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

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.

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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.
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.
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!
Trust God.....lean not unto your own understanding
James 1: 1-6.........I believe
Psalms 118: 8
Thank you Jesus
This may sound like an oxymoron, but here is my advice. Love the sheep, but protect your heart. Know that as you build there will be those that come to complete a certain part of the building (ex. in building the one who put the windows in will leave after the assignment is complete, the one who does the painting will leave once the job is complete) same is true while building your congregation. 1Th 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you...

Others will come to occupy the building and stay as pillars of the ministry.

Sheep follow Shepherd, not Shepherd follow sheep.

I extend the Olive Branch to mentor anyone who does not have a covering. I'm not talking about God as your covering. I caught you in the spirit. LOL.
So here's where all of you be hiding, in Pastoral Leadership & Church Folk.
The most effective advice that I received when I first pastored was "love the flock." That sounded so simple, yet that tid bit has been vital to my growth and development as a pastor. Loving those we have been given charge over will not always mean feeling affection toward all of them all of the time, and it definitely does not mean that all of them will always feel affection for us. But, it does mean that we will do our best to make sure that they are fed, protected, and have all that they need to grow and reproduce. Love means listening to, hearing the flock even when we think we have all the answers, and letting God make the final decsion. Love many times means looking at ourselves and staying before the Lord to see what we need to do or to change or to better so as to feed and lead, guide, redirect, and correct the members of the flock correctly and effectively. Love will keep us discharging our duties even when we feel unappreciated or our efforts seem ineffective. Love (for God and for the church) helps us assign members to the right places (as directed by Spirit) or handle administrative duties in ways that may be unpopular to the congregant(s), but necessary for the church body. Love as part of one's character- what one does. 1 Cor. 13 type love. That love is always God centered, God directed and it never fails.

I would like to have some of the experienced pastors to e-mail me with suggestions on effective pastoring as well. I am still new and learning and need guidance. I pray God's blessings upon you and your congregation and that you will have all that you need to do all that God has designed for you to do with the flock he places you with.
Remember, pastoring is relationship. Many preachers destroy themselves because they try to Pastor without relationship. I have been in my church 24 years. There are things I can do now that absolutely could not happen year one. It is not always that the congregation and deacons/officers disrespect you, the relationship is not of such they know they can depend on you. In short, my best advice is remembering what I learned in seminary. Year 1 you are the visiting minister. Year 2, you are the resident minister. year 3, you can make suggestions. Year 4, after you've married a few and buried a few, then you can Pastor. Preach the Word. Love the people, is the best advice I can give.

Snodgrass
Thank you and God bless.
Dr. Snodgrass, I could not find better words to share with new pastors. In every new pastorate there are experiences that only time will be able to miser. Never take the relationship for granted and always be humbled understanding that God could have used anyone to be involved with his people. Always treat her with respect, always remember your uncomprimising position was established by the owner of the sheepfold and not by yourself. Keep in mind that you are not in competition, with other pastors, but serve according to the mission the Lord has for you and the local church. Be humble as a visiting minister for a year, be available as a resident minister, make suggestions to the right committees or boards and finally when the people accept you, then you will be a pastor. Remember your name on a sign, van or a program, does not make you a pastor. When the sheep happily follow you, then you have began your pastorate. Always remember the ideas, attitudes and thought patterns you had as a sheep, they will help in your becoming an effective pastor.
Excellent. I will diffinately use this to share with my pastors if you don't mind sir.
My Brother Preach the Word.. Thats it! Not your opinion not what pleases their ear. The word of God! I have been Preaching 25yrs pastored 13yrs before I relocated. the best advice i got in 25yrs I will share with you. Every time you get up to preach, preach like it is your last time!

Be Blessed
Rev.L.C.Perry

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