This month commemorates my 13th anniversary as the pastor of Pray’s Mill Baptist Church. On August 15th 2010, at 9:19 am, I shared the following message on Facebook: “About to preach my first sermon as pastor of Pray’s Mill….praying that God will confront lost people with their sin and unbelief! Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me.’”
Upon assuming the role of pastor, our church was in a state of instability, and I held the belief that many church members were not truly converted. I dedicated myself to the task of becoming a faithful shepherd to the church family, with a long-term perspective on our church’s trajectory in the years to come. However, as I embarked on that first Sunday, I had no inkling of the remarkable journey that would unfold over the next 13 years. My vision was consumed by the substantial amount of work immediately ahead of me in that moment.
Presently, we remain an imperfect church, and I’m an imperfect pastor. Nonetheless, the Lord has chosen to shower our church with blessings that far exceed my initial prayers. We are witnessing growth, baptizing new believers, and achieving ambitious goals within our church family. All of this is the result of the work of our great God. Every week, I’m reminded of the importance of church membership and how your choice of a local church will have ripple effects in your family’s life for generations to come.
Anniversaries serve as opportunities for reflection. As I contemplate the past 13 years, I recognize that I assumed this role at the age of 33, as a young pastor on a journey of growth. Throughout these years of ministry, I have made mistakes that are worth recollecting, as they contribute to my ongoing maturity in pastoral ministry.
Every week, I’m reminded of the importance of church membership and how your choice of a local church will have ripple effects in your family’s life for generations to come.
#1: Assumptions
I can recall numerous instances over the years when I approached ministry with the assumption that people were at a specific theological level or state of maturity, only to discover that I had greatly exaggerated. A more mature pastor would not have made assumptions and would have approached the situation with the proper goal of discipleship that produces fruit. Pastors cannot assume that the church knows or grasps certain theological knowledge without proper evaluation.
#2: Lack of Trust
One of my deficiencies as a leader is that it takes a significant amount of time before I extend trust. After experiencing disappointment multiple times in ministry, I find myself reluctant to immediately trust people. I have noticed that this lack of earned trust can hinder certain individuals from participating in meaningful service opportunities within the church. This issue can also prevent me from forming close relationships with people right from the start, as I tend to have a natural guard up. This is where a plurality of elders proves extremely helpful and allows me to extend trust at a much faster rate.
#3: Impatience in Discipleship
One of my early errors was impatience with people in their theological and spiritual development. I remember feeling frustrated with certain individuals because they couldn’t grasp the doctrines of grace as clearly as I could from the Scriptures. An older man once reminded me that I should extend the same patience to others as people had shown to me when I was working through issues and studying the same subject. Impatience as a pastor can scatter the sheep, which is the opposite of our calling as shepherds.
#4: Delivering Lengthy Sermons
Zeal and passion for preaching the Scriptures can lead to lengthy sermons. However, as I continue to grow as a pastor, I am convinced that longer sermons do not necessarily equate to better sermons. Recognizing what can be omitted or saved for later can be quite liberating. When we preach, we must convey the passage’s meaning, but certain elements like extensive background information and contextual details can be set aside. A valuable lesson I’ve learned over time is that shorter sermons, with precise language, can have a greater impact. I am still learning this lesson each week. My last sermon was approximately 47 minutes which is closer to my goal.
#5: Delaying Reform
Upon my arrival, I was open about desiring a reformed ecclesiology. I explained the Scriptural basis for a plurality of elders leading and a plurality of deacons serving the church. However, I faced criticism from some church members for taking four years to revise the church’s governing documents on leadership and then ordaining our first non-paid, non-staff elder. Those criticisms were valid, and I should have acted more swiftly. I tend to move slowly during significant transitions, which can cause frustration for those eager to see immediate change.
#6: Procrastinating Redesign of Ineffective Ministries
At times, ministries become fixtures in the church, morphing into sacred cows. When ministries prove ineffective or lack proper health, pastors should assess them and make necessary adjustments. I remember delaying far too long on a particular ministry that should have been reevaluated and redeveloped years earlier. The desire to avoid upsetting the church can hinder the church’s overall growth and maturity. Effective leaders recognize this and make necessary changes more promptly. I’m grateful that I learned this lesson earlier.
#7: Delay in Liturgical Reform
Our church service has undergone changes over the years. Each January, the Elders typically communicate adjustments to our church’s liturgy during our members’ meeting. These changes could involve the frequency of the Lord’s Supper or the shape of our worship service. It took me too long to overcome internal challenges that hindered my ability to modify our church’s liturgy. For some members, this delay was excessive. Upon reflection, I should have made some adjustments far sooner.
A common mistake among leaders is allowing the fear of man to control or hinder them in proper obedience to Scripture.
#8: Giving in to the Fear of Man
A common mistake among leaders is allowing the fear of man to control or hinder them in proper obedience to Scripture. In my early years, I was hindered by fearing potential loss of certain families if I followed through with certain decisions. Perhaps this was out of a desire to keep the unity of the church after the church since the church had gone through such a divisive season prior to my arrival. This fear resulted in anxiety. I came to understand that the Lord governs both the front door and the back door of the church. This was a lesson that I’m grateful the Lord taught me which prevented catastrophic error in pastoral ministry moving forward.
My words of advice for younger pastors, especially those who seriously prioritize expository preaching, would be to prioritize the use of a good hymnal and psalter in the life of the local church.
#9: Delaying Investment in a Hymnal
In the initial years, I focused on upgrading various aspects of our church campus and overlooked the need for a new hymnal. Our existing hymnals were outdated and necessitated replacement, but I prioritized other projects. When I eventually led the church to acquire a new updated hymnal (Hymns of Grace), I faced questions during the members’ meeting. This decision ultimately proved wise and beneficial for our church. We recently upgraded our hymnal to include both hymns and psalms (Psalms and Hymns to the Living God). My words of advice for younger pastors, especially those who seriously prioritize expository preaching, would be to prioritize the use of a good hymnal and psalter in the life of the local church.
#10: Postponing a Sabbatical
Approaching my tenth year as pastor, the Elders and I discussed a plan for a ministry sabbatical. Due to my complex work schedule and responsibilities which include leadership within G3 Ministries, we are still finalizing the details of this plan. A healthy sabbatical can provide needed rest and free up a pastor for ministry planning and writing projects which will ultimately benefit the church as a whole.
#11: Delay in Rewriting the Church’s Constitution and Bylaws
Upon returning to pastor my home church, I faced numerous challenges including budgetary issues, church unrest, a lack of trust of leadership, and doctrinal concerns. Regrettably, I did not prioritize the need to revise the governing documents. In hindsight, placing greater importance on this project earlier would have been wiser, as it establishes healthy boundaries for staff functionality and church dynamics. We initiated the project in my tenth year and completed it in year twelve. I have immense gratitude for the Elders’ assistance in producing documents that reflect our church’s identity and the New Testament’s teachings on local church functionality and worship.
#12: Overemphasizing the Southern Baptist Convention
Our church, established 181 years ago, predates the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) by three years. Nevertheless, our church has long partnered with SBC churches. Throughout my ministry, I was heavily invested in the SBC, having been educated at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and serving as pastor for three SBC churches, including Pray’s Mill Baptist where I grew up. Over thirteen years, I’ve come to realize that I placed excessive emphasis on exclusive ministry, missions, and church planting within the SBC. As the SBC faced challenges and noticeable decline during the social justice movement, it became evident that a broader approach was needed and separation was inevitable. Pastors within the SBC often know only one model of ministry, but there are effective opportunities beyond the SBC. We are grateful for the G3 Church Network, mission partnership with HeartCry, and educational opportunities with schools such as Grace Bible Theological Seminary and The Master’s Seminary.
#13: Neglecting Emphasis on Genesis
In recent months, I’ve immersed myself in studying the book of Genesis. Our church is embarking on a new Bible study series covering Genesis 1-11. I also explored the Grand Canyon this summer with fellow Christian leaders, examining evidence of the flood of Noah’s day recorded in Genesis 6-9 in rock formations. I regret not placing more emphasis on the book of Genesis over the past thirteen years. While I’ve addressed the literalness of Genesis 1-11 through standalone sermons, I’ve underestimated the importance of Genesis and its ongoing cultural attacks. If given the opportunity, I would have guided the church through a Genesis study sooner. The beginning of the Bible holds significant relevance and is consistently challenged in our culture.
If given the opportunity, I would have guided the church through a Genesis study sooner. The beginning of the Bible holds significant relevance and is consistently challenged in our culture.
By way of conclusion, I’m extremely grateful to serve Pray’s Mill Baptist Church. I would lead my family, without question, to be members of this local church if I were not serving as a pastor in the life of this congregation. I am grateful for the people who trusted me and were patient with a younger 33-year old pastor who needed to grow and mature along the way as I sought to faithfully lead this church family. I am grateful for our Lord’s blessings on our church and the future is bright.
