Jump Start # 1578

Acts 18:11 “And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.”

  Our series on preachers is almost finished. Thank you for staying with this. I have tried to write some things that we don’t normally think about or discuss. There will be one final article, “The Preacher’s family.”

One of the hardest things preachers face is that decision when to leave one congregation for another. That’s a hard decision. When do you know it’s time to go? What considerations ought to be given as to whether to stay or to leave? Our verse today shows us that Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half. That’s long for Paul. That’s short for us. We must remember that Paul was an appointed apostle with the mission of taking the word to the Gentile world. He was on the move. He was establishing churches and then retracing his steps and strengthening those young congregations. It is interesting to see that Paul stayed 18 months in Corinth.

I have been preaching for 36 years. I have worked with four congregations, counting where I am at now. I have faced that decision when to leave, when to stay, three times. I have never been fired or asked to leave. Each time it was my decision. Each move crossed state lines. Illinois to Indiana. Indiana to Missouri. Missouri back to Indiana. I had kids in school during some of those moves. I was moving away from family in some of those moves. I was moving back closer to family in other of those moves. I’m not sure what I did was good or bad or even a model that I would recommend to others. I just wanted you to see my story.

In coming to the decision to move, there are two pressing matters that must be considered.

• First, why am I leaving ? That answer tells you a lot. I remember the story of a guy who was ready to move to a new house. He was tired of his place. The realtor listed his house. The man read an ad for the idea place he always wanted. It had a lake. The house wasn’t too large. It had just a few acres. He called the realtor and said that’s what he also wanted and he was to go see it and put an offer on the place. The realtor told him that he was reading her description of his current house. Sometimes we need to take a good look at where we are.

Take a look at what you are able to do. Take a long look. Count your blessings. Don’t let money cloud your vision. Are you able to do what you feel is your work as an evangelist? Is the leadership supportive and behind you? Do you feel stuck? Do you feel that you are carrying the full load? How are ideas received? What’s the plans for five years down the road? How’s the atmosphere among others? Is it healthy and good or tense? Are you discouraged or excited about the work? Are you on the same page Biblically with the elders? Take a long look. Remember, that grass sure looks greener on the other side of the fence, but that grass still has to be cut. Every congregation has a history, issues, challenges, opportunities and problems. Every church does. Every church does, because we do. Stop trying to find a perfect church. You won’t. Find where you will be appreciated, loved and allowed to do what you are to do—preach and teach.

Deciding to move too quickly can result in “buyer’s remorse.” Moving too often can make some places unsure about you. If you are busting it hard, doing your job, going above and beyond the call of duty, folks will notice. You’ll get places who recognize your talent and will want you. Be careful. Be picky. Don’t move just to get away from problems. You’ll find new problems. You are supported to preach and teach. You must do the work of an evangelist. Don’t look for a soft, easy place that you can coast by preaching old sermons. Work, preacher! Work hard, preacher! Wear yourself out for the Lord! The rest comes later.

The preacher with kids must give that a special thought. Where are they in school and what will moving do to them? Stability at home is as important as stability in the church. There was a time a generation or two ago when preachers moved every two or three years. I expect that’s why so many places owned the preacher’s house. They were moving preachers in and out often. That model didn’t help many congregations. Today, it is not uncommon to know of preachers who have stayed in one place for twenty or thirty years.

• The next question the preacher must answer is, why am I considering this different congregation? His answer to that question must not be totally personal. Getting closer to home is great. Making more money is great. But those can’t be the sole reasons he moves. Will it put him in a place where he can do more? Will it allow him to do things that he cannot do now? Will it help him reach more people? Will it help him do more for the kingdom?

Churches like people, come in different sizes. Some are young and just starting. Some have been around for more than a century. Some are large, some are small. Some are wealthy, some are struggling to pay the bills. The preacher needs to be honest and see where his strengths are. We remember Paul saying that he planted and Apollos watered. Planting means going where there are no Christians. Starting from scratch or with very few. Watering means working with Christians. It involves strengthening what is there. All preachers can do both, if they are worth their salt. However, some excel at one better than the other. Some preachers are better as class teachers than preaching. Some excel better one on one. Some are gifted writers. Some are great at making contacts. There is no shame in being better at watering than planting. You recognize your abilities and strengths. Here’s the point. A church that needs a planting preacher will not do as well if they get a watering preacher. What does the church need and do you fill those needs? Look beyond just delivering sermons on Sunday. Do they need fresh ideas? Are you an idea guy? Do they need some messes cleaned up? Can you handle that? Why did the last preacher leave? Was it good? How long was he there? Do some investigation and move with the intention of staying. It takes time for folks to get use to a new preacher. Build relationships. Teach and preach.

Sports teams will look at what they need and that determines who they pick in the draft rounds. Churches need to see what is it that they need. They should look for a preacher that helps fill that spot. We settle too easily on just anyone that will come and doesn’t ask for too much money. We need to move beyond that. Each congregation has specific needs and challenges. Finding the right match is important.

There needs to be some things written about the “trying out” process. Too little is understood about what ought to happen and what to look for, both from the church’s perspective and the preacher’s perspective. Some of the preacher training programs do not help young men in this area. They don’t know what questions to ask nor what to look for. Some walk right into a real dog fight. They get discouraged and leave. The church then has a sour taste about young preachers. It’s messy on both ends. Some of this could have been avoided and a lot of the Lord’s money not wasted if some thought was given into what one is looking for and knowing what to ask.

Moving. Most folks do not like moving. It’s hard for the preacher who feels it’s time to leave. Often it means leaving the area. That’s tough. Sometimes doors are opened in that process that brings new opportunities. Don’t burn bridges preacher. Don’t make things tough for the preacher who follows you. Remember the golden rule. You wouldn’t like that to happen to you. See beyond yourself. Think of the kingdom and the Lord whom you serve.

I’ve often thought of preachers as the little lost dog that shows up on your porch one day. You take him in, feed him and fall in love with him. But in time, he must go. That’s hard. Leaving often brings tears. Sometimes there is remorse. One wishes that more could have been done. Sometimes the next preacher tears up everything you took decades to build. That’s hard.

Moving introduces you to new friends and new opportunities. When you decide to move preacher, be kind to the congregation that you are leaving. Give them plenty of notice. Stand in their shoes. Be above board in how you do things. Pray before you make your decision, preacher. Do your homework. Think long. Get advice. Then trust the Lord.

Work hard—do the work of an evangelist. Endure hardship.

Roger