Monday Morning Insights

Photo of Todd
    .

    Is it Time to Leave?  Assessing Your Opportunity for Impact

    Bookmark and Share
    Here is the key question to ask in this area: Do you see yourself doing anything more significant than you're currently doing? Can you have a greater impact in your current position or in a new place of ministry? (Again, remember that this is one of twenty different areas we are assessing in deciding whether we should stay or leave our current position... the others we have talked about are archived at the blog).



    John continues, "Change for change's sake is usually unwise. A high-impact ministry in your present church suggests that you remain in this significant sphere of influence. But if greater outreach is possible elsewhere, you should not fear proceeding through this greenlight.



    Been there, done that? What was the outcome? Maybe you're currently going through this right now...  Let's start our discussion now!  smile



    For more information on the other nineteen things to consider, pick up a copy of John's book today!


    This week, we’ll pick up in on our continuing look at John Cionca’s book "Before You Move: A Guide to Making Transitions in Ministry." This week we’ll discuss how to discern your "Opportunity for Impact".  John writes, "Most of us would not invest in a savings account yielding 3 percent interest if we could find one offering a 10 percent return. Neither is it prudent to spend fifty to sixty hours a week in a low-yield ministry if a higher return on our investment is possible. It makes sense to serve the Lord wherever we can make the greatest contribution."


    pastors' impact


    -----

    Comments

    if you want a Globally Recognized Avatar (the images next to your profile) get them here. Once you sign up, they will displayed on any website that supports them.

    1. David Curtis on Tue, December 14, 2004

      I think I understand the author’s point on this issue.  We all want to be good stewards of our gifts and we want to be involved in effective service for the Kingdom. 


      The only problem I can see with assessing oneself in this area is often we are unaware of how great our impact is.  Many times we feel as though we are not impacting anyone for Jesus when in fact we are changing and influencing lives.  Sadly in my experience it has been only after I have left a place that I have realized the fulness of my impact in that ministry.


      John writes “But if greater outreach is possible elsewhere, you should not fear proceeding through this greenlight.”  This may be true for those whom God has gifted in evangelism and has called to be a reaper of the harvest.  This specific call is not given to all of God’s servants.  The Apostle Paul reminds us of this principle, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.  So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.” 1 Cor. 3:6-7. 

      Some of us maybe called to be growers, not planters.  Growers can have a high impact as well, it is just that often times the growth is not visible until you step back and look at the whole picture of someones life.


      I know that this is just one area to consider when thinking about a ministry change, I just had this thought I felt like sharing it.

       

    2. Bernie Dehler on Tue, December 14, 2004

      I think it’s more important to do what God calls us to do, rather than evaluate what we do by the response we get.  At times, Christ had a high response, and a low response.  But He didn’t change His purpose or message due to his response. He did His Father’s will.  That should be our prime objective. It may involve ministering with NO visible results.

      ...Bernie


      http://www.FreeGoodNews.com

       

    3. Al on Tue, December 14, 2004

      “At times, Christ had a high response, and a low response. But He didn’t change His purpose or message due to his response.”


      While that is true he did change his “place” of ministry.

    4. Pastor Casselman on Tue, December 14, 2004

      I have appreciated the “planter and growth” concept given us in the posted comments.  I have noticed in my own ministry that I have gone into difficult situations only to correct and attempt to make right that which was wrong.  This would be “growth concept.”  It could be “planter concept”; depending on how one views planting.  

      I also like the other comment posted conerning Jesus who continued faithfully doing the Father’s will even when it appeared to bring no result. 


      We certanly need individual focus on Jesus with the presence in us of His Spirit.   Only than can we individually know what He wants each one of us to do in ministry.

       

    5. Kevin on Wed, December 15, 2004

      I have not followed every one of these articles on transition, but I know that in this one the quote from John is dead wrong.  He says ““Most of us would not invest in a savings account yielding 3 percent interest if we could find one offering a 10 percent return. Neither is it prudent to spend fifty to sixty hours a week in a low-yield ministry if a higher return on our investment is possible. It makes sense to serve the Lord wherever we can make the greatest contribution.”

      His statement may be natural for us to follow and it may be logical, but I do not believe it is biblical.  We are to BE who God wants us to be so that We can DO what HE wants us to do.  It is not our responsibility to determine the value of what we do or where we serve.  The concept of a low-yield ministry, a higher return or a greatest contribution is not in Gods vocabulary.  What is the price of one soul?  It is time for more of us us who see ourselves as ministers of the Gospel to understand what it means to be poured out like a drink offfering and to sacrifice for the sake of the gospel.  


      We all want to be the most valuable and the most productive - but HE sees time, distance, people and circumstances differently than we ever will - no matter how Godly we think we are or might become.  I may want to be the next CH Spurgeon, Swindall or Billy Grahm, but more so I ought to want to see HIS face smile on me.

       

      Wow guys!  Wake up!  What are you doing this for.  If not for HIM, then quit.

       

    6. David Curtis on Wed, December 15, 2004

      Nothing against what John is trying to do with this book I am beginning to think that the underlying premise of the book might be wrong.  Now I haven’t read the whole thing so take this for what it is worth.

      I know, as many do, what it is like trying to discern if I should stay or go from my current ministry.  It sure would be nice if there was a list of different assessments that could answer that question for me.  The reality is that any attempt to quantify and turn this into a formula to give an easy answer just isn’t going to work.  There is always going to be an element that we can’t explain.  If not then the purpose of faith and allowing God to lead is thrown out the window.


      Should you leave because you think you can personally see more people come to Christ in a different position.  Not necessarily.  How do you know if God isn’t going to break through in your current church in the next month or six months and you need to hang in there? 

       

      These are good questions that John is raising in the book and I think that each pastor who is considering a change should wrestle with them, but there is no simple answer to the question of should I stay or should I go.  As helpful as any book is to the process ultimately we have to respond to how the Lord is leading us with a heart of obedience even when it might seem crazy to those around us.


      Is it possible for God to speak through a book like this.  Yes, but his message might just vary from person to person. 


      I am beginning to ramble now so I am going to get back to work.  This blog has been helpful to me as I struggle with these issues in my own life.

       

    7. Chris on Mon, December 27, 2004

      The “planter, waterer, harvester” concepts that have been expressed have biblical foundation, but the question remains as to the assessment of the increase.  We are so conditioned to consider “program” and numerical growth as the most important.  The measure of your impact in ministry may or may not show this kind of growth.  I hope we would all agree that spiritual impact in changed lives is the measure by which we seek to assess ministry.  But as some have expressed, it is often hard to know this kind of impact until you leave a place. Unfortunately, we often foster an atmosphere in churches which makes people hesitant to express their spiritual growth.  Remember that God always rewards faithfulness with more responsibility (see the parable of the stewards in Matt. 25 & Luke 19).

      Building people who are able to carry on the ministry AFTER you leave is an important test for us all.  Isn’t that exactly what Jesus did?  He had no “Plan B” besides making disciples. 


      Opportunity for impact may be an important assessment in making a move.  I am currently in transition to a new location of ministry and this very thing certainly was a factor for me.  But I think matching core values in ministry and discerning God’s will are bigger keys than impact.  God calls many to faithfulness in what men might consider “small places”.  After all, by the world’s eyes, Nazareth was a very insignificant place and the twelve disciples were just common, unlearned men.  But the world will NEVER get over the impact Jesus Christ made through them from that place!

    8. Page 1 of 1 pages

      Post a Comment

    9. (will not be published)

      Remember my personal information

      Notify me of follow-up comments?

    Sponsors