Welcome to the wonderful world of ministry! This is what you’ve been waiting for, studying for, praying for — your first day on the job!
Excited? You bet.
Ready to jump in and change the ministry world? Possibly.
First, take time for these three important steps:
1. Find the bathroom.
2. Find the coffee pot.
3. Find help wherever you can during the next 90 days. You’ll need it.
Why Are You Here?
Do you remember why you wanted to work in ministry in the first place? Write what you remember about that time — about what prompted you toward ministry.
What were your goals at that time?
What were my first ministry goals and dreams?
Now that I’m ready to begin, what do I hope to accomplish?
What is my definition of a successful ministry?
Is God in Your Goals?
One thing we’ve heard from seasoned pastors through the years is the need to keep God in your goals. Without God, you’ll accomplish nothing of value. Without God, your work will be in vain.
The key to success? Keep God at the center of your work, your day, your life. Read your Bible. Pray. Then read and pray some more.
Here’s how Jim Wideman says it in his book Children’s Ministry Leadership: The You-Can-Do-It Guide: “Is your heart in tune with God’s heart for your ministry? Are you praying? Growing in your relationship with God? Digging into His Word?”
“You can’t lead people someplace you’ve never been. If you want your ministry to grow deeper in the things of the Lord, go there yourself.”
Or as David McQueen wrote in Rev magazine: “Success isn’t about how many people attend the service or how much they give. Success is about faithfulness to the call of God on my life, faithfully joining Him in what He’s doing. Success is about His glory, not mine. Success is about His name, not mine.”
With God, you can accomplish great things for His kingdom! Hereís what Paul tells us: “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves” (
Take the Plunge: Tips from Seasoned Swimmers
Standing on a diving board, looking down at that expanse of water is kind of like starting your ministry. You’re about to plunge into a new environment. It can be a little dizzying but also exhilarating.
What are three words that describe how you feel right now as you’re ready to take the plunge? To help you dive gracefully into your new role, we’ve compiled these practical tips from some of the seasoned swimmers we’ve worked with through the years.
Find Some Friends
Of anyone in the building, the folks on your church’s building maintenance team need to become your best friends — soon.
They’ll be the ones to talk to about painting that ghastly grey wall. They can help you decide if carpet or tile would be better for the preschool room and if you can afford either choice.
They can help you remove that sagging ceiling tile right over your desk.
These talented people will be worth their weight in gold in your ministry. Buy them coffee. Bring them snacks. Thank them profusely. Then they can introduce you to your next best friends — the technology team!
In today’s world, using technology well can help you excel (it’s a joke; get it?) in managing your time, budget, goals, staff — as well as letting you look like a star in your presentations. Find your techie team and make your introductions. (Bring these folks coffee and pastries, too.)
Start Slowly
You’re raring to go. Right off the block, you see things you want to change, things you want to implement, things you can’t wait to try.
Advice from the trenches: Slow down; dream big; start small; test the waters. Get the feel of your job before remodeling the entire ministry. Get to know your boss and your colleagues. Get to know your budget. Be realistic in your expectations.
In your journal, write down your answers to these questions:
What do I see as immediate needs in my ministry?
What would I like to accomplish in the next 90 days?
Six months?
One year?
Four Things to Consider Before You Change the World
Once you’ve assessed the situation and you’re ready to begin, consider the following:
1) Prayer. Make sure the changes you propose line up with God’s plans for your ministry.
Pray for guidance.
“Instead of making immediate changes, keep a record of all potential changes as soon as you think of them,” says Doug Fields. “This allows you to give them prayerful consideration.”
2) Safety. Your first change, if necessary, should be made in the interest of safety. Depending on your ministry, consider these questions:
Have you performed background checks on all staff and volunteers?
Do you have a top-notch check-in system for children?
Do you have adults in the hallways as a presence?
Are your grounds safe? How about your vehicles?
Do you have all the proper legal forms on hand for your activities?
3) Timing. When is the right time to implement your change? Do you have all the pertinent information you need to make a good decision? Have you checked with the people your change will affect and gotten their input?
4) Church Policy. Does your proposed change line up with church policy and your pastor’s vision? Check to make sure.
Hopefully God has called you to ministry for the long haul. So you don’t have to change the world right away. It takes time to build a team, trust and a plan.
Caveat: After considering the above, realize that some immediate changes may be unnecessary. If sound biblical teaching is being compromised, make a change. If it’s a matter of safety, make a change. If you face something immoral, make a change. Otherwise, take it slowly. There’s a time for every change you envision.
As a wise man once said, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven” (
