Sailors, Saints, & Sinners

Hanging Tough (Part 2)

Because ministry is tough we’ve all got to find a way to hang tough in order to last.  I hear so many stories of people no longing in full-time ministry.  The stats of people who enter ministry and then leave are staggering.  I want to be in this for the long haul.  I want to finish well.  I don’t want to be a “one hit wonder” (remember “Achy Breaky Heart“?).  I still have a lot to learn in this area but here are some things that have helped me.

• Celebrate wins.  Share stories of life change.  Listen to the people God puts in your path to encourage you and build you up.  I am convinced that the devil can make a few sound like many.   My tendency can be to get over critical and dwell on the stuff I/we messed up or on what the critical few are saying.  However, there is SO MUCH good God stuff going on that deserves celebrating … heaven throws a massive party every time someone gets saved … maybe there is a lesson for us down here on earth!?
• Staff well.  Boy, have we learned this one the hard way.  We allowed our staff to attendance ratio to get dangerously high and most of our staff was on the verge of burnout.  Staffing well allows for margin and margin is often where I hear from God and am most productive in my thinking. 
  • The Executive Pastor:  Let me say that for me personally as the Lead Pastor hiring Aaron Gable as our Executive Pastor was a great hire for both selfish reasons and strategic reasons.  First, he and I have great chemistry and think VERY much alike when it comes to church operations.  Our approaches and thought ‘processes’ are different (a good thing) but our goal is the same (also a good thing).  Aaron has freed me up to spend more time with God on the mountain, to focus on preaching and leading, and to be a better husband.  Here are the practicals of what Aaron does:
    • Oversees our discipleship and involvement processes including small groups and Inquirer’s Lunch.  (I used to do this and it got no where near the attention it deserved or demands.  Producing disciples is central to the Great Commission and churches cannot neglect this.)
    • Supervises the majority of the ministers on staff and the office/support staff.  (Again, I used to do this but the reality was I was not available to train, coach, mentor, correct, and encourage them like they needed.  Aaron leads most of our staff meetings on a weekly basis.  I lead a once-a-month all staff meeting.)
    • Oversees the hiring of new staff/personnel (and if needed, the firing of personnel).
    • Assists with any counseling, pastoral care, and meetings.
    • Leadership development and overall church strategies/systems to accomplish the vision we have as a church.
• Have a true Sabbath.  Early on in the church planting process, Beth & I carved out Mondays as our day.  90% of the time we do something together that has nothing to do with church.  We are very strict about this.  When RBCC first started I was going to go to seminary in Atlanta every Monday.  That meant waking up at 0430, driving through commuter traffic, going to class for 6-8 hours, and driving back home through commuter traffic.  That lasted 2 weeks.  I honestly believe that we would have lost either our marriage, our ministry, or our minds had I kept that up. 
• Get a hobby or have a ‘toy’.  Again, something that allows me to relax my mind (which tends to never stop thinking or strategizing about church).  I lift weights.  Beth is taking up horseback riding.  We have a Sea Doo   We like to watch movies.  Nothing complicated, but I think those ‘mindless’ activities are healthy and wise for us to remain strong in ministry.
• Wise Counsel.  Rock Bridge has been blessed from before we launched to now to have wise people on our team either as Elders, Staff members, or financial gurus.  Their collective wise counsel has helped us navigate many obstacles and cleared many paths for our church to continue to move forward aggressively pursuing God’s vision for us.  Many pastors have to worry about financial accounting, purchase orders, budgets, etc. — I don’t.  90% of any renovation project or remodeling we have done has been managed by non-staff members in our church — again this allows us to focus on ministry.  Also, our Elders have ALWAYS encouraged me and expected me to prepare, study, read, and pray BEFORE anything else.  They understand the role of a Lead/Teaching Pastor.  When my time in prayer and study ever slacked off to the growing demands in a growing church, we have hired additional staff. 
• Pray as God’s child FIRST.  Too many times I have spent time in prayer as a pastor first and as God’s child second.  This is both sinful and stupid.  I will always be God’s child.  I will not always be a pastor.  I have learned that being hungry and passionate for God on a personal level, precedes being passionate and hungry for God on a pastoral/leadership level.  (In other words, preparing for a sermon does not count as my daily devotional time.)  Personal prayer helps guard my heart, maintains my perspective, and keeps my focus on Christ above all else … when those things (heart, perspective, and focus) are right, then ministry is much easier and easier to be enjoyed like it should be.