by Chuck Monan
from the editors…
There’s an old story about a church that had developed quite the reputation of hiring their preacher every year. As it goes a young man moved there and preached as his first job. At the end of a year he had his resignation statement all typed and ready to go, when they asked him to stay a second year. Shocked but happy, he agreed. Year two ends and he preps to move again. And again they ask him to stay a third year. This went on for five years. At the end of the 5th year he finally decided he had to know why with such a reputation of relieving their preachers after a year he had been invited five years to stay. He asked:
The lead man answered: “Well son, we really didn’t want to tell you, but being you’ve asked I suppose we should. We found out several years ago that our members just can’t stand good preaching…and you’re about the nearest nothing we can find.”
That was our dad’s favorite joke.
It was over 50 years ago that we first heard the theory that the longer a minister stays with a congregation the greater the opportunity for effectiveness, even growth. While there certainly is more to this than simply longevity, it is true that often opportunities for influence in the life of a congregation and community follows a long stay. Therefore in this issue of “The Journal” we celebrate staying toward encouraging you to consider making the effort to do so. Each of our writers have a very long tenure in one place. We hope this edition inspires you. Please pass it on to others.
We moved to San Angelo on Christmas Eve 1977. So this Christmas will mark fortyseven years. I suppose this qualifies me to speak about long-term ministries.
When we moved here I was thirty years old. Patsy was twenty-eight. We had two little girls and the world was a different place than it is now. The streets were the same. The towns had the same names but so much was different.
The congregation was called Colorado and Jackson Street Church of Christ. She had experienced a really hard year. Feelings were raw and prospects were bleak. I really thought we would not be able to stay long but we wanted to.
When I was growing up most preachers’ tenure was a couple of years. My Dad stretched that quite a bit. He would say, “About the time you figure things out, it’s time to move.” So I grew up with the idea that we should put down roots and make a life of it. That is not always possible so in my first nine years preaching we moved three times. But each
By Paul Shero
one was a little longer. The last place we lived, we stayed six years. I made mistakes but learned a lot.
When we moved to San Angelo we were determined to stay if we could. The congregation has gone through a lot. Our numbers have gone up and down. Recently we have been growing again. It is a lot more fun going up the hill than down. We have relocated and we are called Southgate Church of Christ now. Almost no one is left that remembers Santa Rita Church of Christ, the original name. Almost every kind of thing has happened, both good and bad, during those forty-six years. But I am grateful to be here.
I have been asked to list the benefits of long-term ministries. Here is what I have found.
During those years I have worn out five or six Bibles. I can’t even find my favorite version anymore. So I am trying to change (shudder) to a new one. I am older than any of my elders and remember the other minister when he was a baby. But I digress. Here are a few of the benefits:
1. It takes time to really get to know people. There are no short cuts. Walk together, eat together, live together, argue together, pray together and they get to know you. There is no hiding. Time reveals all. We see each other when we are tired, sad, happy, guilty, sick and victorious. Deep beats shallow. I know and they know who and what we are.
2. You must study. Dig deep. If you move every couple of years you can recycle. You don’t have to but you can. This cheats you and those who hear you. Long-term ministries encourage, no, demand deep study. When I started preaching my biggest pressure was finding something to preach about. Now I can’t wait to lift up the Word and the Lord.
3. You get to see the results of your labors. During those years I have seen people come to Christ, grow and develop. Sometimes I have seen their children and children’s children become Christians. I have seen some leave the Lord and then maybe years later come home. Often I have stood at the front during the invitation and seen someone who had resisted God’s call for years step out and come forward. There is no greater joy than to see the result of your efforts. When you stay you are in on the planting and the reaping. You get to see God’s work as it happens.
4. There are other blessings that come with longevity. My children were able to live in the same house and go to the same school and have friendships that
lasted a lifetime. Most Sundays we eat at home; our house, our table with our family and friends.
Because we have been here so long we are known to people we have not met. Almost daily when I introduce myself to people they say, “I know who you are, Preacher.” This means our reputation is larger than it could be otherwise.
As a church we have survived problems that I believe would have been much more difficult to solve if my time with them had been measured in weeks instead of decades. I believe the whole world is in a time of uncertainty. The Sheros represent stability out here.
I am glad I didn’t more when I could. I am glad we stayed here and worked through the problems that came up. And we did it with brothers and sisters that love us and accept us. They are actually excited about the possibility that I may be their preacher for 50 years. Isn’t that something!
Now I am not saying no good comes from short term work. Since everything we do is set on that stage of eternity. Paul planted. Apollos watered. I engage in camps, lectureships, Gospel Meetings and mission trips. All of these are short in duration and have their own set of benefits. But there are blessings that come from long relationships that cannot happen in a few days. If you plant squash, you can see the results in a few weeks but if you plant an oak tree it is going to take a while.
I would encourage you to consider trying to settle down and make your place for the long haul. I believe you will be glad you did.
Since childhood, all I’ve ever wanted to do was be a gospel preacher. My desire to preach was such that, in the middle of my preaching career, I turned down a lucrative offer in the business world that would have doubled my salary in the first year. I have never regretted that decision and this October will be my 49th anniversary as a full-time gospel preacher.
Preaching presented me with a lot of challenges, joys as well as sorrows. But, as I used to tell others, “There are days I wouldn’t leave the pulpit for a million dollars. On the other hand, there are days I’d leave it for a dime.” It has been 53 years since my first sermon and 49 years of full-time preaching…41 of those with the Briensburg church of Christ.
Through the years, I have watched many preachers retire from their responsibilities only to join the fellowship of the “walking dead.” Ministry can be difficult, and many good men choose to leave ministry, altogether. Some are just tired. Others are bitter. Many no longer feel the “fire in their bones” and choose to be nothing more than another man-in-the-pew. In so doing, they take a wealth of knowledge and experience with them that could be used to benefit a local congregation.
My elders and I began a three-year process of planning for my retirement with one caveat: At their request, once another man was in the pulpit, I would continue my work with the congregation, but as an associate minister. Without the burden of weekly sermon preparation, I would be freer to visit, counsel with members, support the new man as he experiences the “newness” and adjustment of full-time work and help initiate programs of work for the congregation. The key word here is “freer.” I was already involved in most of these things but did not have time to do all of them as well as I would like. Accepting “reassignment” made it possible for me to continue in ministry with a salary that supplements my retirement income without having to diminish my savings. In addition to that, my elders have consented for me to work at a local funeral home. This keeps me in contact with the local community and allows me to work with families during one of the most difficult times of life. Thus,
…my “re-aigned” role aows me the opportunity for greater service to my feowman and, potentiay, greater service to God…
my “re-assigned” role allows me the opportunity for greater service to my fellowman and, potentially, greater service to God.
Reassignment keeps me in ministry, but with a different, albeit important, benefit. Previously, sermon preparation consumed a large portion of my time and I was always in a rush to finish the many tasks associated with the work of the church, here. Most weeks ended with plans being made for the next week and wondering how those could get done. But, by accepting reassignment, I am able to be more efficient with my time and intentional about the things needed to help the church. Reassignment also allows me greater freedom in prioritizing the work. Instead of doing things as time permits, I am able to determine what is most important and concentrate on accomplishing the work ahead of me.
The biggest challenge of accepting reassignment is learning to let go. My role has changed and I am no longer “the man” in front of the congregation as I was before. Charles Spurgeon once said, “It takes more grace than I can tell to play the second fiddle well.” While brethren still seek my help and are always appreciative of my involvement in their lives, my level of exposure in the church has changed and I am no longer the only person with ideas. I also find myself listening to a sermon and imagining how I would preach it if I was in the pulpit instead of the new man.
A word of advice to my fellow preachers: When you first entered ministry, your primary aim was to be of service to God and fulfill a deep-seated desire to advance the cause of the kingdom. If that desire is still strong, why not continue utilizing your talents, knowledge and experience in a way that will continue to bless the kingdom? There is nothing wrong with a retired man doing “fill-in” work. On the other hand, think of the good you can do being actively involved in congregational life and prolonging your influence in the lives of those who struggle with faith and spirituality!
A word of advice to elders: Think of the value a “re-assigned” preacher can bring to the congregation you are shepherding. He is not only knowledgeable in the Bible, but is skilled in dealing with people, giving advice to elders and mentoring the new preacher. Such a man as this brings many tools and opportunities to the table that can be used in helping build a strong and growing congregation. In many cases, a salary agreement can be reached that benefits both the church and the “reassigned” preacher.
A word of advice to the “regular” preacher: I am working with a young man, one year out of college, who is gifted well beyond his years. We have a symbiotic relationship. I have mentored him in handling ministry, he has helped me understand of technology. While each of us have brought different ideas to the table, we have also worked together on projects that help the church. The “reassigned” preacher can be a blessing instead of a burden, a counselor instead of a critic, a friend instead of a foe. Working together will bring much good to your life and ministry. You will likely be a blessing to him, as well.
In conclusion, consider this: Retirement does not need to be the “end of the road” for preachers. An old hymn among us says, “There is much to do, there’s work on every hand.” You have some good years ahead and the church needs you. You are not finished! Reassignment does not mean second-rate. It means a new application of your skills and continuation in the labor of love you began in younger days. May your tribe increase!
Staying Power
Reflections on 25 Years With a Congregation
By Mike Vestal
m.vestalpreach@icloud.com
1. Preaching and teaching MUST be God-centered and God-focused. Too many preachers preach a far too little God! He’s missing-in-action in too many sermons and Bible classes. If the Bible is a book from God, about God and the relationship He wants to have with us, shouldn’t that really come out in our preaching and teaching? (John 17:3; Philippians 3:10).
2. Ministry is, was and ever will be a matter of integrity and godly character. Brethren will forgive much in their preacher; a lack of character and integrity they will not. Such sin can undermine years of hard work (1 Timothy 4:6, 16). And moral and ethical failures have ruined many a ministry.
3. Emphasize “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27, 32). It’s one thing to talk about it; it’s another thing to actually do it! A catch phrase I’ve often thought about over the years is “blessed are the balanced.” We must be intentional here! And that will involve sermon planning several months to a year in advance. It also involves sermon suggestions and feedback from brethren.
4. Remember the importance of “all long-suffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2). Our patient instruction of others may encourage them to be patient with us as we grow ourselves. Whether that happens or not, preachers still are under divine obligation to preach in this manner.
5. Constantly encourage your elders, and as much as depends upon you, make the relationship as healthy, communicative and friendly as possible. When elders and preachers have obvious conflict and a lack of trust, it hurts the church. When they genuinely love, like and work well with one another, the church is greatly blessed. Too many preachers talk about the authority of elders until they make a decision in a matter of judgment we disagree with. We have to be bigger than that for the sake of the cause of Christ!
6. Keep in mind that the grass is not necessarily greener somewhere else. Know you’re blessed and that you have a good situation. Every move to supposedly greener pastures involves a great deal of unknown factors, even for the wisest and most experienced of preachers. In 25 years, I have seriously considered moving only once or twice. It often is true that places we thought were going to be our sweetheart church turn out to be more of a Corinthian headache!
7. Visit and be hospitable. For years, we had birthday parties each month in our home. We had special come and go gatherings at our home. We’ve hosted more youth devotionals than I could count. Our home has been a temporary home or home away from home for many. We try to have the shepherds and their families and those on staff in our home for a special meal between Thanksgiving and Christmas. A preacher who is hospitable and visits has “staying” power (1Peter 4:9).
8. Be known as a builder and strengthener. It’s tragic that some preachers are primarily known for breaking, dividing, weakening and killing churches! Everywhere they go, there’s carnage and devastation. Is having this track record something you really want to give an account for to God?
9. Pick your battles wisely and prayerfully, or you’ll be battling someone over something all the time. By practicing this principle, there’s a double blessing. One is that you aren’t known as a person who’s always got an agenda or who’s looking for a fight. The second is, when you do feel the need to fight for or against a particular matter, they’re way more likely to listen to you.
10. Take a day off for your wife and family each week. Make sure the leaders and church know it’s family time. Occasionally congregational matters will have to be addressed on that day, but guard that time as a good steward. One is to be a good steward of their time with their family just as much as one is to be a good steward of their time in serving as a preacher. And there’s a legitimate sense in which stewardship of family time is the greater stewardship. No church wants to deal with the spiritual tsunami of a preacher having a failed marriage or having Hophni and Phinehas as the preacher’s kids!
11. Seek to be there when needed. Some preachers overvalue the need for their presence somewhere, while others greatly undervalue it. One thing is sure: we are unable to be two places at once. Paul spoke of this one thing I do. We need to be able to evaluate circumstances and to wisely determine where to be. We do not perfectly accomplish this, and all in ministry feels this is a process where improvement can be made. Sometimes a phone call or text message would be perfectly sufficient. Perhaps a brief visit would be perfect. On others, our personal presence really is needed. In this area, like all others, there’s much to learn from the ministry of Jesus.
12. Try to always have a study going with a non-Christian or a new one. Few things will recharge or invigorate a preacher more than actually helping to bring the lost to Christ! And the impact has a positive congregational effect too.
13. Be known as a man of prayer. The apostles gave themselves to the word of God and prayer (Acts 6:3-4). It seems like a good practice for preachers to pursue today. Always be looking for an opportunity to pray and you’ll be amazed at how many great opportunities there are to pray. Jesus and Paul preached the way they did because they prayed the way they did. No one really stands tall in the pulpit who has not shown himself to be humble in bowing down in prayer. How about you? Ministry should help our praying and praying definitely helps our ministry.
14. Let your preaching and teaching show the richness and variety of being able to handle God’s word well (Colossians 3:16). Preach the character of God, the great themes of Scripture, Christian character and morals, dig deeply into paragraphs, survey books of the Bible and chapters. Do topical, textual, biographical and expository work. Preach from various types of literature in Scripture. Handle the
hard subjects. Make sure to honor God and to edify and encourage the brethren. Over time, they’ll become better Bible students too.
15. Keep growing (1 Timothy 4:12-15). A preacher who isn’t growing won’t be staying (or even worse he will stay, but it probably won’t end well ). The preacher who doesn’t keep growing ought to be ashamed. Only our Master has mastered every aspect of preaching and ministry. All the rest of us have great room for improvement. The best preachers I’ve known over the years had an incredible desire to keep learning and growing. They wanted to be better at their craft and refused to coast. Constantly be looking for continuing your education and improving in ministry.
16. Constantly and generously apply the Philippians 4:8 Principle to your life and ministry. Don’t focus so much on mishaps, mistreatment and misunderstandings that you become calloused and bitter.
17. Make sure your giving shows that you really believe in what you’re preaching and in the work of the church (Acts 20:35; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8). Most who preach will never be considered rich by the world’s standards. However we can and should be very rich indeed toward God! (Luke 16:10-12).
18. By all means, love the brethren. Love the church for which Jesus suffered and died (Acts 20:28). It’s one thing to love God, to love Scripture and to love to preach and teach. But it’s another thing (although it’s intimately related) to love people, to love souls and to love the church. And remember the words of Jesus, “Love one another, as I have loved you. By this shall all men know you are my disciples, by your love for one another” (John 13:34-35). This love will be tested, so make sure it is real and true.
19. Make events like weddings, births, funerals and baptisms the special, unique events they really are. Avoid the “one size fits all approach” in each of these, especially funerals. Members will be grateful for the time you took and the love and care you showed.
20. Understand the value of memory - for good and for bad (cf. 2 Peter 1:12-15). Memory can lead to resentment, ill will and to prolonged discouragement. But it can also lead to humility, profound gratitude and to greater trust in God. Every
preacher could stand to be a better “forgetter.” If only we all could develop spiritual amnesia over the perceived slights, slaps and slurs over the years! Also, if we only had a better rememberer, we’d remember those who loved, encouraged, blessed and prayed for us over the years. Faces of those who invested in us and our ministry would ever flood our minds and hearts. And we’d thank our precious God!
21. Not everyone in the congregation will appreciate your efforts and talents (cf. Galatians 1:10). It’s never been about popularity or politics - brotherhood or otherwise. It’s about God’s kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Some may only appreciate your efforts years after you arrived or even after you’re gone. Some never will. However, God is mindful of every action and thought done in His Name - and that’s more than enough (Hebrews 6:10-12).
22. Keep in mind that God does exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20-21). As I look back on it, God, by His grace and strength, has helped the church respond to every challenge and goal set before it. God’s will won’t lack for His grace and provision when God’s people look to Him for help. We dare not take one step without Him (John 15:4-5).
23. Surround yourself with people to invest in spiritually - people you believe will be investing faithfully in others the great things of God long after you depart this earthly scene (2 Timothy 2:2). Who will be your Timothy and Titus? Who will be your Priscilla and Aquila?
24. Make sure to train men of all ages to preach, teach and pray. Some preachers seem to think it’s good job security to be the only one who preaches and teaches publicly. Not true. It can be an indictment against the preacher and the leadership of that congregation! One of the greatest joys in ministry is seeing men develop their gifts and skills and to use them with greater effectiveness in the body of Christ. Preacher, what are you doing to encourage greater spiritual development and leadership within the congregation? It might be one of the very best contributions you ever make!
25. Live, love, serve, pray, preach and teach in such a way that they will miss you when you move on.
As I sit in my study writing these words and looking back over my forty-two years with the Hartselle church, I have nothing but a feeling of peace and joy. It has been slightly more than a year and a half since I retired from local work. During this time, I have reflected over those years and thanked God that I stayed here so long. Like most preachers, throughout the years, I had opportunities to move to a larger church with more income. In some situations, it is best for a minister to relocate. However, I can honestly say that I have never regretted staying for that length of time with the Hartselle congregation.
“The Joys of Long-term Local Ministry” by, Phillip Hines, phines@bellsouth.net
Listed below are a few of the joys I have had, and now continue to experience as a result of those forty-two years:
· Family Stability – My children were able to remain in the same school system for the duration of their education. They never had to be uprooted and move away from the friends that had been made in those younger years. My wife taught school here for 28 years. The children and parents in our community knew her and who she was. We still live in our house that we built in 1984, and it is paid for! Our roots now run deep in this
place. It is here where we have lived the longest, and it is here where we will be buried.
· Seeing God’s Providence in my life and in the Church – One of the great blessings of longevity with a church is being able to look back and see God’s hand in your life and the life of that church. I can now reflect on many things and see how the pieces of the puzzle came together to bring the Hartselle Church of Christ to where it is today. There were certain people and circumstances that came our way through the years which changed the church for good. I could not see the significance of those people and open doors at the time. Now, I can see how God was able to bring it all together. I now understand and enjoy the providence of God in a far greater way.
One of the great bleings of longevity with a church is being able to lk back and s God’s hand in your life and the life of that church.
For example, I now look back and see how my faith and the faith of the church grew. In the first ten years of our time together, we grew spiritually and began to realize we had to take the message of the gospel outside of our building. Prior to this time, we had contributed small amounts of money to various mission works. We began to discuss having our own focused mission work. Following a medical mission trip to Romania, the elders felt that this country was a possibility. But there was one problem. Money! It was calculated that we would need one hundred thousand dollars just to begin that work. After much praying and discussion, the elders decided to walk by faith. Missionaries were hired, and property with an existing building was purchased. The work there flourished! To this day, we cannot explain how we were able to raise that kind of money. Great joy fills my heart as I think back and see how we learned a very valuable lesson. When you walk by faith, God will provide the way. This caused an ongoing change in the church as future decisions were made. When faced with new challenges and opportunities, the eldership never forgot how God took care of us in Romania.
During the nineties, we had family campaigns at the Civic Center in Hartselle every two to three years. They became a very successful way of reaching out to our community. I remember meeting with the elders prior to the first campaign. I asked them what my budget would be for this endeavor. One elder looked at me and said, “You don’t have a budget. Just do it and do it right.” They had learned well how God takes care of us when we step out by faith. That faith continued to grow in all of us.
In 2006 it was decided that we needed a larger auditorium and fellowship area. The cost would be close to four million dollars. This would be the biggest leap of faith the church had ever taken. Remembering God’s providence from the past, the elders made the decision to go forward with the building. There were several other circumstances that occurred during the construction of the building that had to have been by the hand of God.
Today, the church continues to grow in faith. After Romania, mission work was added in Brazil. A few months ago, a new work in El Salvador was begun. All of this and much more has come about because of elders being willing to step out by faith back in 1992. These are experiences that you can only enjoy by staying with a church through the years.
· It made me a better preacher – Speaking to the same congregation for multiple years means working extra hard to stay fresh and be able to preach new sermons every week. It is common for preachers who move from one church to another to repeat most, if not all, of their sermons in the new church. I have recycled some favorite sermons over the years, but I reworked each message to make it new and relevant to those who listened.
· Having a long involvement in many lives – Throughout the years, I have established many deep and abiding friendships with the most wonderful people on earth. Staying in one place, making long-time friends, being known in a community, and becoming part of many people’s lives is good. On the last Sunday of 2022, I preached my final sermon at Hartselle. During the weeks leading up to that day, I received many calls, emails, texts, and postings on Facebook. I had no idea how much
my ministry had meant to so many. Below is a post written on Facebook by a young mother that moved me to tears of joy.
“He was there to meet me after I was born. He baptized me when I was eleven years old. He was a mentor throughout my entire youth. He counseled and guided my husband and me as we prepared for marriage. He married us in 2004. He was a best friend to my dad and mom. He visited after the birth of our children. He prayed with us and for us while dad was so critical at UAB. He spoke the most beautiful and heartfelt words at Dad’s funeral. He has fed me spiritually my entire life. I am so blessed to have had the same minister and shepherd be a part of my life the last almost forty years –a part of so many of the most special, happy times and a support through some of the lowest, saddest times. You have led your flock so well.”
This experience can only come through giving your life to a church. I keep this post and many others in a special place. At times when I am down, I find myself going to that very place to be lifted.
Randy Roberts, in his article “Preaching in the Same Congregation for Many Years” sums it all up. “There are few joys quite like the joy of taking a long journey with the same friends and believers. Along that journey, relationships deepen, friendships grow more steadfast, conflict is faced and resolved, losses are grieved, and joys are shared. What a delight, then, to have the privilege of preaching the Word along the way!”[1]
[1] Randy Roberts, “Preaching in the Same Congregation for Many Years”, Elders Digest, Quarter 1 (2022), https://www.eldersdigest.org/en/2022/1/preaching-in-thesame-congregation-for-many-years, (accessed 22 June 2024).
Possible Pitfalls of Staying too Long
By Chuck Monan pigskinpreacher63@gmail.com
What do Don Shula, Tom Landry, and Bill Belichick have in common? For starters, they are three of the top five all time winning head coaches in NFL history. All won multiple Super Bowls. All were considered brilliant innovators by their peers. All were strict disciplinarians, demanding excellence from their players. All were feared by their teams, leaving no doubt as to who was in charge.
And all were fired as they hung around too long.
No one thought these coaching geniuses suddenly forgot the remarkable amount of football and leadership lessons they knew. But their long careers with one team (Shula coached the Miami Dolphins for 26 seasons, Landry the Dallas Cowboys for 29 years, and Belichick the New England Patriots for 24 years) ended ignominiously. Shula and Landry, when they were relieved of their duties, were the only coaches the Dolphins and Cowboys had ever known. So what happened?
Several things, actually. The game gradually changed, and they didn’t always keep abreast of the changes. They missed on a few draft picks who didn’t pan out. They lost some key players who proved difficult to replace.
Mostly, they hung around so long that their teams started tuning them out as they grew old.
So what does all this have to do with preaching? Quite a bit, actually.
If we are to be effective for any appreciable length of time, we have to recognize the changing world around us. We have to continually work at getting better, at studying, at reading, at growing, at serving. We have to take steps to ensure that our congregation doesn’t tune us out (Do they know what you’re going to say before you say it, or can they finish your illustrations in their sleep?). You get the picture.
But even if you work relentlessly on all these things, are there still some situations where you would be better served by a change of scenery?
Yes.
Consider a few pitfalls with elders or the church that hard work alone cannot fix:
1. You see the Bible differently. There is no way I would be able to work under a leadership committed to pushing women in leading the church, or that introduced instrumental music, or any number of other unbiblical practices. I see those issues in black & white terms. Some do not. If you see the worm turning, you should get out. Elders fire preachers, not the other way around.
2. You see the church differently. Do your elders see the church as unique, or simply as one denomination among many? Do they understand the Restoration Movement, or are they more enamored of the latest religious fad? Do they search for the ancient order and the old paths, or do they take their cues from societal shifts? No amount of wishing will change these foundational beliefs and practices.
3. You see ministry differently. Are your elders true shepherds as the Bible defines the role, or are they a Board of Directors? Do they seek to know and serve the flock, or are they aloof and unconcerned? Do they treat every member with love and respect, or are they respecters of persons kowtowing to the well-
heeled and well-connected? Can you live with such a sinful situation? Why would you want to?
4. You see character and integrity differently. Do you respect the leaders in the congregation? Are they honest? Can they be trusted? Are they more concerned about political expediency than personal holiness? Will they take a stand for what is right, or will they cut and run?
It is virtually impossible to change such situations. If the elders in a congregation are as described above, it is a fool’s errand to continue to cross your fingers and hope for a different outcome. As H.R. Haldeman adroitly observed, “It is difficult to get the toothpaste back in the tube.”
Many of us take it as a personal failure to leave one congregation for another. We imagine that every situation can be changed with prayer and hard work. Yet the Bible counsels, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18). Look at Paul’s advice again. Sometimes it is not possible. Sometimes it’s not up to you.
Sometimes it is best to move on.
Staying in a toxic situation doesn’t prove how tough you are; it just proves how stubborn you are. But is it worth destroying your health, your peace of mind, your family, and your soul over to prove a point?
Go back in time over a century ago to the U.S. Census where statistician S.N.D. North reported that the Restoration Movement had actually splintered into three groups: the Disciples of Christ, the Christian Church, and the Churches of Christ. Was it because of a failure of preachers in the latter group that this happened? No. It was the desire of the former groups to abandon the old paths that caused the division.
So it is today.
As the Lord told Saul on the road to Damascus, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (Acts 9:5).
So it is today.
In the memories of my life, there has never been a time when I have not been blessed by the friendship, mentorship, and companionship of numerous preachers. From the earliest days of our childhood, we were surrounded by preachers. In addition to the men in our family who were preachers, there were always Gospel meetings, workshops, lectureships, and lectureships, as well as preachers in and out of our home on a regular basis. Many of these men of God were “household” names throughout the brotherhood. Others were not so widely known, but to us they were all giants.
In the early years as we began our own life of ministry, we were surrounded by “older” preachers. It was a rich blessing to drink from their wealth of wisdom, knowledge, and experience. It was intentional on our part to spend as much time with these men as possible. At one time, we had so many retired preachers in our church family that the wives of one of my mentors said to another family who was retiring, “Y’all come over here and join us, we collect old preachers in this church!” Without the counsel and advice of these older men, our lives would not have been as rich.
Then there are our contemporaries. The men who are generally in our life-stage. There are too many of these to count. But there is a small group who we have shared the journey of ministry for many years. To this day, I’m not sure what I would do without these men who have blessed us in more ways than they could ever imagine.
Now that this group (including myself) has grown older, we find that we are richly blessed by a new generation of preachers. These young men are outstanding. They give us life, they give us hope, and they teach us more than they can realize. To say that we are extremely thankful for them would be a gross understatement. We believe that because of this younger group of preachers, the future is as bright as the promises of God (Thanks Dad, for sharing that statement with us a long time ago.).
Part of the reason the previous information is in this article is to say that these hundreds, maybe thousands of preachers we have been blessed to know through the years are each unique. Some of them are well-known around the world, some are known only in their community. Some of them are outstanding communicators
of the Word, while others find their greatest value in ministering to the lives of those God has placed in their lives.
Some of these men have chosen to preach for several churches during their ministry, perhaps moving every 2-3 years, while some have chosen to preach for one church for many years. Neither of these ideologies make one preacher better than others. This article is designed to highlight a few reasons why a preacher should choose to work with one church for many, many years.
The greatest example of the benefits of long-term ministry is my Father. He worked with the same church family for around forty-four years. Most of what we have learned about long-term ministry is a direct result of his life and ministry. Here are a few of the benefits of working with the same church over many years.
(1) The church, as well as the preacher and his family, can build lifetime relationships. There was a time not too many years ago when some preachers recommended not getting too close to the “members.” Some, no doubt who had been hurt by those they had befriended. There is certainly risk involved with this and when it happens it can be painful.
Once in a congregation we worked with I built a very close friendship with a brother who became my “best friend” in the church. We were close for more than ten years. Our friendship was lost when he disagreed with a decision made by the elders and felt that I was too supportive of the elders. Losing that friendship crushed my heart.
However, the benefits of the lifetime friendships we have made in local ministry far outweigh that one disappointing experience. We are still extremely close to people that we worked with in our first preaching assignment out of college about fortyfive years ago. Over the years, my sweet wife was able to build wonderful friendships as we worked with various church families for numerous years.
(2) The church is more likely to “get to know the preacher” better in a long-term ministry. It has been said by some that it takes seven years to really get to know the church. The better we know those who are a part of our “flock,” the more equipped we will be to preach what they need to hear. As relationships are built, trust is also built.
(3) Over the course of years, we are blessed to walk with “our” people through the most joyous days as well as the most challenging days of their lives. This thought includes the idea that the preacher can touch multiple generations. Not long ago, a sweet young lady and her mother reminded me that she was the first baby we visited in the hospital after moving to work with the church family in this place.
The added benefit for preachers is that the longer you work with a church, the more they get to know you and your family. They can also walk with you through the most challenging and joyous days of your life. My family was richly blessed through my sweet wife’s illness and passing by a church family who we had grown to love and who had grown to love us deeply through the years.
(4) Another benefit for the church, the preacher, and his family is stability and continuity. Too much turnover can create what is sometimes unhealthy change in the life of the church as well as the preacher and his family. There’s something good for the church about knowing that the preacher is committed to a long-term ministry in this place. It is also good for the preacher and his family to be able to build relationships within the body.
(5) One other benefit for the church and the preacher is the opportunity to create a greater study of Scripture. The more we get to know people and the longer we stay, the deeper we can go into God’s Word. In one church we studied Genesis for three years on Sunday nights. I would jokingly say that the reason for this lengthy study is that “surely the elders won’t fire me in the middle of a series!”
While it is certainly not the only way to live our lives as preachers, there are numerous benefits for the church, for our families, and for us when we are blessed to work with one church for many years. May God richly bless your life, your family, your preaching, and your ministry.
by, Dale Jenkins, dale@edge.net
knowing stayed beyond our effectiveness? How do we know if the current decline/ hurdle is just that, a hurdle, or a sign your impact there is no longer? How do you know if staying at a hard time/place is God’s Will or if you are just antagonizing those folks by staying?
I suppose the actual question isn’t when is it time to go, but when it is time to stay? How do I know when it’s time to stay? Here’s a dozen thoughts for you to consider. I am not sure any of them provide a definitive answer, but collectively they may help.
- When you still love the people and they still love you: Some of you have heard Jeff explain that this is the great key to staying at a place, “Preach the Word and Love the People.” And, to a large measure if such mutual love exists it is probably a good time to stay. That mutual love should be infectious both internally and externally (1 Peter 2:17; Ephesians 5:25; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Hebrews 10:24-25).
- When you still have a passion for THAT work that can be felt from the foyer to the pulpit and is exhibited in your desire to work: Burnout causes fatigue, it is also caused by fatigue. Frustrations, overwork, difficult people, leadership challenges, feelings of inadequacy or of being unappreciated. Now, to be sure the level of passion can come and go, we all have highs and lows. So, a period of feeling like your passion has waned should not be the sole indicator, but if you are on “Empty” all the time often a change of venue can renew you.
- When your elders won’t take your resignation: The elders often will know more than you on this moving matter. If they told you it was time to find a new place or told you they were firing you, you’d likely move. Conversely, if they think your work there is not gone, hear them out.
- When your leaving would INCREASE the drama and hurt the congregation: While I wish it were not so, I do believe there is a level of drama from “drama people” in every congregation. Even churches in New Testament had their drama folks: Hymenaeus and Alexander at Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:19-20; Philippi had Euodia, Syntyche (Philippians 4:2-3); Jerusalem had Ananias and Sapphira; Crete had, well The Cretans (Titus 1:12-13), and somebody somewhere had to deal with Diotrephes (I think it was ALL of
US). I could go on but you get the point. And there are times when leaving would only escalate the drama from drama people and you need to stay to be a peacemaker. Remember, Jesus said they would be blessed, He did not say it was simple.
- When your leaving would potentially allow wolves to rule: Back to Diotrephes for a moment. Odds are exceptionally high that you will have to deal with one or ten of them in your life. In those cases your influence of righteous, humble, approachable, compassion gets multiplied. Your boldly standing for right and for the Word of God will be medicine. Your influence for right will often be what gives some hope and others the example they need to be future, better, leaders themselves. While the preacher has little “congregational authority,” he often has more influence than anyone else in a local congregation. Wolves are a real thing (read all about them in 2 Peter 2), Jesus said they were (Matthew 7:15). You may be the only person at times who is the wolf repellent in a local church. At those times your heart will break and feel heavy, but it is possible, even probable that that is the time to stay.
- When you are convinced this is the best place for your children to learn faithfulness: Let’s face it. If you get the whole city to heaven but lose your kids along the way, your later years will have a lot of heartbreak. I am not suggesting going to the place “with the youth program” or most children. In fact, the challenge of being alone and being forced to interact with adults sometimes will spur tremendous maturity. Proverbs 24:3 says a house is established through understanding - so know your kids. I am suggesting that if you have true spiritual responsibility toward anyone, it would have to be for those souls you helped bring into this world. They are “free moral agents,” but you need to do your best to set them up for success and if you have to sacrifice opportunity or comfort for that, I say, “do it.”
- When your passion for ministry and the leaders vision for the future align: There will be a time, in all likelihood in your ministry (see 2 Timothy 4:5)
when you and the congregation’s leaders align. It may happen more than once. Paul seemed to have it in both Thessaloniki and Philippi. Relish that time. It’s a time to stay and do good work.
- When the work you are doing is helping the church to grow and mature: Similar to the time above but it is with the whole church. The challenges you are putting before them are being accepted. They are bringing their friends to the Lord. Even the rebukes in love seem to be obviously filled with the earnest expectation that the best is ahead. It is so rare to be able to spot people maturing, when you do, it’s time to stay.
- When you have a healthy support team to challenge, encourage, work with, and help you grow in your work for the Lord: Jesus had His team of 12, Paul had his folks too. When you find a team where you feel like and work like a team. When you are all pulling in the same direction and every project feels like a joint venture, it’s time to stay. You know the other feeling. That one where you have to lead every parade, pilot every project, stoke every fire, conduct every mission. You can do it for a while but it gets exhausting. It appeared that Jethro thought it was for Moses (Exodus 18). Get a team!
- When you feel like this is the place, of all the places you actually have the opportunity to be is where you can impact and influence the most people toward heaven: After all that’s what it’s all about!
- When there is no other option: Let’s face it the reality is that when you want to leave and the opportunity you want have to align for you to move. So, even if none of the above are true, it’s most always better to stay than to quit. I will never forget dad, who preached a Woodlawn/Roebuck Parkway for 44 years say, “there were plenty of times when I got great offers to move but things were either so good or so bad at Woodlawn, I just didn’t need to leave. And there were times when I would have left in a heartbeat, but nobody called me.”
But HOW do I stay? Before I give you a few suggestions, let me be clear, you do not need to and should not compromise truth to stay in a work. In fact, one of the real secrets to staying is to be true to truth at all times. This list is not comprehensive but a few thoughts to get you going.
Some Suggested Keys To Staying
1. Move to stay 2. Pray to stay 3. Don’t over-react to events
4. Remember your mission and your role
5. Learn to not get your way and be happy anyway 6. Tap down the drama
7. Be “proud” of the good in others 8. Work hard 9. Be forgiving 10. Study!!!
11. Keep growing personally
12. Challenge the church
13. Don’t make mountains out of molehills
14. Preach the Word
15. Love the People
I remember a dear preaching friend a number of years ago who struggled to stay at a place. He was fired more than once, and a few other times he just left before it got to that. He moved and found a place where the elders supported him, the congregation loved him, and all of them flourished. Then he came down with cancer. He lasted on this side of eternity for a couple of years. I held the last meeting where he was before he left this earth. My, how the church loved him. At first I thought it tragic, but then realized, he got at his last place to love and be loved deeply. He died a joy-filled minister. He stayed. He told me: “I want to go to heaven from here.” What a reason to stay!
I hope you stay.
