Certainly you would want to know what I (as your incoming pastor) would expect out of the church. Again I must say, what the last pastor expected, and what I expect may be a little different. You must allow room for the man of God to operate in the area of his anointing. Taking on another pastor can be comparable to that of a man or woman taking another husband or wife. You cannot and should not try to make one or the other live up to the previous mate. You have to allow room for that person to be who they are, NOT WHO YOU WANT THEM TO BE! Of course there are the basic qualifications that should be there, but when it comes to personality, and individual ability, they must be themselves. There may be a lot of things I expect out of you as a church, just like there may be many things you expect out of me being your pastor. But neither of us should lay no heavier burden upon one or the other besides what is commonly expected. Don't expect me to be the apostle Paul, and I won't expect you to be the First Church of the New Jerusalem! What do I expect from the church?
Hunger - I expect the church to be hungry for God and His purpose. People that are hungry for God and His purpose are dedicated! They will give of their time, resources, and abilities with no strings attached. People that are hungry for God and His purpose are the easiest people in the world to pastor. They are ever ready to learn and work.
Willingness - I can work with anyone as long as they are willing. Your issues are not a problem. Your shortcomings are not a problem. Your lack of ability is not a problem. All I want to know is, are you willing? As long as a person continues to have will, there is nothing or no goal that cannot be attained.
Eagar to be provoked and challenged - Some people don't like to be challenged. But this is the main thrust of my ministry. In everything and in every way I will provoke and challenge you to always go higher, and to never be satisfied until you have obtained God's best. I'm looking for a church that is not afraid of breaking new grown and walking and living by faith. We would never stop having building fund incentive programs, as we will continue to strive, and aspire to deeper depths, and higher heights. I hope you don't mind having your faith stretched!
Submission - Humbly submit to the goal, vision, and programs we offer and bring to the table. In order for any organization to work, there must be submission. Where there is no submission there is no such thing as organization. I know that boards run most organizations. But some of these Boards, need the board put on them! It is wrong to say that God has set a certain person over you for your perfecting and guidance, but you dictate to him how he is to perfect and guide you. A lot of pastors have the vision of God in their hearts, but cannot go forth in it because a board full of sheep that don�t have the shepherd�s perspective and never will holds them back. If God gave me a certain vision, but others on the board think it is not quite time for this vision, would I be held back from implementing it? I would first and foremost want a church that will trust me to be just what they chose me to be, a shepherd. Not that I don't think there isn't good counsel with a board of elders. I do believe that even the pastor (for the sake of the assembly and the good of the vision) should have someone around him that he's accountable to; but decisions to over rule a pastor should always be made with great prayer and sound counsel.
To be on fire - Like my pastor always say, any thing that's dead, need to be buried! I love people that are excited about their Jesus! If you are not excited about your salvation, don't expect anyone else to be. Though we love to teach and do Bible studies, I love a good hot service! And I just love being around people who are just as excited about the Lord as I am. I don't like dull! I don't like boring! Life is great! And if you know Jesus, it should be even greater. It's people who are on fire, that others will come and watch burn!
Ministry Minded - I would love to have a church that thinks outreach in ministry, and in everything that we do. I am a man of purpose. I believe there should be purpose in everything you do. If you don't have a reason for doing it, why are you doing it? God is a God of purpose. There is always a reason why God does everything. So it should be with us. I believe that we are down here to fulfill the ministry of Jesus (the ministry of reconciliation). So therefore everything that is being done, should be done with the thought of reconciling lost people back to God.
Of course there will be other expectations, but most of them are summed up in these that I have listed. If you are a church or body that is not looking to grow, and advance, you would not like me as a pastor. But if you are not afraid of the challenge of breaking new ground, then we will have a "ball" together. |
