Is it Time to Leave? Assessing Your Job Challenge
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Tue, November 30, 2004
- Viewed 56
- (11) comments so far
Cionca then goes on to say that many pastors and church staff never really seriously consider a job change because they find their work continually fulfilling. Some pastors have a very different experience. Some feel overwhelmed after a while. Others feel bored. Pastors who "find their work stimulating sense an important reason for remaining with their congregation. Those who are faced with a job that's either mundane or overpowering, however, often profit from a move."
Has this been true for you? Have you ever moved on because you needed a good challenge? If you've been in your current ministry for a number of years and still feel challenged and motivated, please take a moment to share why you think this is true as well. (Is it because of the circumstances you find yourself in; or simply because you've found ways to keep yourself engaged, motivated, and excited?) Please take a few moments to share in the discussion on this subject below.
PS -- You can order the book we're talking about, "Before You Move: A Guide to Making Transitions in Ministry" by following the link. It is well worth taking the time to read (in my humble opinion!)
Todd
This week, we’ll pick up in our series again (after a week off for the holiday). We’ve been looking each week at a short exerpt of John Cionca’s new book "Before You Move: A Guide to Making Transitions in Ministry." John has been discussing the signals and red lights/green lights that should be in place to help you make the decision to stay in your current ministry or possibly look for other ministry career opportunities. Today, we’ll discuss how to assess your job challenge.
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Comments
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Bernie Dehler on Tue, November 30, 2004
Author says:
“Those who are faced with a job that’s either mundane or overpowering, however, often profit from a move.”
WWJD—Walk with Jesus daily. What would Jesus do? Did He find his job overpowering? Yes, to the point of sweating His blood in the garden. I’m glad he wouldn’t listen to this advice.
No one wants to be persecuted. A difficult job can be a cousin to persecution. They are both hardships, in different ways. But it’s our calling, for those in Christ:
Matthew 5 (Our Lord Jesus talking)
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
...Bernie
http://www.FreeGoodNews.com
Todd Rhoades on Tue, November 30, 2004
Hey Bernie,
Only one problem with your scenario… most of us are not Jesus. http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif
I, for one, am a builder… I love to build things; whether it be worship bands, outreach events, or websites. But soon, I find that after I build something, I can get easily bored with it. And if I’m not bored with what I’ve built, I’m not sure what the next logical step to take this thing I’ve built to is. I think this type of thing is what the writer was talking about. When I find myself in this kind of situation, I think I can make a much bigger impact for the Kingdom by getting out of the way and letting someone else take over whilst I go find something else to build and/or invent. That keeps me at my strongest; and continues (hopefully) to move the Kingdom forward.
Todd
Bernie Dehler on Tue, November 30, 2004
Hi Todd-
Yes, we aren’t Christ, but we are told to become more like Christ and to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit everyday. I think the key is to seek God’s will, and not be dismayed by persecution, hardships, borings, etc.
If it’s hardship, Scripture clearly teaches us to face it. If it’s boring, either it’s not our calling, or our attitude is wrong. Just my thoughts…
...Bernie
http://www.FreeGoodNews.com
Al on Tue, November 30, 2004
Brothers,
Didn’t Jesus leave a few towns because of the “Unbelief” of the people he was dealing with? In fact wasn’t he always on the move? WWJD – maybe the answer is “keep moving?”
How do you fight indifference? How do you move a people forward who don’t care to move? Do you condemn them or just move on yourself? Many pastor friends and myself are finding ourselves hitting our heads against the wall of indifference and are struggling to know what to do. This author makes some good points.
Tom on Tue, November 30, 2004
good question AL, I would like to know as well. I am at the point of I’m here, and I believe this is where I am called to, however, I would like to see something change. I feel we are stalled at this point.
Marianne Cook on Tue, November 30, 2004
I rarely write anything in these, but feel compelled here. I believe you should never consider leaving anywhere, your job, your church, your ministry position or even your city unless God has already prompted you with a new vision and you have prayed for confirmation of that vision with your spouse, your pastor, or other wise counsel. Where you are called to you stay until the Lord releases you. Sometimes that release comes and you won’t even have a new position yet…that is faith. To leave due to dissatisfaction, lack of changes, or any other reason doesn’t sound like “God told me to leave…” It must be His timing, His way, His will or ministry will suffer.
Al on Tue, November 30, 2004
Tom,
You are very correct. Thank you for sharing that… I would counsel the same to anyone thinking they should leave a ministry or church. God does have a timing for everything and as we walk in the Spirit he will make that time very clear.
A;
Bernie Dehler on Tue, November 30, 2004
Al wrote:
“How do you fight indifference? How do you move a people forward who don’t care to move? “
Something to think about… maybe it’s a leadership problem? Have you been training leaders, or do you do everything yourself? If you train leaders, solve it as a team. Also, watch your expectations… who ever said this was all supposed to be easy? Perseverance is a godly attribute.
...Bernie Dehler
http://www.FreeGoodNews.com
Al on Wed, December 01, 2004
Bernie,
You might be right. Yet, the context of this article is “how do we no it is right to move on.” I have faced some very difficult battles in my years in ministry. I have found in each of them a peace from the Lord in the midst of the fight. I have grown churches from nothing; I have fought resistance in the areas of theology and Biblical interpretation. I can deal with people who resist me, or my method of leadership, in fact I appreciate any passion because I at least know they are interested in the issue. What I am faced with today however is not resistance but indifference! I realize that you do not know me personally, but I am a very likable guy! http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/grin.gif Seriously, I have always been motivated by the theory that it is better to lead people then to push them and that takes patience and perseverance. I believe, however, my “problem” isn’t unique to me and that in many of our churches we are facing an “institutionalized rebellion against growing spiritually.”
Al
Anonymous on Thu, December 02, 2004
It’s amazing how much Al’s situation sounds like my husband’s and mine! My husband is the assistant pastor at a church where the previous/founding pastor did everything himself for over 30 years. His son has taken over the ministry in the last few years, and we’re having tremendous problems getting anyone to do anything! Sunday school teachers are consistently late, and no one, including the deacons, takes initiative to do anything.
Our church is in a small, somewhat-dying town, and there are only a few young families. The people who are currently faithfully involved in the ministry are seniors, who are slowly moving off the scene with illness and frailty. We try to have a balanced perspective in our expectations, knowing that church members are not employed in full-time ministry, and have secular jobs. Obviously, the same is the case with most church congregations, yet we’ve been in churches where regardless of that, the people take initative, are on fire to see God’s work move ahead, and they’re EXCITED about it!
I think I read in one of the previous posts, the question being asked if people are being trained. That’s a serious issue in our church, but even more serious is this—we have a training session going on right now, and can’t get those who are to be there to come!! So then there’s the question, how much can you require of people who are, in a sense, volunteers? Yes, they’re doing it for the Lord - and we could vocalize that - but until they come to that heart realization THEMSELVES in their own walk with God, they’ll be doing the work only “because the pastor said so.”
The pastor is a good man, but there seems to be so little organization. Plans are discussed in meetings, then you never hear about them again. Expectations are spoken of to church leaders, but there is no accountability. No one is checking on what’s going on, so problems continue as they were, because no one is confronting issues. My husband could do that, but unless the pastor sees the need himself, and supports that, it would seem as if my husband was usurping the pastor’s authority.
The pastor sometimes seems discouraged because no one is bringing new ideas to the table. Yet, he fails to realize that when ideas are brought before him, he discourages people by seeing everything wrong with it. In the rare case when someone does take initiative (as he has voiced he would like), he micromanages to the point where people decide that they’re not going to waste their time trying to do something if the pastor’s going to constantly change it. I have actually fallen victim to that myself, and just decided to let him do it. So . . . we seem to be in a terrible, mundane cycle.
I think, also, what is difficult is that this is my husband’s home church. This is where he grew up, and he always said he never wanted to come back here to live. We met in college, and served in two ministries in the first three years of our marriage. The second ministry unraveled with serious problems just four months after we arrrived, and the pastor left. We were then left in a situation where we needed somewhere to go, and we began to pray. I can’t explain it, but I’ll never forget the night we’d just finished a two-hour talk and prayer session about our situation when the telephone rang. No lie, it was our current pastor, calling to ask us if we’d be interested in taking the assistant position at my husband’s home church. We know that was God moving. Things like that don’t just happen by coincidence. But by the same token, we never felt “called” here. God provided a place for us - and for that we are so thankful - but we never had a vision to be here. We submitted and followed God’s leading. I know God will bless us for simply obeying.
My husband is frustrated by the lack of energy, excitement, and spiritual encouragement among the staff. It seems that God’s only mentioned in the pulpit, and that the rest of what goes on during the week is only business. The pastor doesn’t believe in the necessity of a relationship with his staff—there’s a very hands-off approach. Where’s the fellowship between our families? They think it strange when we ask them how things are going in their personal lives, and concern is never expressed about what’s going on in ours.
This is a long post—I think the Lord really had it for me to find this site this morning. We already have a vision for what God has ahead for us, and we’re waiting for His provision and timing. In the meantime, though, we continue to love our pastor and people, and do with all our might the work God has put before us.
Marianne on Thu, December 02, 2004
Wow! That is such an amazing story, but not uncommon to todays trend. A church will only go as far as the leader will take it and the leader (Pastor) has to have vision for motivating his people. If live is all about busy (Being Under Satan’s Yoke) then busy is all it will ever be. I believe you must stay UNTIL God releases you, if you want to be released then start praying for release. My husband and I prayed for release when we knew in our hearts our time was up at our previous church. God began showing us things, some of which you mention in your annonymus post. We knew we were finished there even though it took 4 years for the release to come, God used us to touch peoples lives in amazing ways. It isn’t about us, our happiness, our contentment, our leadership abilities, or our ability to “grow a church”. It is all about Him. When we begin to realize that, that is when things change. We got tired too, tired of doing all the stuff, all the fundraisers, all the activites, all the hours of work, but we always remember we are not doing it for the Senior Pastor or the church body. We are doing it for God, then it isn’t as frustrating. We wanted to quit…dealt with the stones, dealt with people forgetting what they committed to do…we pray, we trust, we move on and do it for God, touching someone along the way. God is good all the time and He will never let you down, He will bring you through and grow you into His character which is what it is all about anyway. Choose the higher road. Tell Him to help you through the frustrating time and look for confirmation of release and seek wise counsel. If you don’t have friends outside of your church who go to another church, find some. Call the Pastor of another church for counsel, but be sure you can find someone you can trust. Pray even about who you confide it. God has been showing me lately the verse that says “It is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven”. People who are rebelling spiritually and throwing rocks at your vision are these “rich people”. They sit in church on Sunday, don’t offer to help anywhere, aren’t committed and some don’t even give tithe or offering, but they think it is okay cause they are there. Faith without works is dead! To Annonymus: You are being obedient to what God has led you to and He will bless you! I will pray for Him to reveal a bigger picture to you and give you new vision and purpose for your lives!
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