Archive for the 'Pastors' Category
3 Secrets to Pastoral Longevity
Twenty-nine years ago this week, following God’s call to our lives, my very young family and I moved to Northwest Arkansas. I would have never imagined that one day I would be writing about my pastoral longevity here or anywhere else.
This past Sunday, I was preaching at the Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida, honoring my dear friend, Dr. Ted Traylor for his twenty-five years of pastoral longevity there. Over dinner, he and Liz remarked to us how fast the years have gone.
Observing and Reflecting
While observing the Traylors this past weekend and hearing them reflect over their ministry, I was reminded of the power of reflection. Obviously, pastors who stay anywhere long enough will reflect on their own journey toward longevity.
Some pastors stay long effectively, while others stay enduringly. The former is much greater than the latter.
3 Secrets to Pastoral Longevity
In my own reflection upon life and ministry, I want to share three secrets to pastoral longevity:
1. Living with the conviction of God’s calling
Staying somewhere a long time can be extremely difficult for a pastor and his family. There are moments when leaving would be much easier than staying. There may be times when you beg God for somewhere to go.
Yet, one of the secrets to pastoral longevity is living with the conviction of God’s calling upon your life and location. This conviction must grip your life and the very essence of who you are. Without it, you will not be able to stay anywhere very long.
2. Learning to surf the seasons of ministry transition
Pastors must understand that ministry is filled with many seasons. Just like a team, there are winning seasons, mediocre seasons, and losing seasons. This is why you cherish the seasons overflowing with fruitfulness and faithfulness.
If you do not cherish the seasons, when the tough times hit, you move to the depth of despair. You get down on ministry as well as the church you are called to serve. This is why it is imperative to learn to surf the seasons of ministry transition. Otherwise, you feel you are drowning. Hang on. Give it time. Keep your head up and soon you will feel the Spirit of God carrying you.
3. Changing your life and ministry practices continually
Pastors promote change within their church, but at times, the greatest need for change is within the pastor himself. Pastors have to experience continual sanctification, becoming more like Jesus continually.
We do this willingly, or the Lord, at times, may do it with us purposefully. This is not always easy to go through for any of us. But if we have a genuine desire to be used of God powerfully, God knows what needs to happen to get us to the point of becoming surrendered and useable.
Therefore, we must be like new wineskins: flexible, filled with elasticity, and conforming to what God is doing within us, through us, and around us. This results in our ministry practices not being something we worship, but something that adjusts to what God is doing at the time.
Cling to 1 Corinthians 15:58
God does not call every pastor to stay somewhere a long time, but He does call every pastor to be faithful and fruitful. What does this mean? Perhaps the following verse will address this question. In fact, if you want pastor longevity, cling to 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Pastor, rise up in this hour. Be willing to give your life to a place God calls you and simultaneously, be willing to leave tomorrow if God so wills. I have and I will. Our allegiance is to God Himself and His calling in our lives.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
WOODLAWN, THE MOVIE, IS A GREAT TOOL OF EVANGELISM FOR YOUR CHURCH
This coming Friday, the movie WOODLAWN will be released nationwide. The Erwin Brothers, Jon and Andy, present this dynamic film. They are the filmmaking team behind movies like October Baby and Mom’s Night Out. Film speaks the language of our generation, and WOODLAWN does so profoundly.
WOODLAWN is based on a true story about a school in Birmingham, Alabama, named Woodlawn. WOODLAWN is a moving and inspirational new film based on the true story of how love and unity overcame hate and division in early 1970s Birmingham, Alabama. The Woodlawn Colonels football team was a microcosm of the problems at the school and in the city, which erupted in cross burnings and riots. Then God showed up, almost the entire team came to Christ, and everything changed.
The Greatest Christian Film
One week ago, my wife and I went to a premiere of this movie in Dallas at Prestonwood Baptist Church. She stated, “This is the greatest Christian film I have ever seen other than the Passion of the Christ.” There is nothing cheesy about this movie. It exhibits high quality, state of the art acting, producing, and filming.
If you have not seen the trailer of this movie, please take time to watch it now.
This is Our Time
Jon has become a very good friend. He heard about my passion for and vision to see another Great Awakening in America. Our hearts are united in knowing this is our time to see the next Great Awakening in our nation.
Rent Theaters, Fill Them, and Extend an Opportunity
I want to encourage each pastor and Christian leader to rent theaters and fill them with people of all ages to watch this movie. Encourage them to bring friends that are regular church attenders and those who have never attended a church before. Once the movie concludes, offer an opportunity for people to follow Jesus Christ. Here are a few examples of response from early previews:
MEMPHIS, TN: 125 kids, half of those attending, made decisions for Christ after watching WOODLAWN at an FCA event.
“When I came up to close the night and give an invitation, we had at least half of the crowd stand and pray to receive Christ. It was the single biggest group and single biggest group of commitments I’ve ever seen at our WT FCA.” – Pat Ford, FCA Coach and Chaplain
HUNTSVILLE, AL: A dark theater was FILLED with the light of Christ…
“After it was over, the coach gave me an opportunity to share the Gospel and I don’t know how many of the kids got saved, it was amazing the number of kids that professed Christ tonight. The theater was completely dark, they would never turn the lights on, but WOW, the light of Christ was shining bright.” – Ken Burnett, FCA Huntsville
LOS ANGELES, CA: Football teams are being sponsored to see the movie. THEN this happened… “The theater manager saw what we were doing and offered 100 additional seats ON HIM. He said, “I don’t believe in God, but I believe in what you are doing.” Tommy Draffen (FCA leader) witnessed to him right there and invited him to the movie event on the 17th.” – Kevin Downes – Producer / Woodlawn
WOODLAWN has the potential to become a tool for you to use for personal and mass evangelism. Additionally, it could serve as a catalyst for a major movement of God in a school, team, workplace, family, or a ministry.
Cross Church is renting multiple theaters. Our desire
is to fill the theaters with all ages and we will extend
opportunities for people to come to Christ. Find a way
to use this movie as a tool for evangelism.
NATIONWIDE SIMULCAST ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14
On Wednesday, October 14, you can participate in a free online event, a nationwide simulcast called UNIFY. Take the time now to register here and plan to participate. I look forward to participating with Jack Graham, Greg Laurie, Tony Evans, and Tony Perkins. The simulcast will subsequently air multiple times on TBN. Check your local listings or visit www.woodlawnmovie.com for details.
I Believe in This Movie
I believe in this movie. Its message is so on target for America today. It can impact our generation. God can use it to call thousands into a saving relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. Flood the theaters beginning Friday and keep flooding them over the next several weeks. Encourage people to attend. Rent theaters. Extend opportunities for people to follow Jesus. Let the movement begin.
This is Our Time,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
President, Southern Baptist Convention
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Dr. Ronnie Floyd is currently serving as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention. The Southern Baptist Convention is America’s largest Protestant denomination with more than 15.7 million members in over 51,094 churches and congregations nationwide.
To request an interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd
contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.
Visit our website at http://ronniefloyd.com
Follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter and Instagram @ronniefloyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.