I remember well receiving a call from one of my sons. It was his first day on the job as a new pastor. It was also his first full-time ministry position. His words were amusing: “Okay, Dad. I’m here. What do I do next?”
A new pastor has a great opportunity to begin a ministry positively. Conversely, the first 90 days can also be the eventual downfall of a pastor. I’ve spoken with hundreds of pastors around the country; many of them have shared with me their keys to early successes. I distilled them to nine steps that should help most any new pastor.
By the way, these nine steps require much upfront investment of time. You can slow down after the first 90 days, but this time is too critical to short change any one step.
- Spend significant time in the Word for your sermons. All preaching is important, but your first few sermons are critical. That’s where most members will hear and see you. And that’s where many first impressions are formed.
- Listen. Take time to listen to the stories and concerns of your members. Unless you must speak, allow them uninterrupted time to share with you. As a consequence, you will learn much about the church, and you will win the trust of those to whom you listened.
- Be visible. I know. I just said to spend significant time in the Word. It’s hard to do that if you are constantly visible. As I indicated, you should be prepared for some long workweeks your first 90 days.
- Be accessible. Again, you can overdo it here. You need time to carry out the other steps. But early in your ministry you should not be hidden away in a secret study at the church.
- Find low-hanging fruit. In almost every church there are some actions you can take that will cost little and please most members. One pastor knew that the members really wanted to paint the worship center, but the church didn’t have the funds. So he challenged them to an all-day paint day. Some members committed to buy paint. Several agreed to do the painting. And others cooked meals and served the workers. The young pastor became an instant hero.
- Learn the powerbrokers. No one is asking you to compromise your principles or play dirty politics. It’s just a good idea to know who the true decision makers are in the church. You need to get to know them and befriend them if possible.
- Go into the community. Make a statement to the church members and the community that you are determined to serve and love the community where your church is located. Eat in local restaurants. Join a civic organization. Go meet some of the community leaders.
- Express your enthusiasm about being their pastor. If you don’t have enthusiasm for the church when you first arrive, you are in trouble. Let the members know how excited and honored you are to serve them as pastor.
- Don’t speak badly about your previous church. I have eight “thou shalts,” so I’ll add just one “thou shalt not.” If you start speaking negatively about your former church, many members will assume you’ll do the same for your present church. There is nothing to gain in such negative talk.
What do you think of these nine steps? What have you experienced? What would you add?
I think the list is a good one. As a pastor in his first 90 days at a new church I am very interested to read what is said here. This is the 4th church I have served in 22 years of full-time ministry. And, since I just turned 60, it will probably be my last full-time church (I told them I would give them at least 10 years). So…comment on!! I need all the collective wisdom I can get. I am especially interested in hearing what others have to say about seeking changes early on in a new ministry. I feel the need to make some major changes soon (changing service times, new web site, new logo & vision statement and starting a multi-year renovation project to update a reasonably well-kept but very 60s feeling church).
Blessings on your new ministry!
I Just Turned 63. Seems Odd That You Would Commit To At Least 10 Years When You Have No Idea What Tomorrow Will Bring. What Will Happen If God Wants You To Move To A Different Church In 5 Years ? My Commitment Is To Always Surrender To The Will Of The Father. May Your Next 20 Years Be As Fruitful As Your Past 20. Remember, You’re Only 60.
My 10 year commitment was based on plans to not retire from full-time ministry until 70 so long as my health and my wife’s health allows. I know I have no idea what tomorrow brings. But they needed to know I did not plan to retire as soon as I could.
I THINK THOSE ARE VERY GOOD AD I AGREE I TOLD MY CONGRGATION THAT THE FIRST WEDNESDAY IN SEPTEMBER WE WILL EAT DINNER WITH THE COMMUNITY AND I WILL PAY THANK FOR THAT CONFORMATION TO GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND SPREAD GOD WORD.
Dr. Rainer,
I agree wholeheartedly with each one. Excellent list. #5 is particularly one that many new pastors might not think about. Years ago, I heard Chuck Kelley say that a new pastor should earn credibility early on in his ministry by helping a church do what it is already doing in a better way. Grateful for you and your leadership at LifeWay!
Grateful for you too Greg. Thank you.
Thank you for this — This is very important to every new pastor. One thing I would add to that list would be a “transition team” this could be the pastor search team or another group who could help the pastor identify the “land mines”. We go into a new church like going into a dark cave looking for the dynimite and we only have a candle. This group could help a new pastor get started without an expositon in the first year.
Just a thought.
It’s a good thought Ken.
Any recommendations on how to tailor this list for bi-vocational ministry where you don’t have the luxury of doing nothing but pastoring? All insight is greatly appreciated.
Good question Bo. Let’s see if we can get some good responses for you.
One addition to the list I would recommend is doing what you can to be everyone’s pastor. Spend time with the youth, the children, the choir and the WMU even if these are not your strength areas. And make sure you hang out with members of all ages and groups. It is easy to let the search committee introduce you to church members. But you probably need to do more than that to make sure people in every group in the church are touched personally by you and your wife.
Another recommendation is to get into as many homes as possible, starting with church leaders. Home visits give you the opportunity to get to know people on a more in-depth and personal level more quickly as you look around and ‘hear’ what their home says about them.
Thanks Allen.
I must admit, the powerbroker one is a bit hard to digest. I’m not saying it’s not true, I just wish it were not true. Although in an elder led church, this may be a bit easier to navigate.
The powerbroker statement should not be considered as a negative one. Powerbrokers in churches can be controlling and self-oriented. But they are often some of the most godly and gracious members who everyone else looks up to and respects. Only a foolish pastor would not use such folks as a sounding board.
I have found the powerbroker to often be my biggest ally. When we utilize their wisdom, gifts and connections, they can be quite helpful.
Good thoughts Steve.
So here’s a related question… you find out who the power broker is and he is rude and disrespectful and is the reason many don’t attend church. He is open about his feeling that all pastors are crooks. Nothing happens I this church without his OK. How do you handle this type of power broker early in ministry?
NC Pastor
No one seems to have tackled your question. I have been there and I’m sorry you are there now. I’m thankful to the Lord I am at a wonderful church with godly laymen now.
You only have a few options.
1. Ignore him and just pray, preach, visit, and love the people. I’ve seen God move people on. Just out-love them and out-last them. Dr Homer Lindsay Jr used to say, “sometimes you just gotta plow around the stumps”.
2. Hit them head on with support from your other lay-leaders. Confront specific comments or ungodly behavior and ask them to stop. Remind them of their reputation of being that way and have the other men back you up. Chances are, the other men don’t have the back-bone to do it, otherwise he would no be this way, so be careful with option 2.
3. I know one pastor who stood before his Sunday morning crowd and shared his heart. He mentioned the man by name and what the man has said to him and about him. The pastor then asked the congregation if they agreed. The results were amazing. Power-brokers don’t always like attention and exposure. This man was no different. He was powerful on Wednesday nights, but not on Sunday mornings. The pastor is still there and the man and about 10 others left. A few of those 10 came back apologizing to the pastor for their behavior.
Pray about it and if God does not give you peace about staying, then talk with your Director of Missions, your State Convention office, and some other trusted friends and ask them to keep an eye out for a better fit. Referrals are the key and remember its always easier to go to another church from a church.
Praying for you! Don’t go it alone. Seek out godly mentor-pastors in your area. They will walk with you.
NC Pastor,
I may take a different tack when dealing with patrons/matrons (what you’ve described) as opposed to patriarchs and matriarchs (what I think Thom is talking about). It has been my experience becoming engaged with a family sized parish as a clergy person and operating around two family sized parishes as a lay person it can be difficult to take on the patron/matron with a direct assault – most likely they (and their families) have weathered more clergy than you can imagine. While it can be frustrating at times another option is to engage their comments and reflect them back to them. Engagement by asking them to explain their experiences with inept or crooked clergy, with more specifics if possible as opposed to generalities. If they are a real power broker ask them how they can help you navigate the “morass” of the clergy role in “their church.” Specificity is helpful and almost necessary – that way the person can’t point at “them”. At one level, you are trying to co-opt the energy of the negative influence and turn that influence to your favor. Not easy by any stretch but helpful.
Matriarchs and patriarchs are a little easier because they tend to have the interest of the parish in mind for the most part; opposed to the matron/patron who is more interested in their influence than the parish.
John –
Maybe it would more palatable if I had said “chief influencers.” They are certainly in most churches.
Here are my top ten for the first 100 days! http://danserns.wordpress.com/2008/05/31/why-not-try-this-share-advice-with-a-new-pastor-to-a-new-district/
Thanks Dan.
Dr. Rainer:
Great article! The listening aspect is one that I found the most pivotal in my first 90 days at our church.
Your point about talking negatively of your previous church hits home. I sometimes struggle with comparing pros and cons between churches.
I wrote an article similar to your first 90 days post that may also help readers seeking to learn more about this subject: http://jeremyroberts.org/2012/04/ten-leadership-keys-to-transitioning-into-a-new-pastorate/
Thanks Jeremy.
I have several of these I could have done much better. I’ve been at my church for about a year and a half, and some things I did well, and others not so well. The preaching thing is right on. I still hear about the things I preached about when I first came, and the members of the church know that those things are important to me. I think they’ve forgotten every other sermon!
I think I would add #10 to say “Don’t criticize your present church’s former pastor.”
That’s a good addition JW.
I couldn’t agree more, JW. When you go to a new church, you’ll often hear criticisms of your predecessor. For heaven’s sake, don’t join in the criticism! It will very likely come back to haunt you.
Dr. Rainer
As a current college student who feels a calling to serve as a full time minister in the future, I believe this list is very helpful to me already. I am thankful for all your posts, and they do nothing but encourage me to be serving in my community even while I’m not a minister yet. Thank you so much for this list.
Thank you so much Jonathan. With the attitude you demonstrated in your comment, I know God is and will use you in a great way.
One more recommendation that I learned from Tom Elliff is to pray for your flock by name. As soon as you arrive (or even before), procure a directory and pray for each person. The directory will help you learn the names and you will fulfill biblical injunctions (Acts 6:4; Heb. 13:17). Further, nothing gives you a greater heart for your people than praying for them by name.
Can’t thank you enough, Doc, for the helpful wisdom you bring to the table. I realize, even after 10 years of pastoring, I have much to learn. The church plant I began about 7 years ago is about to close. It’s sad but we have learned much and look forward to a new beginning. This list is a great encouragement! I hope people encourage you daily, too, sir!
Thanks Rich. Most of them do : )
Any suggestions for the pastor’s wife for transitioning into the church family and community?
Hello,
I was wondering if you received an answer to this question? My husband is a pastor and we will be going to a new church soon. At our current church I have never felt useful or part of the church or community so I was hoping you received an answer and that perhaps I missed it. Or perhaps since this is an old post you have gained answers through experience?
Good points. I recommend a book “Ministry loves Company” by Galloway. This book gives good pointers on what new ministers should consider. You have hit many of the nails right on the head.
Thank you for posting this, which is very timely for myself as I will begin my responsibilities as the senior pastor of Central Assembly of God in Arlington, Texas in just 6 weeks. My wife and I and our new son of just 3 weeks now, we’re very excited about this new beginning for our family as we relocated from Danbury, CT to Arlington later in August.
Each of these 9 points will definitely be re-read this weekend as I fly down to visit the church again before our big move and I meet with the board members of the church and I’ve got this post saved to Evernote too. I’ll look forward to referring to it often during my first 90 days as a new pastor.
I don’t think I’ll trangress #9 since I’ve learned a lot while serving as a bi-vocational pastor at First Assembly of God in Brookfield, CT and I’m grateful for what I’ve learned from the people of the church and the pastors who serve them too.
Thanks Kurt. Blessings to you.
I have been a pastor now for 2 years, and even in that small amount of time I have seen that people are really hungry for a pastor who loves them and is humble. I tell our people all the time that I want them to always be able to assume two things as they observe me serving them as pastor – that I love Christ and I love them. No matter what may come or if everyone does not agree with the things we do, can they still go back to those things? – I love Christ and I love them.
Wow…glad I came across this article. I begin pastoring a new church in two weeks. I’ve been
really busy wrapping us here that it’s been tough to begins the vision process for the new church.
This was a very practical read!!
The interview process can be tough and very stressful. Many times things that you need to discuss get lost in conversation and things that are not as major get a lot of discussion time. How about a blog dealing with topics or issues to discuss when talking to a pastor search team. Questions that need to be asked and topics that need to be discussed by both parties involved.
a few more suggestions…….if I may. Having been in pastoral ministry for about 40 years, I have probably made every blunder possible to man. I have found myself swinging, at times from one extreme to the other. I wholeheartedly agree being a “person pastor” we must strive to be loving, patient, studious, compassionate,
godly, faithful, etc. etc. pastor. Thought the list is very insightful, I would hope we beware of seeking to please men based in Galatians chapter one. Though we should never become a dictator pushing and shoving and slamming things around because we must SHOW THEM WE ARE THE MAN OF GOD :-(, we must also be careful not to play politics and become a people pleaser. It’s the Lord’s Church and we must, first and foremost,
seek to please Him. If we seek to please Him in all we do, we will automatically please the spiritual people in the congregation in the process. I would also like to suggest we not go in trying to change a bunch of stuff that’s not broke. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” I have seen some fall into the trap of coming into a new pastorate with an agenda of changing them, while saying to the church, they just want to “serve them.” I think if a new pastor comes to town with an “agenda” of radical change, he is being dishonest if he does not tell the church before they hire him. I suggest rather than trying to “change” a church, if you are honest and want to please the Lord, GO START A NEW CHURCH IN A TOWN WHERE THERE AREN’T ANY BIBLE BELIEVING CHURCHES.
PLEASE DO NOT take a church that has been a traditional church for 75 years and come in with the agenda of running off everyone that is not “modernized” to your modern philosophy.
I know I am all over the spectrum here……..but just airing some frustrations I have by things I’ve seen. I guess I might as well mention one other pet peeve, while I am at it. Lord help us to strive to maintain our priorities. I have friends and family members and I myself have fallen prey to this satanic snare. Spending all our time at church, planning, doing, going, being, studying, all the church wants us to be AND NEGLECTING or family.
Brethren, if we loose our family, we loose our ministry. This is my first time to post here, and I don’t want to sound like a “know it all” but I have been there and done most of these blunders and only hope to help a brother
avoid these and many more pitfalls. LET’S BE MEN OF PRAYER AND THE WORD, and like the preacher of old said, “I set myself on fire and people come to watch me burn.” God bless and forgive me for being so wordy.
Thank you tremendously!
I will keep in mind the “I set myself on fire and people come to watch me burn!”
Bout to enter my first pastorate at age 57. Have worked as an assistant pastor over the years but this is the first time I am the pastor. Bi-vocational. Finding a balance with the 24 hours that we have is going to be a challenge. Already experiencing it! I have a lot of work to do for my other job right now and only find myself wanting to pray and pray and read and read! My eyes tear up as to the tremendous responsibility to the souls which I am to shepherd. Not focusing on my responsibility for their decisions but my responsibility for my own and how my decisions better allows and encourages the flow of God through me for ministry to them and me.
Thank you for your insight.
God’s choicest blessings to you always!
Going forth to set myself on fire! Thanks!!!
Rev. Murphy Peterson, Jr.
T
I’m not a new pastor, but I am in a new position. I’m serving as a consultant with a state Baptist association in leadership development. Most of my work will be with women in ministry, but a part of my job will include speaking with pastors about engaging the 60% of their congregation that are women. I think everything you said here will also apply to this position. I had already considered the influencers, but had not thought about what might be low hanging fruit! You have given me more to think about! Thanks!
I just read this article on Baptist Press, and I want to suggest a couple of modifications (I posted these same comments on the BP website). First, I have a slight disagreement with #1. Certainly it’s important for a new pastor to make a good impression with his first sermons, but most preachers have a backlog of favorite “sugar stick” sermons. My preaching professor in seminary suggested using those during your first weeks, and this will free up more time for visiting. Second, visit your shut-ins. They tend to be your best prayer warriors. Also, they’re often in the final stages of life, and you need to become acquainted with them before you have to preach their funerals. Also, if the shut-ins have any family in the church (as they often do), they will appreciate the new pastor’s concern for a group that is often neglected by the church.
Good points Ken. Thanks.
As for the first 13 sermons, some of, if not much of the time for their preparation can be found before the new pastor gets to the field. The Holy Spirit can speak more clearly before the distractions and pressures begin.
The same thing might said for getting to know the community and the influencers. Electronic research and communications can be great tools for getting a jump on a new ministry.
Finally, a tenth step is to begin to pray for each member of the church by name each day if at all possible.
Great write up
thank you so much
i was posted to a new parish this will help me a lot.
Great article Dr. Rainer. I am starting out in my first senior pastor role in about 6 weeks. Your articles combined with the comments of seasoned pastors have been very insightful. Thanks
I’m wondering as I read the original post and the subsequent responses: does our start up activity / involvement change based on the size church being pastored?
Also, I’d want to add or amend the list with cottage meetings hosted by search team or governing board members. Each host might invite 8-12 people for dessert with the pastor, as an opportunity to spend time getting to know each other and the pastor, and to give the new pastor an opportunity to share his heart on his excitement for being there and the dreams he has for this next season of ministry together.
Thank you so much for so much insight here, am glad i came across this.
This is a wonderful blue print for a pastor in a new Church.It is comprehensive and well tailored counsels.It has open my horizon and has alley the fear of the first 90days in a new church .Thanks,more anointing ijn.
I am a new pastor assigned to a larger congregation, what to expect.
A common complaint from churches in this area is: “every time we get a new pastor, the first thing he wants to do is change the constitution!” Leave it alone for at least two years!
As one who significantly revised a church’s Statement of Faith, which was part of the Constitution… sometimes they are way out of date. Perhaps this was a condition of employment.
This was so encouraging to me, as I have seen my husband doing these very things and the congregation was brow-beaten and dwindling but have rebounded and shown great strength and love.
I wonder if this mightn’t also be a good list, if somewhat modified, for the pastor’s wife, too. I have made a habit of having lunch with one lady in our congregation, every Monday, when possible, and have begun organizing a meeting with as many pastor’s wives as possible, in our small town. I’ve taken on a quick and easy project that has added much to the congregation’s experience by creating a small newsletter for them, which they seem to truly enjoy. Also, I sing for them, and they seem to like my voice.
There are other things, also, but I think you can get my drift.
My question is whether a pastor’s wife should concern herself with being a “leader” or not. 🙂