WET BEHIND THE EARS: HOW TO AVOID DROWNING IN THE EARLY YEARS OF MINISTRY Dick Mayhue Sr. Vice-President and Provost, The Master’s College Sr. Vice-President and Dean, The Master’s Seminary INDISPENSABLE BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS 1. 1 Timothy 4:12–16 2. 2 Timothy 4:1–5 3. Titus 2:1,15 TWELVE OF THE MOST COMMON MISTAKES MADE BY PASTORS IN THEIR FIRST MINISTRY AFTER SEMINARY GRADUATION 1. Exhibiting impatience – especially with existing church government.
2. Trying to make your first church an exact replica of another well-known church or mimicking a well-known pastor in every aspect of your ministry.
3. Studying too much, to the exclusion of significant shepherding.
2 4. Failing to realize one must earn respect as a pastor by being a pastor.
5. Trying to act like a veteran pastor in one’s rookie ministry.
6. Unwilling to start in a small and/or unimpressive ministry – harboring a “God owes me…” or “I deserve…” mentality.
3 7. Unilaterally making major doctrinal changes in the church, especially before having preached/taught on the issue.
8. Violating promises made or deviating from expectations given during the candidating process.
9. Unwilling to accept people as they are and letting God change them into what they ought to be.
4 10. Unwilling to receive honest, well-intentioned, constructive criticism.
11. Underestimating the value of being a “peace-maker.”
12. Quitting too soon – at the first major opposition to the pastor.
5 PRACTICAL WISDOM FOR MINISTRY FRUITFULNESS 1. See it big—keep it simple. 2. Run scared, as if it all depends on you; pray fervently, as if it all depends on God. 3. Pay attention to details. 4. Think ministry = money = ministry for budget effectiveness. 5. Approach revenue as a for-profit company (over revenue). Approach expenses as a notfor-profit ministry (under expense). 6. Underpromise—overdeliver. 7. Work for cumulative effect. 8. Strive for functional excellence and timeless value. 9. Divide to conquer. 10. The effect should ultimately accomplish our purposes/mission. 11. Delay gratification. 12. Play against yourself, not against others. 13. Practice the 80/20 rule. 14. Remember that bells and whistles never win the war. 15. Ask, “Will God be pleased with this?” 16. Hire the best people, render the best support, and provide the best benefits. 17. Exceed expectations. 18. Measure twice; cut once. 19. Stay focused. 20. A need is not necessarily a call. 21. Operate on a cash and carry basis, whenever possible. 22. A deadline is the last time a project is due, not the first. 23. When the dust settles, make sure there is a pile or a hole. 24. Full disclosure wins the day.
6 25. At all costs, avoid surprises. 26. Stewardship is sacred. 27. Work smarter, not harder. 28. Function determines form. 29. Results will either validate or invalidate the process. 30. Throw ingenuity, not money, at problem solving. 31. Get desperate. 32. Make history; don’t criticize it. 33. Sacrifice a little. 34. Consider the whole more important than just your part. 35. Larger is not necessarily better. 36. Remember to calculate for the law of unintended consequences. 37. Employ principled decision-making. 38. Time and/or money will easily fill up the amount you allot/budget. 39. Sometimes, you cannot afford to not afford something that is critical for future success. 40. Pray before acting. 41. Outcomes cannot be controlled, but your efforts can be. 42. Make no assumptions before taking decisive action. 43. Don’t be concerned with who gets the credit for success. 44. Good is the enemy of success. 45. Humility wins the day. 46. Make sure you have enough authority to carry out your responsibility. 47. Work from a clear set of priorities. 48. Plan, organize, implement, control, evaluate, and fine-tune your work. 49. People applaud punctuality. 50. A problem well-defined is a problem already half solved.
7 51. Honest and thorough evaluations are worth the extra effort. 52. A solo performance is rarely the finest performance.
HELPFUL RESOURCES John F. MacArthur, et.al, Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry, Word. Steve Miller, C.H. Spurgeon on Spiritual Leadership, Moody. Charles H. Spurgeon, Lectures to My Students, Baker reprint.