Advice for a new pastor

Move your mind from the "Youth Pastor" mentality, to the "Senior Pastor" mentality. Be careful not to treat the church like your youth group. Because you have two years experience already that will be a big plus for you.

Secondly, I would say work hard to earn the respect and trust of the church. Though they voted you in they will be watching you closely to make sure "they" did not miss the will of God.

Congratulations and God bless as you endeavor on this new ministry.

 

Congratulations. Develop thick skin. Focus on, and personally practice, evangelism. Maintain your integrity. Determine to please one person: God. Laugh a lot.

 

Clarify your own vision as to what needs to happen in the church, and pursue it -- rapidly when you can, incrementally when you must -- but hold on to and teach regularly that vision.

Work on things like administration, preaching preparation, teaching preparation well in advance, so that when emergencies arise (and they will!) you are not caught in a dilemma about whether you have time to respond to the emergency need.

When you sense a human/spiritual need, don't sit around waiting for the person involved to approach you for help. Approach that person in a gentle, caring spirit.

Things I learned, sometimes the hard way, over a twenty-year pastorate!

 

Tim..........The only advise I can give you is ...pray,pray, and keep on praying that God will direct your path as you lead out in this new church.

 

Best message I heard regarding this came from Alex Montoya at The Shepherd's Conference.
Changing Your Church Without Your Church Changing You

If you go to https://www.gracechurch.org/shepnew/mp3dl1.asp?dlyear=2002&cur_lang=1&search=

and select 2002 as the conference year it's available in mp3 format download.

Here's the outline notes, but you really need to hear the message:
http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/SC03-1054CDNotes.htm

My $0.02:
Don't try to make changes yourself without laying the biblical groundwork through preaching. Teach the word and let the leadership/congregation come to the conclusion biblically when things need changed.

 

Do not come in with an agenda to change all kind of things. Come in with a heart to preach God's Word and Love the people in your church. Build relationships and trust with people.

 

I echo pastorsbc-----A wise old pastor told me 25 years ago as I began pastoring----"Preach The Word and Love The People". That has been the intent of my heart in the three churches ive pastored and all three have been wonderful experiences, even in tough times. God bless you as you following His call TinyTim.

Bro Tony

 

Protect your family time. Be yourself, and pick your "fights" wisely. Thick skin is always a plus too.

 

From Alex Montoya's Lecture Notes:
Notice some very wise people here have already echoed many of his points:

II. THE DO’S OF THE EARLY YEARS
Some key suggestions to keep in mind in finding that first church and succeeding in the early years of ministry.
A. Do find a church compatible with your doctrinal statement and with your philosophy of ministry.
· Unequally yoked marriages do not last
· Success comes through harmony
B. Do plan to stay for the long haul (unless its prearranged)
· Shows commitment to the church
· Demands commitment from the church
C. Do love your people
· Your greatest virtue (cp. I Cor. 3:1ff.)
· Creates community
· Covers a multitude of sins (yours and theirs)
· The key to everything else
D. Do practice Biblical ministry
· Expect Biblical ministry
· Explain the basis for Biblical ministry
· Execute Biblical ministry
E. Do dedicate yourself to the main tasks-Acts 2:42; 5:42; 6:4
· Clarify the main tasks
· Advance the ministry
· Avoid sidetracks
F. Do equip the saints for ministry-Eph. 4:11-16
· Goal of the ministry
· Role of the minister
· Role of the people
G. Do establish vision and goals
· Know what you need to do
· Know where you want to go
· Know how you plan to get there
H. Do empower people and delegate duties-Exod.18
· Avoids burnout
· Avoids dissatisfaction
· Avoids frustration
· Avoids stagnation
I. Do the work of an evangelist
· Mandated
· Means of growing the church
· Model for the church
J. Do continue learning
· Ministry perfects what does work
· Ministry purifies what doesn’t work
· Areas of enhancement:
(1) people skills
(2) leadership and administration
(3) preaching
(4) evangelism
III. THE DON’TS OF THE EARLY (AND LATER) YEARS
A. Don’t underestimate the magnitude of the task
“Ministry is hard work which demands that we work hard.”
B. Don’t try to change everything all at once
· Change takes time
· People resist change
· Some things do not need to change
“Love people, disciple the saints, win the lost; all else is baggage.”
C. Don’t neglect your family or yourself
“If you lose your family or your health, you’ve lost your ministry.”
D. Don’t plunge yourself or your church into debt.
“Money does strange things to people.”
E. Don’t engage in needless battles.
“Pick the hill you intend to die on.”
F. Don’t criticize the previous administration
“Look forward; never look back except to learn or to laud.”
G. Don’t capitulate your leadership
“Stay in the driver’s seat.”
H. Don’t run from problems
“Problems do not run from you. They must be solved.”
I. Don’t let people get you down
“Learn to forgive and forget.”
J. Don’t just focus on the problems. Look for small victories
“Inspire yourself.”


APPLICATION: Do a check list above to see which of these we are breaking and which of these we are neglecting. Ask a close friend or church member to also evaluation your ministry in light of these lists.

 

I ditto Dr. Bob.....
Also no matter how young you are do not compromise your biblical convictions! EVER!

 

Good friend of mine pointed out that a pastor is not the pastor until he has been there about 3 to 5 years, depending on the church. It will take that long for the people to begin identifying with you as their pastor, so take things slowly. All your ideas and thoughts about what you would like to see changed should be the "idea" of one of the influential men of the church. If he buys into your vision of what God has laid on your heart then life will be much easier.

Preach the truth of the Word without reservation. Never back down from what God has given us through His Word.

 

Pick up a book by Kent Philpot titled For Pastors of Small Churches.

Here's a link to a little info on it:
http://www.earthenvessel.net/bpastors.html

It's a good read. He may see a few things differently than i do, but his advice is born from many years as the pastor of a small church.

In Christ,
Trotter

EDIT: Oh, and congratulations!

 

One thing I have to suggest is make sure you get all the Administration stuff settled and going good in the beginning. It might take a bit more time to get it all settled, but it means less headache later on.

 

2 Timothy 4:1-5

Joseph Botwinick

 

I can't speak as a Pastor but as a senior Marine leader who moves every 3 yrs and has to start over with new superiors and subordinates I can offer this advice. Wait & Watch! Never develop your own agenda until you can properly assess your people, your environment, your strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes people "hear" or have preconcepts about a certain situation and want to make changes to 'fix' these issues but in the process without sufficient observation...more problems are the result. So give yourself ample time to observe and then make changes or as I prefer "tweak" things after this observation. I normal use 30-60 days depending on if I'm familiar with some of the people or the leaders. Even though you are coming in as the Pastor you still need to observe the lay leaders and get a feel for the people. I would say that you don't want to appear weak or uncertain so if a challenge arises you can meet this within a limited scope but still take the 'just be observant' approach.