New Pastors: Advice for the New Pastors: The what "to do's" and not "to do's" on Day One

[Rev. Charles Moore]

I remeber my first comments on the BPN was under Min. Lockett discussion regarding "My First Sermon." At that time I was like him "An associate minister, faithful, patience, prayerful, hard working, and preparing for the day when God's will would allow me to pastor a church. You hear the discussion all the time, "When I am a Pastor, I will do this and that. We dont covete the position but we see ourselves preparing for the opportunity. Well, my season is here. After prayer/fasting/listening I recently accepted the Letter from a church to Psator. Words can't describe how I have been feeling. I'm careful to request to stay in God's mercy, remain humble, listen twice before speaking once, trying not to fix things that are not broken, (that is another discussion) learning names, praying frequently, and teaching/preaching. Every Pastor who I know has called, emailed, & texted congrats but I'm looking for advice from some of the experience members of BPN to begin a discussion of advice to new Pastors. I would rather learn from others mistakes than make them. School can prepare you but on day one, life experinces re-train you. by the way, all those ideas you had racing through your mind before you became a Pastor seem to exit on day one. I would like to hear your advice to New Pastors. I have always been one to recieve advice and learn from it.

[Rev. Darol Ramsey]

Bless you my Brother. Isn't it a blessing to know when we need help.............and even more bless to ask for it !!. In responds to your asking...................I would have suggested before hand that you get and read a copy of The Purpose Driven Church..............By Rick Warren.I believe it will bless you with insight. If you don"t have a copy................go get one !

[Careca Akarue]

Hello Pst Charles and faithful in the kingdom

Greetings and your post actually got me to remember my own experience...quite different from yours but there is a connection “anticipated the pain” we go through for Christ sake...the hardest thing to do in ministry is getting people to believe your vision (Heb. prophetic word or utterance from God) and easiest thing to do is letting them go when they don’t understand the vision. We are living in a generation that knew not the Lord; they want things done in their timing and own ways, rather than the ways of Jesus. One of the things I had to deal with was members leaving the ministry when God asked us to establish the church...it was a prayer meeting for 1yr and half. Sad and painful to see those who stood by you leave and not just leaving, but took offence that you out of your mind because you choose to obey God rather than men. But I stood like Paul in Eph 6 having done all stand and I say stand. But God will always confirm his words with signs following the same empty seat are now occupied by believer’s even harder working.

Pst please obey God rather than man. Finally, many will pick offence against a man when he brings change into the ministry, people are always afraid of change and change is the only constant word – Change. When bring change that leads to you obeying God, in the natural he seems like he is craze by in the spirit he is wise and time will reveal. Please don’t be offended and walk in unforgiveness...it will affect your faith, preaching, anointing, family etc...Please apologise sometimes when you are right..Why i don’t want you to be ignorant of the mind of the Devil. 2cor2:10 - 11 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices(thinks, mind, thoughts, purposes),

Finally be prepared to go through rough times, because God will not take you to your destiny, but through a journey to your destiny and in the word through there is a word rough, rough times will bring out your anointing and you able to bring other when they call for counselling and mentorship help! I charge you to walk in light God has called you to walk...fear now he will be with you as he has been with us in the land of Goshen in Africa. Prophet Careca

[Harold D. Donahue]

Well God bless you. I thank God for you insight, but no one can give you exact advice, because each house has it's on need. However, what ever you do don't act before praying when a situation arises.

[Reverend Marsha Scott]

I love the comment made by Pastor Doretta Lee. Do God. I am so familiar with that story. There is so much that goes on in the name of God that,,,, OH WELL. I went through that for soooo long. Waiting on other men and women of God trying to get established, building kingdoms and bridges for others and not obeying God for myself, I became stagnant, and quite ill. There is no greater fullfilment than hearing God's voice, obeying His voice and watching Him work through the Holy Spirit. Loving the people through Him. Obeying the people through Him(UHMM!). Correcting the people through Him. Faith and Obedience to Christ and His Word are synonymous. It is the best policy for church and every day life. I was chatised for trying to fix every one's problems. Remember offences must come. Don't become offended by other folks ill willed agendas. I love Pres. Obama. Remind the people you are president every now and then(only when needed). The buck stops with you even when the deacons and trustees think they run the throne room of God and Jesus is their baby brother. Remember The Father has a sense of humor too, Psalms 2:4 . Stay humble. You are going to be an excellent Pastor. God will use you mightily. May the grace of God continously be upon your life and your ministry greatly be established. May your vision be multiplied.

[Earnest Williams (BossBlack)]

Listen to your new members and visitors. Sometimes when you visit a Church it seems like there are members who seem to be deliberately blocking you from approaching the Minister! He see these people all the time so why not let someone whose visiting approach and have a word with the Pastor. I wouldn't want to be lead by someone who I can't even get close enough to say hello to! I can't tell what kind of person you are just from hearing you preach. I actually want to know who is claiming to be my leader.

[Rev. Charles Moore]

Great comment: To remedy this occurance.....we have set up a Welcome Center for our guest. It is a special area where they are escorted to prior to service ending and they have a one on one meet/greet with myself and the staff. We have united many members while visiting in the Welcome Center. Maybe this will help.

Be Blessed
Pastor Moore

[Pastor J. Phifer]

I'm not currently Pastoring a Church, nor have I ever. I am simply a Young Man with a Vision. But in my years of being involved in the Church and involved in Ministry in many Churches I have seen many mistakes repeated over and over, and many Pastors/ Leader/Ministers & Evangelist don't even know that they're doing it. The Mistake is forgetting the "Consult God First" seems like a simple suggestion huh? Yeah, it is. But it carries a large impact with it. God's called people sometimes after getting called to a church seem to lose there first calling. By losing their first calling, they lose there feeling of how it was when God first called them. That excitement, then the nervousness, than unsurity, and ministry becomes more of a Job then a calling. All because they get so busy doing what they think God wants, or what they think that Church needs instead of just Consulting God First.

Pst. J. Phifer

[Evangelist Shevolyn F Cooper]

I also am a Minister/Evangelist... it really doesn't matter the title. All I know is that I have been called to do a job for the Lord. He has also given me a vision to help young girls/young adult women and women in general. I was called in 2006 and God is continually giving me this vision. Somehow I tend to get down, because I feel as though the pastors, evangelists, ministers in the church have just hung me out to dry. But I do put God first in all I do and find myself telling the devil to constantly get behind me. It's like the song writer says sometimes we have to encourage ourselves. In order to remain encouraged I do keep the word of God in me daily. I do understand the excitement, then the nervousness and unsurity. I must say that following God's guidance does pay off. He lead me to ask the women of my church to do a Womens' Conference, and about 2 weeks ago it paid off tremdously. So I know that putting Him first makes all the difference. Follow God, not man.

Sis. S. Cooper

[Tony Believes]

Wonderful Topic..Im so glad the holy Spirit led me to this site...Im called to preach and seeking God's wisdom to know where, when and how to start...The replies in this topic are priceless and God sent!!

[Dominion O. Roberts]

As a new pastor please dont be afriad to make mistakes because just that fear will limit your capacity and capability. walk in faith and go one step at a time. do one thing at a time. whenever you have opportunity to minister please be the best and do the best. alway realize that you can do more and have more of his grace and anionting therefore you must depend upon the one who is able to keep you from falling and present you faultless before his glorious presence. Please remmember these three essentials credentials for a successful life and minsitry: have the love of the father, the purpose of the father and the power of the father. Besides in every beginning there is a controversy of personalities and that is the struggle between who you say you are and who God says you are. there is also what i call a conflict of prorities and that is a struggle between what you want to do first and what God wants you to do first. finally there is a compulsion of purpose when you have overcome the controversy of personalities and the conflict of prorities. Remain bless because your best days are before you.

[Pastor James T. Dixon]

Hab 2:2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. Identify those that read and run, read and walk, read and fall asleep. Repeat the vision God has given you often, with confidence, faith and love. All will not run after reading, but I suggest you focus on those that run (even if it is two or three), because others have many other reasons for coming to your ministry. Some to help build it, some to simply watch it be built by others, and some to hinder the vision. Be a Good Shepherd and be patient. Do not change your vision to fit the people, wait for God to send the people who will fit the vision. Sheep follow Shepherd, not Shepherd follow sheep.

[james brown]

Advice:
1. You are a springboard for problem resolution - it is not your job to solve the problem.
2. Guide the flock, do not lead them.
3. Pray all you want, as hard as you want, and as often as you want. If it's not in God's plans it's not going to happen so make sure you follow scripture very closely with a clear understanding of your purpose. Members will argue with you but they can not refute scripture. If Gos says it will happen, it will happen
4. Be patient, be patient, be patient. However, do not allow yourself to be a door matt. Stand up when you know you're right but stand up with humility.
5. No matter hpw petty the problem always listen - that's all the people want.
6. If you can't preach - teach. If you can't teach - preach. Know your strengths and weaknesses.
7. School teaches you historical knowledge - not compassion. Therefore, people don't care what you know util they know that you care. It's not about you, you're just another member in charge for a while. God Bless!