Getting started in a first pastorate

Let them contact you. You may appear forward/pushy/ambitious otherwise.

 

Do not initiate contact. Even sending a resume on your own can be received poorly (Unless it's standard practice, but those are few and very far between). Let your D.O.M. work, and above all let God work. Many pastors try to elbow their way in. These men are not fit for the pulpit.

 

Right now I am wrestling with Acts 16:9-10. I am in a crisis of whether to remain with this church or move on. For a week now, I have been praying and meditating on this text, wondering what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to me.

I encourage you to pray, talk with your family, with other trusted pastors, and wait on the Lord's leading.

 

Sometimes, God gives you a clear indication of what you are supposed to do. Sometimes not.

Some churches want you to initiate contact, some don't.

There's no easy answer, other than to pray and listen.

 

I wouldn't contact the churches but I would probably contact the DOM's that you sent the resumes to. They probably receive lots of resumes from people. Make certain that they know you and that they can actually recommend you.

 

Hey, great to hear that God is at work in your life and leading you. I have to concur with the rest of the board, you don't want to be out of place in an arena where you are very much under the microscope.
I see you are in MS (i went to college in MS, it is my 2nd birth home) so you may want to contact the MS Baptist Convention Board if you are SBC, they do have a resume referral service.

And if you are open to moving, i along with others on this board i'm sure would be willing to submit your resume in our local areas.

God bless as you seek His will.

 

All I can say is that God got me moving. Pray, talk to trusted Godly men, and contact the D.O.M.s you sent the resumes to. Let them know you are following up and ask for an opportunity to meet them. Like others have said, if you are interested in moving, let us know because we may be able to assist. I know of 3 churches that have empty pulpits. Of course they are in small N. Michigan towns near Oscoda and West Branch region. Bi-vocational is the watchword around here, just because the towns are small so the churches are too. I have been blessed with growth from 8 to about 50 since oct 2004.

Again, network with friends too. Most churches will be more likely to consider a candidate if they are referred by someone they know and trust. It is also good for the candidate to be careful that they can trust the church. No details, but I got burned pretty badly when I started in 2004. Check the church out and be sure that God is placing you.

 

One thought comes to mind. Put aside the thought of pastoral ministry and simply ask for an opportunity to pulpit supply, even for a Sunday, in one of those churches without a pastor. This presents an opportunity to make yourself familiar with the churches and the churches familiar with you.

The pastoral call will follow in God's good time. Surely an association's secretary will provide the needed information to the churches, and this is the best reference you can have.

Cheers, and God bless in your desires,

Jim

 

There are many out there who have already graduated from seminary and are dnot pastoring churches. In contrast there are those who are doing a lot of ministry who are unlicensed and not ordained.

Do not wait for ministry to come to you. Begin to disciple people you already know in the community where you live. If you cannot disciple people where you live now what makes you think you will be an effective pastor somewhere else?

The fact is that almost every man who graduates from seminary and pastors a church will not be pastoring ten years later. When a man becomes a pastor his contacts are typically reduced to about 1/2 of when he was not pastoring.

Good churches and mission organizations are looking for people who can make disciples. A number of churches are just looking for a "pastor."