Steve's on
 
 

“My Top Ten Mistakes In Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly)” #9

Steve Childers February 09 2011 - No Comment

This is the ninth in a series of blog posts called, “My Top Ten Mistakes in Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly.)” After many years of ministry experience as a church planter, pastor and seminary professor, I think I’ve finally learned that one of the best kept secrets to surviving well in the ministry is to stop making the same old mistakes that others (like me) have been making for decades. Instead, let’s all start making some brand new, bold, innovative and creative mistakes!

We began this series with an introduction called, “Ladies First” in which veteran church planter wife, Shari Thomas, addressed the tough topic, What I Wish I Had Known About Church Planting from the perspective of the church planter’s/pastor’s spouse. We then took a look at:

Mistake #9: Not Understanding that the Good News is for the Lost & Found

I am a recovering Pharisee. I love the praise of man more than the praise of God. I naturally substitute a knowledge about God or a knowledge about godliness for truly knowing God. Over the years I have developed several intricate strategies and spiritual disciplines to cover up the lack of spiritual reality in my heart. I can defend the truths of the Gospel, but I often fail to experience its transforming power in my life.

The depth of my Pharisaism was exposed several years ago while I co-taught a Doctor of Ministry class at RTS/Orlando. During one session, my colleague (the late C. Jack Miller) realized how many of the pastors and Christian leaders in our class seemed discouraged and spiritually defeated. I, too, was struggling –just doing a great job of disguising it in front of the class. Observing the pain all around him, he took me aside and suggested I divide the class into groups of three and lead them in sharing the Gospel with each other. I was stunned. “Why?” I wondered. Did he think some of these people weren’t really Christians? I could see stopping the class to share needs and pray but not to evangelize each other.

As he explained, however, I realized how faulty my reasoning had been. I had assumed that the Gospel was for non-Christians alone and had little or no relevance to the Christian life once someone was converted. I began learning that day that the Gospel is not just a gate I must pass through one time, but a path I should walk each day of my life.

It’s a painfully common story. We begin the Christian life well but gradually find ourselves increasingly experiencing little or no true spiritual transformation. Although we still believe sound doctrine and practice spiritual disciplines, our hearts seem unchanged. Our relationship with God has grown cold and distant. We know something is wrong but we’re not sure what it is. No real joy abounds in our lives; we no longer truly sense God’s presence or power. Ultimately, we know we are forgiven, but in the midst of our daily lives we have no authentic power over temptation. What is the answer?

The good news for Christians is that a divine remedy for our cold and hardened hearts is available! And that remedy is found in the transforming power of the Gospel, the goal of which is not just our regeneration but also our transformation into the image of Christ. Its purpose is not merely to forgive us, but to change us into true worshippers of God and authentic lovers of people. However, we often reduce the Gospel to “God’s plan of salvation” for lost people to be saved from sin’s penalty, not realizing that it is also “God’s plan of salvation” for Christians to be saved from sin’s power. The same Gospel message that saves sinners also sanctifies the saints.

The Bible teaches that our salvation encompasses all three tenses: Past–We have been saved from sin’s penalty (Eph. 2:8); Present–We are being saved from sin’s domineering power (Phil. 2:12); and Future–We will be saved (in Heaven) from sin’s presence. (Rom. 13:11).

The Apostle Paul made clear that repentance and faith were meant to be ongoing in the life of the believer when he wrote,”…just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, so walk in Him”(Col. 2:6). Coming to Jesus Christ in repentance and faith is meant by God to be more than a mere one time event by which we are saved from sin’s penalty. Repentance and faith in Christ is also the God-ordained process by which we are to be continually coming back to Jesus Christ daily, moment by moment, to be saved from sin’s domineering power and have our hearts transformed.

When you were united to Christ through faith, you were given a very rich and remarkable spiritual inheritance in Him. But like a child born into a royal family, it takes time for you to realize the full extent of the riches of your birthright. Each doctrine related to the Gospel helps us understand the many facets of what we now have in Christ. The Good News is that even though you may have glaring inconsistencies in your walk with God, if you are in Christ, you can still claim by faith the wonderful truths of God’s radical love for you in Christ.

In the Gospel we see the multi-colored splendor of our new life in Jesus Christ and find the divine remedy for the heart that has been wounded by conviction of sin. In the Gospel we find the streams of living water that well up in the heart of a believer who keeps coming to Christ in faith (Jn. 7:37,38). As we learn to drink deeply from the well that is Christ we will experience the transformation of our hearts and find the living waters of the Holy Spirit flowing through us into other lives. This well never runs dry. Here are the springs of personal, corporate and national revival!

All God asks is that we continue to draw near to Him in repentance and faith through the cross of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…”(Gal. 6:14) It has been said that grace, like water, always flows to the lowest place–the foot of the cross. It is here that we humble ourselves, cast away all our pride and self-sufficiency and admit what we really are to God. It is here that we find the supernatural power, courage, and strength to be more like Jesus Christ.

Steve Childers is the President & CEO of Global Church Advancement, an inter-denominational ministry that provides church planting training, consultations, and resources for church planters, pastors and missionaries throughout the world. Steve has trained Christian leaders from more than 50 countries (curriculum in five major global languages), representing over 200 denominations and mission agencies in 5 continents (& 5 languages). Steve is also an author, Professor of Practical Theology (since 1995) and the Director of the Doctoral program at Reformed Theological Seminary, in Orlando, Florida, where he teaches church planting, missions, evangelism and spiritual formation. To learn more about GCA:

Browse the GCA Website: http://www.gca.cc

Join the GCA Cause: http://bit.ly/X5bZC

See the GCA Blog: http://www.gca.cc/blog/

Follow GCA on Twitter: http://twitter.com/_gca

Follow Steve on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stevechilders

Check out upcoming GCA Events: http://gca.cc/Seminar_Overview.htm

Support GCA: http://gca.cc/Support_GCA.htm

Posted in Read, Steve Childers by: Steve Childers •

“My Top Ten Mistakes In Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly)” #8

Steve Childers January 06 2011 - No Comment

This is the eighth in a series of blog posts called, “My Top Ten Mistakes in Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly.)” After many years of ministry experience as a church planter, pastor and seminary professor, I think I’ve finally learned that one of the best kept secrets to surviving well in the ministry is to stop making the same old mistakes that others (like me) have been making for decades. Instead, let’s all start making some brand new, bold, innovative and creative mistakes!

We began this series with an introduction called, “Ladies First” in which veteran church planter wife, Shari Thomas, addressed the tough topic, What I Wish I Had Known About Church Planting from the perspective of the church planter’s/pastor’s spouse. We then took a look at:

Mistake #8: Not Initiating Supportive Relationships

The new book Preventing Ministry Failure by Michael Wilson and Brad Hoffmann, begins with these telling words, “Great ministers don’t just happen; great falls from ministry don’t just happen either.” They go on to share the results of various surveys of senior ministers that reveal the painfully high percentages of those who:

  • have been forced out of or fired from a ministry at least once.
  • feel inadequately trained to cope with ministry demands
  • believe that pastoral ministry affects their families negatively
  • say they’ve experienced depression or burnout to the extent that they needed to take a leave of absence
  • have a serious conflict with a church member at least once a month
  • admit to having an affair while in the ministry
  • admit that internet pornography is a current struggle
  • do not have someone they consider a close friend

Ministry is hard. The demands and expectations placed on pastors by well-meaning people are often beyond the realm of reason. As the old, well-worn (worn out?) joke painfully puts it:

“The Perfect Pastor preaches exactly 10 minutes. He condemns sin roundly, but never hurts anyone’s feelings. He works from 8 a.m. until midnight, and is also the church janitor. The Perfect Pastor makes $40 a week, wears good clothes, drives a good car, buys good books, and donates $30 a week to the church. He is 29 years old and has 40 years’ worth of experience. Above all, he is handsome. The Perfect Pastor has a burning desire to work with teenagers, and he spends most of his time with the senior citizens. He smiles all the time with a straight face because he has a sense of humor that keeps him seriously dedicated to his church. He makes 15 home visits a day and is always in his office to be handy when needed. The Perfect Pastor always has time for church meetings and all of its committees, never missing the meeting of any church organization. And he is always busy evangelizing the unchurched. The Perfect Pastor is always in the next town over!”

In the face of a host of unrealistic expectations, most Christian leaders continue to “go it alone” without having the healthy, supportive relationships they so desperately need to survive. I wish someone had told me before I began pastoral ministry how critically important it is for me to build healthy, supportive relationships. To be more specific, I wish someone had told me that there are three relationships (or three dynamics in relationships) that can serve as lifelines for healthy, long-term ministry and that this “cord of three” can greatly help me from being just another statistic:

A Coach: Someone Who Comes Alongside and Draws Out SkillsThe first one could be called a coach. This is the kind of person who comes alongside and helps draw out of you what you already know you want to be and do. Like a personal trainer at a gym, you don’t need a close relationship with your coach—although it’s always beneficial. But you do need to respect your coach and allow him/her to hold you accountable to do all the kinds of things you want to do but haven’t been able to pull off on your own.

A Mentor: Someone Who Goes Before and Pours in WisdomA second type relationship could be called a mentor. The mentor is someone who has gone before you in both life and ministry (e.g. an older, wiser pastor), often by a decade or more, and pours back into your life wisdom gained from years of experience. This relationship is often deeper than you might have with a coach but not as deep as with a counselor.

A Counselor: Someone Who Knows Your Heart and Shapes Your AffectionsA counselor, whether a professional clinician or just a godly person, is someone who is not intimidated by you. Your counselor doesn’t just know your external sin patterns but understands well the “sin beneath your sin”, i.e. “the why” underneath “the what” you keep doing or not doing. A good counselor not only helps you to see your heart’s misplaced affections but will also help you repent deeply and well, placing your heart affections back on to Christ.

One Key: Taking the Responsibility and InitiativeBut why is it that most of us do not have supportive relationships like a coach, mentor or counselor? Frankly, I’m afraid it is because we don’t really believe we need them. Therefore we have not truly persisted in taking the initiative to establish these kinds of relationships. Instead we often take a passive posture, complaining about our lack of relational support for life and ministry and blame-shifting the fault to others.

One critically important first step toward unlocking the door to having truly supportive relationships in life and ministry is often a willingness to stop rationalizing why we don’t have them and take the personal responsibility and initiative necessary to establish and sustain them long-term. We cannot make it alone. We are designed by God in his communal image. This means we are designed to do life and ministry in the context of inter-dependent relationships. Without the personal lifelines of people like coaches, mentors and counselors I’m convinced I would have gone down in flames years ago.

It’s interesting. The kind of person truly committed to persevering until these kinds of life-sustaining relationships (coach, mentor, counselor) are established and sustained is usually the kind of person who establishes them and sustains them. I don’t want to sugar-coat this. Just like ministry is hard, it’s also hard, very hard, to establish and maintain supportive personal relationships.

But it’s worth it! Why? Because it’s the pathway that enables you not only to survive but to thrive in the trenches of real-life ministry. Always remember, “Great ministers don’t just happen; great falls from ministry don’t just happen either.”

Steve Childers is the President & CEO of Global Church Advancement, an inter-denominational ministry that provides church planting training, consultations, and resources for church planters, pastors and missionaries throughout the world. Steve has trained Christian leaders from more than 50 countries (curriculum in five major global languages), representing over 200 denominations and mission agencies in 5 continents (& 5 languages). Steve is also an author, Professor of Practical Theology (since 1995) and the Director of the Doctoral program at Reformed Theological Seminary, in Orlando, Florida, where he teaches church planting, missions, evangelism and spiritual formation. To learn more about GCA:

Browse the GCA Website: http://www.gca.cc

Join the GCA Cause: http://bit.ly/X5bZC

See the GCA Blog: http://www.gca.cc/blog/

Follow GCA on Twitter: http://twitter.com/_gca

Follow Steve on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stevechilders

Check out upcoming GCA Events: http://gca.cc/Seminar_Overview.htm

Support GCA: http://gca.cc/Support_GCA.htm

Posted in Read, Steve Childers by: Steve Childers •

“My Top Ten Mistakes In Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly)” #7

Steve Childers October 01 2010 - 2 Comments

“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” 2 Corinthians 11:30 (ESV)

This is the seventh in a series of blog posts called, “My Top Ten Mistakes in Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly.)” After many years of ministry experience as a church planter, pastor and seminary professor, I think I’ve finally learned that one of the best kept secrets to surviving well in the ministry is to stop making the same old mistakes that others (like me) have been making for decades. Instead, let’s all start making some brand new, bold, innovative and creative mistakes!

We began this series with an introduction called, “Ladies First” in which veteran church planter wife, Shari Thomas, addressed the tough topic, What I Wish I Had Known About Church Planting from the perspective of the church planter’s/pastor’s spouse. We then took a look at:

Mistake #7: Not Understanding Product Living VS Process Living

I have to confess that I belong to what Pastor Mark Buchanan calls the Cult of the Next Thing. Buchanan writes, “It is dangerously easy to get enlisted. It happens by default–not by choosing the cult but by failing to resist it. It is dangerously easy to get enlisted. It happens by default–not by choosing the cult but by failing to resist it.”

For me the Cult of the Next Thing is sinful discontentment cast in religious terms. It has its own sacred terms like: our ministry vision, our mission, our goals, our objectives. Please don’t misunderstand, these are good things, but we begin to believe that we can’t ever really be happy until we get them.

This Cult also has its own Mantras we church planter types often quote: I’ll be happy when we have a certain number of people in worship every Sunday. Or I’ll be happy when we are self-supporting financially as a church. Or I’ll be happy when we are self-governing with our own elders or deacons. I’ll be happy when I’ve been able to pass this baton (you name it) to another leader. I’ll be happy when I’m not sick anymore…when the kids are older…when the kids are gone….

And this Cult has its own shrines in other ministries that are doing better than ours. And it has its own ecstatic experiences: those fleeting moments when you finally reach a goal you’ve been living for and looking to for so long. It feels great. But like sand through your fingers it ever so quickly slips away from you. So then you must look ahead to the next experience.

Author Isaac Rubin writes, “The joy and happiness from the process lasts much longer and can be much more satisfying over the duration of your life. But if you are totally goal-oriented in a success-oriented culture, and if the product is the only goal, you will destroy much of the possibility for true joy and happiness in life. That is because almost all of your life has to be the process and not the product. If you can’t learn to appreciate and enjoy the process of living itself, there goes your joy in life.

If you get nothing out of the doing, because you are always looking for the high that will come at the end, you’re in serious trouble. But if you learn to be nourished by the whole process, that result at the end of the road, positive or negative, is not terribly significant. You just go on to the next process. You must learn to understand and appreciate “Process Living” because the process is really what life is all about. We are in process 98 % of the time. If you are living for that final 2%, you’re in trouble. And the truth is most of us are in serious trouble.”

The story is told when Alexander the Great conquered the entire known world, he wept because there were no more worlds for him to conquer. The opiate of winning the next battle was now gone and he was left trembling in withdrawal, unable to live and love life in the present.

Elizabeth Elliot summed it up well, “ Don’t let your living for tomorrow slay your living for today.” If you’re not very careful you will always be living for tomorrow and find yourself being robbed of all of your todays. I wish someone had talked straight to me about that common and so costly mistake in life and ministry.

Steve Childers is the President & CEO of Global Church Advancement, an inter-denominational ministry that provides church planting training, consultations, and resources for church planters, pastors and missionaries throughout the world. Steve has trained Christian leaders from more than 50 countries (curriculum in five major global languages), representing over 200 denominations and mission agencies in 5 continents (& 5 languages). Steve is also an author, Professor of Practical Theology (since 1995) and the Director of the Doctoral program at Reformed Theological Seminary, in Orlando, Florida, where he teaches church planting, missions, evangelism and spiritual formation. To learn more about GCA:

Browse the GCA Website: http://www.gca.cc

Join the GCA Cause: http://bit.ly/X5bZC

See the GCA Blog: http://www.gca.cc/blog/

Follow GCA on Twitter: http://twitter.com/_gca

Follow Steve on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stevechilders

Check out upcoming GCA Events: http://gca.cc/Seminar_Overview.htm

Support GCA: http://gca.cc/Support_GCA.htm

Posted in Read, Steve Childers by: Steve Childers •

“My Top Ten Mistakes In Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly)” #6

Steve Childers July 27 2010 - 2 Comments

“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” 2 Corinthians 11:30 (ESV)

This is the sixth in a series of blog posts called, “My Top Ten Mistakes in Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly.)” After many years of ministry experience as a church planter, pastor and seminary professor, I think I’ve finally learned that one of the best kept secrets to surviving well in the ministry is to stop making the same old mistakes that others (like me) have been making for decades. Instead, let’s all start making some brand new, bold, innovative and creative mistakes!

We began this series with an introduction called, “Ladies First” in which veteran church planter wife, Shari Thomas, addressed the tough topic, What I Wish I Had Known About Church Planting from the perspective of the church planter’s/pastor’s spouse. We then took a look at:

Mistake #6: Not Understanding the Priority of People Over Programs

It’s been thought by all of us in Christian ministry (both clergy and laity) at one time or another: “I love God, and I love the ministry, but it’s just people that I really don’t like!” (more…)

Posted in Read, Steve Childers by: Steve Childers •

“My Top Ten Mistakes In Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly)” #5

Steve Childers April 15 2010 - 3 Comments

Mistake #5: Not Understanding that the Way Up is the Way Down

“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” 2 Corinthians 11:30 (ESV)

This is the fifth in a series of blog posts called, “My Top Ten Mistakes in Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly.)” After many years of ministry experience as a church planter, pastor and seminary professor, I think I’ve finally learned that one of the best kept secrets to surviving well in the ministry is to stop making the same old mistakes that others (like me) have been making for decades. Instead, let’s all start making some brand new, bold, innovative and creative mistakes!

We began this series with an introduction called, “Ladies First” in which veteran church planter wife, Shari Thomas, addressed the tough topic, What I Wish I Had Known About Church Planting from the perspective of the church planter’s/pastor’s spouse. We then took a look at:

This time we’ll take a brief look at another common mistake church leaders make that I wish someone had told me about before I went into the ministry.

Mistake #5: Not Understanding that the Way Up is the Way Down (more…)

Posted in Read, Steve Childers by: Steve Childers •

“My Top Ten Mistakes In Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly)” #4

Steve Childers February 08 2010 - 4 Comments

Mistake #4: Not Understanding the Difference Between Pursuing the Grace of God or the God of Grace

“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” 2 Corinthians 11:30 (ESV)

This is the fifth in a series of blog posts called, “My Top Ten Mistakes in Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly.)” After many years of ministry experience as a church planter, pastor and seminary professor, I think I’ve finally learned that one of the best kept secrets to surviving well in the ministry is to stop making the same old mistakes that others (like me) have been making for decades. Instead, let’s all start making some brand new, bold, innovative and creative mistakes!

We began this series with an introduction called, “Ladies First” in which veteran church planter wife, Shari Thomas, addressed the tough topic, What I Wish I Had Known About Church Planting from the perspective of the church planter’s/pastor’s spouse. We then took a look at:

• Mistake #1 (these are in no intentional order) called, “Failing to Understand the Importance of How I Define Ministry Success.”
• Mistake #2 called, Managing My Time and Not Managing My Life
• Mistake #3: Not Understanding the Difference Between my Goals and Desires.

This time we’ll take a brief look at another common mistake church leaders make that I wish someone had told me about before I went into the ministry.

Mistake #4: Not Understanding the Difference Between Pursuing the Grace of God and the God of Grace. (more…)

Posted in Read, Steve Childers by: Steve Childers •

My Top Ten Mistakes In Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly) #3

Steve Childers December 31 2009 - 6 Comments

Mistake #3: Not Understanding the Difference Between My Goals and Desires

“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” 2 Corinthians 11:30 (ESV)

This is the fourth in a series of blog posts called, “My Top Ten Mistakes in Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly)” After many years of ministry experience as a church planter, pastor and seminary professor I think I’ve finally learned that one of the best kept secrets to surviving well in the ministry is to stop making the same old mistakes that others (like me) have been making for decades. Instead, let’s all start making some brand new, bold, innovative and creative mistakes!

We began this series with an introduction called, “Ladies First” in which veteran church planter wife, Shari Thomas, addressed the tough topic, What I Wish I Had Known About Church Planting” from the perspective of the church planter’s/pastor’s spouse. We then took a look at

Posted in Read, Steve Childers by: Steve Childers •

“My Top Ten Mistakes In Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly) #2”

Steve Childers November 17 2009 - 9 Comments

“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” 2 Corinthians 11:30 (ESV)

This is the third in a series of blog posts called, “My Top Ten Mistakes in Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly)” After many years of ministry experience as a church planter, pastor and seminary professor I think I’ve finally learned that one of the best kept secrets to surviving well in the ministry is to stop making the same old mistakes that others (like me) have been making for decades. Instead, let’s all start making some brand new, bold, innovative and creative mistakes!

We began this series with an introduction called, “Ladies First” in which veteran church planter wife, Shari Thomas, addressed the tough topic, “What I Wish I Had Known About Church Planting” from the perspective of the church planter’s/pastor’s spouse. Last time we looked at Mistake #1 called, “Failing to Understand the Importance of How I Define Ministry Success.” This time we’ll take a brief look at Mistake #2 (these are in no intentional order) I wish someone had the wisdom and guts to tell me before I began church planting/pastoral ministry more than 30 years ago. (more…)

Posted in Read, Steve Childers by: Steve Childers •

My Top Ten Mistakes In Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly) – #1

Steve Childers October 12 2009 - 9 Comments

This is the second in a series of blog posts I’m calling, “My Top Ten Mistakes in Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly!). After decades of ministry experience as a church planter, pastor and seminary professor I’ve learned the hard way that most church leaders seem to keep making the same mistakes in ministry. I hope that this series will help some church leaders (including me) stop making the same old mistakes and at least start making some brand new, innovative and creative mistakes!

Last time we began this series with an introduction called, “Ladies First” in which veteran church planter wife Shari Thomas answered the tough question, “What I Wish I Had Known About Church Planting” from the perspective of the church pastor’s spouse. This time we’ll take a brief look at the first of my top ten ministry mistakes.

Mistake #1: Failing to Understand the Importance of How I Define Ministry Success (more…)

Posted in Read, Steve Childers by: Steve Childers •

My Top Ten Mistakes In Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly)

Steve Childers August 25 2009 - 15 Comments

An Introduction by Steve Childers

Introduction: Ladies First!
After more than 30 years of ministry experience as a church planter, pastor and seminary professor I think I’ve finally learned the secret to survival in the ministry: stop making the same old mistakes the rest of us have been making in the ministry for decades and start making brand new, bold, innovative and creative mistakes!

This is the first in a series of posts I’m calling, “My Top Ten Mistakes in Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly)“. But instead of starting with “My Greatest Mistakes–Part One” I thought it might be better to begin this series by allowing you the privilege of looking back at 25 years of real-life, in-the-trench church planting ministry through the lens of a good friend of mine, Shari Thomas*—a veteran church planter’s wife. (more…)

Posted in Read, Steve Childers by: Steve Childers •