4 ADVICE FOR NEW PASTORS

I hope these advices can reach you at the beginning of your pastoral journey. I know how challenging starting to pastor is.

It happened to me ten years ago, after a period learning from an amazing pastor who presided over the church when I arrived. At that time, my work was not integral, but bivocational, assisting the presiding pastor of the Church. I learned everything I could from him, watching and listening to that great mentor.

Until then, my heart considered helping the pastor of the Church well, and continuing with my weekly professional career, it did not cross my mind that I would become the pastor of the Church, but that happened. God was treating my family for the first resignations we needed to make, he gave us peace and I left a promising professional career and right before our eyes, God prepared the Church to receive us as the new servant leaders.

Soon I will also publish an article on pastoral transition.

After 10 years of pastoring and volunteering as an Executive Director in an organization that has an exclusive focus on pastoral mentoring, I would like to share some initial advice with you, simple points for a safe start to your journey.

1° BE AN EXCELLENT HELP

An excellent example of shepherding is built before ordination, when we strive to help right where we are with a heart receptive to shepherding. In reality, all shepherds are assistants to the Chief Shepherd Jesus Christ. A pastor needs to be mentored, he needs to be in the habit of being accountable to someone and if you already have your heart molded in this aspect, you will exude humility and God will pour even more grace on you. Being an assistant is enjoying the precious opportunity to see up close how shepherding happens from an experienced leader of the Church, walk close to your pastor, be someone he can count on. Helping well is a practical support, it is part of the culture of honor and this has contributed to the shepherd that you are becoming in the sight of the Lord and before the flock.

2° BEWARE OF CHANGES

Changes are necessary, but they need to be at the right time, there are many things that are good only at the right time, the church has a time and a quantity of things that it can process. Friend, you are already a big change and the Church may take time to absorb.

Impact ministries are not generated from anxious hearts, but from gracious hearts that patiently pray and in dependence on the Lord know how to discern the right moment. Imagine a 10 year old boy who loves cars, this is very cool to see, but a boy is not prepared to drive a real car, you have to wait for the right time for things to avoid accidents. This has to do with you pastor and the church, mature this relationship enough.

Therefore, initially identify where the opportunities are, do the work of a “root pastor”, preach the Word with grace and knowledge, because a healthy pulpit, supported by a life of prayer will begin to generate credibility of how much the Lord is acting through the your life. In general keep administrative things in the basic plan, in order, make accountability transparent. After the first year it is possible to make small changes according to the will of God in line with the habits of the local Church, this will generate more space and influence for other changes.

3° WORK

The church will embrace a worker who is willing to work, the ministry is a very busy place. Remember that you do not work alone, but work for and with the Lord and together with the Church. The fields, as you know, are white and we need workers! Work must be timely and aligned with a non-negotiable schedule that allows for rest. Try to organize your schedule, because if you don't do it from the beginning, someone will make your schedule, and that will wear you out.

4° LOVE TO SHARE

Don't lose sight of the day your heart was impacted by this beautiful mission, the day you were conquered to conquer others. Shepherding will challenge you, allow the journey to be fueled by a love that only grows day by day. Live within the Lord's expectations for you, they are suited to your nature, live neither under your expectations nor the expectations of others, but only in the will of the Lord. Love is patient, wait on Him and when you suffer, learn from suffering, when you reach great advances, remain humbly kind.

Convey to the flock how much you love doing this incredible work, everything that is coated with love bears much fruit. Your best resource for the growth of yourself and others is love. Don't compare yourself to others, you are unique, realize daily how God loves shepherds, because in love you will do very well.

May the Lord bless you dear pastor, I hope I could have contributed. It's simple things that make a big difference in the day to day ministry, don't be in a hurry, we're in a marathon!

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