I have been a pastor for a little over a month now.  When people ask me how things are going, I usually tell them that I am still having fun, that I really like the people I serve, and that I have a ton of work to do.  All in all, things are going very well here.

While it has been a good start, everyday proves itself to be a learning experience.  Some of these lessons are particular to my context (Ex: learning the history of this congregation), and some are more general (Ex: continuing to evolve as a preacher).  Below are a few important lessons I’ve learned that may be helpful to others beginning a new ministry.

1. Focus more on the people than the tasks.  This might seem like a no-brainer, but it is easy to get caught up in the proverbial to-do list rather than spending time getting to know your people.  As a solo pastor/head of staff at a church that has been without an installed pastor for more than a year, there is a lot of administrative work to be done.  This is important work that needs to be done, but setting it aside to make pastoral visits, have lunch with members and staff, and visit with people who stop by the office are more important.  The administrator hat is an important one to wear, but we must never forget that pastors are there to serve God’s people. Continue Reading…