words for me. I am learning that there will be times when I just can’t move forward, because we don’t have the resources or manpower to do something. We pray, we wait, and we listen. I want it now…God wants it when He chooses! I am finding when I wait, instead of “pushing” my agenda that the end result is equally satisfying.
- Ask probing questions, instead of making declarative statements. The phrase, “help me understand what you were thinking” is a powerful statement that frees people up to share their heart and doesn’t put them in a defensive posture. Most of my people expect that I have a point of view, but I want to start with their concerns not mine.
- Take God seriously, but not yourself! It is fun to laugh and enjoy ministry, not just endure it. Laughing is so much more therapeutic than crying! I realize that things won’t always go as planned, so I have to be more flexible and just let go.
Right on John, transitions
Right on John, transitions are definitely something to grow from.