4 Key Thoughts for Ministry Transition

I spend most of my days in conversation with those who are thinking about a move in ministry. It’s either time to move on, time for a new challenge, or they find themselves in a season of seeking something different.

I wind up saying the same four things over and over. Here they are:

1. “Don’t make a 5 to 10-year decision based on a five-month need.”

Through my work with The Slingshot Group, I’ve come to realize that it takes about 5 months to work a great process for candidates and churches alike.  Whether you are 43 or 26, you need to put a 6-month plan together.

Your next move should NOT be a “two-year and out” position. Go someplace where you can build a great ministry.

I don’t know why God won’t just ring your phone with the perfect ministry position. I guess His thoughts actually are higher than mine, but I have repeatedly seen God use a truthful, thorough process to match talented candidates to great ministries that are desperately seeking.

Don’t get antsy. God knows your address. This takes patience, as well as homework.

2. “You gotta finish well.”

Your last 4 to 7 months on your staff should be your best ever! Leave on an upward trajectory. Bless don’t curse.  Turn up the awesome. This is especially true if you are younger than 30. It’s really hard to outrun a bad reference in ministry.

I’ll never forget sitting with a discouraged youth pastor who was in conflict with his Senior Pastor. He was a good guy, and he’d had a great decade of ministry. I told him, “Listen, if it’s not going to work out here that’s ok…but whatever you do, don’t stay too long, get bitter, and get fired.”

Eighteen months later that’s exactly what happened!  A youth group was blown apart, a lot of collateral damage was done, and another talented church leader was entering the market place to start over. Meanwhile, I have many pastors asking me if I know of a good youth pastor…

Here are a few thoughts for you for your next 6 months:

– Get extra sleep.

– Choose 5 leadership books to hone your leadership skills.

– Exercise more.

– Enter into a deeper discipleship community than you’ve been in recently where someone is mentoring you.

– Hire a ministry coach.

– Tell your spouse you need him/her to call you out for talking trash about your current church or senior pastor (or boss).

– Turn down the noise. Watch less NETFLIX. Have more quiet, more centered prayer and listen intently for the Spirit’s quiet voice.

Do all of this while working a good process heading towards your exit. You’ll leave your current ministry with everyone thinking, “I wish she was staying.”

3. “Stay Connected to the Connectors in Your Life.”

I tell people all the time, “If you don’t hear from me in three weeks, reach out.” Choose the most connected people in your ministry circles and find reasons to stay in their inboxes every three weeks. Once they know you are looking, all you need is an excuse to email them.

I recently received an email attached to a long thread that simply said, “Sorry about your Bengals.” But it was from a guy that I’ve had long talks and lots of coaching, and it reminded me that he was looking.  Right above his email was an email from a pastor wondering if I knew of anybody. Go figure!

Connectors love to connect! Take them up on it.

4. “Don’t Navigate this Alone.”

There are thousands of churches looking, and thousands of candidates looking. Find a trusted resource to help you cut through the noise and coach you through the questions of whether or not this is a good fit.

There’s an old preacher saying, “God is working upstream right now.” I believe that for future leaders, as well as churches that can’t seem to find who they’re looking for. Let’s all take the steps necessary to work these transitions better.