Starting off in ministry

Question received: After 40 years of experience in ministry, any advice for people who are just starting? What's made you happiest, made the biggest difference, and would you have done anything differently?

Response:

One of the things to remember in counselling, is that “if only....” are words that are very unhelpful. You simply can’t undo or re-do that which is past. As I look back on my life in ministry there is no doubt that I can say, like the words of Paul Anka’s song, “regrets, I’ve had a few”, however rather than looking back and saying “if only”, I have found that I can look back and say, that whether people or the devil himself “meant it for evil, God meant it for good”. Somehow, I look back and see that the times in my life and ministry that I may consider were not the best, smartest or wisest moments that I have spent, were still somehow taken by God and used for good. So when you ask if I would have done anything differently, it is slightly tricky question. If I could “smarten up” my past and do things differently and/or “smarter”, I have to wonder whether or not they would have worked out for good in the way that many things have.

So when it comes to giving advice to those starting out in ministry, I am not one who can hand you a golden key that will open the door to greatness in the eyes of man. But there a few basics that I would love to leave with you. First up, take the advice of Paul as he wrote to the Roman church – “do not think of yourself more highly than you ought” (Rom 12:3). Remember, ministry means service and service (i.e. ministry) is the call that every Christian shares. If it happens that your ministry is in pastoral leadership in the church, it doesn’t make you better than or more important than the men and women who clean the church floor or serve tea and coffee after the morning service or fill any other roll in church life. Remember, Jesus washed His disciples’ feet – the task carried out by the lowliest of servants; find a modern day equivalent and do it often, always seek to be just, to show mercy and walk humbly with your God. Remember that ministry is not a career or even a job... it is a definite calling. If you do not have a clear calling to pastoral ministry, find something else to do; God will equip the called, but those who pursue pastoral/leadership ministry without a call of God, will crumble somewhere along the path. Today in Australia, there are more former ministers of the gospel then there are current ministers – that should be a sobering thought. Barna Research shows that the average tenure of a pastor in Protestant churches has declined to just 4 years and 80% of pastors quit within 10 years, a majority of those quite within the first 4 years. Scary stats, but if you know that you are called and that there is nothing more important than that call, you will be one of those whose service is much longer. Often God’s call is very specific, so make sure that you fulfil YOUR call and not the calling or expectation of someone else. Be yourself – don’t try to imitate someone else.

You ask what’s made me the happiest. 2 things I think. The first my family – seeing them out there today serving God in their own calling is amazingly pleasing to my wife and I. Whilst I sincerely believe that most of the credit for that belongs to my truly amazing, wise and compassionate wife, it still gives me an internal smile of satisfaction when I see my offspring displaying that same zeal and commitment to serving God that has been in my heart over these many years. The second thing that makes me the happiest (and I picked this up from doing Rick Warren’s “40 Days of Purpose”) is knowing that every now and again, I can put a smile on God’s face – not make Him laugh at me, but make Him feel that same sense of satisfaction that I feel when I look at my kids serving Him. Knowing that I can touch the heart of the eternal, almighty creator God allows me to share the smile that I see on His face!

What’s made the biggest difference? Simply not wavering from my calling. I have been tempted quite a few times – “offers” of other ministry roles can sometimes be very attractive, but the calling has to come out on top. Sometimes the road is tough – very tough. Almost losing my wife and then later my son in medical emergencies was tough; losing a close friend and ministry colleague – the situations can hit hard and hurt, but somehow knowing that God will never leave or forsake me, knowing His Spirit will guide and strengthen me has been the difference when my faith has been weak.