Leading change in the church can be terrifying. No amount
of advice, pep talks or planning can prepare you for the feeling that you’ve
just jumped off a cliff. That’s because you know you’re trading safety and
security for the dream of something bigger. You’re trading something tangible
for something possible. And the scary part is … none of it belongs to you. The
weight of stewardship in these situations is staggering.
I had the unique privilege of being part of the transition
team in the church where I eventually became the lead pastor. I got to watch my
seasoned predecessor navigate change masterfully. At one point, after years of
preparation, we successfully changed the name of our church, adopted new
bylaws, remodeled our building, transitioned from Sunday school to small groups
and added a second Sunday morning service—all in 6 weeks! It was mind-blowing
to be a part of. People really got on board.
But I’ve also had the more common experience as a lead
pastor of trying to implement much smaller changes and hitting a brick wall,
like the time I tried to convince our staff that our church no longer needed a
phone number. Or the time I tried introducing video teaching at our largest
campus with no time for our church to process the adjustment. For some reason,
I just didn’t see the problem with these ideas when we were in the middle of it
all. After watching my predecessor introduce new initiatives so well, I was
tempted to believe I just didn’t have the magic touch.
Three words best describe how I’ve often felt in the midst
of leading change: Alone, frustrated and defeated. The pressure a lead pastor
feels in these times can be isolating. After all, you’re navigating hopes and
dreams coming at you from all directions. It’s hard to know who you can talk to
in the middle of the mess. And when things slow down or take a turn you may
tend to blame yourself, get introspective and internalize the frustration. That’s
bad for your health, your family, your team and your church. After a while, if
things don’t pick up, you may give in to the feelings of defeat—like progress
just isn’t worth the price.
If you’re feeling this way I want to offer two practical
steps I hope will lead to an ongoing conversation, and ultimately, the
breakthrough that you desire.
Two
Steps for Moving Forward:
1.
Remember you are called by God. Think back to all those
moments God used to shape you. Remember how real they were. Reflect on all the
sacrifices you have made to say yes to God’s leading in your life over and over
again. Keep in mind that ultimately you won’t answer to your fans or your
critics. You will answer to God for how you led his church. So seek his will
and his approval above all.
2.
Reconnect with your dreams. Ministry has a way of hijacking your
original dreams and turning them into a diluted version of what once made your
heart beat fast. I’ve found it’s healthy to periodically go back to your first
experiences with a vision from God. One reason you might feel stuck where you
are is because it’s not really your vision anymore. It might be time to refine
a few things, to return to the purity of what God initially spoke into your
life. In my own life there is no replacement for this process. It’s what puts
the fire back in my soul and gives me the courage to chart the course again.
Source: Gabe Kolstad: The lead pastor of
Westside Community Church in Beaverton, Oregon, a certified trainer with Church
Leader Insights and an advanced coaching expert with Nelson
Searcy. This article was originally published on GabeKolstad.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment