Archive for the 'Pastors' Category
Pastors, Lead
A few years ago, I read an article that summarized almost 1,000 interviews with some of the nation’s top corporate leaders. The article declared that the #1 need a leader of a corporation needs to provide for everyone is clarity.
If a leader does not lead, he cannot provide clarity. If this is true for global business leaders, it is even truer for every pastor of a local church or one who is leading a Christian ministry or institution built on the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Pastors, Lead With Clarity
Ask yourself this question and be honest in answering it: Am I leading with clarity? Does everyone around me know where I am going and where I want him or her to go with me?
If you are really daring and desire a complete, honest assessment, ask the leaders in your church: Am I leading with clarity? If you have a staff team, ask them: Am I leading with clarity?
If any leader should be leading with clarity, it is a pastor. I did not say it would be easy, but as pastors, our mission is clear. Do not let the negative people of your church distract you or determine the agenda of your church.
Jesus is the Chief Shepherd of His Church and He is more than clear about what He wants us doing. He states in Matthew 28:19-20:
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
If it is not clear enough that we are to make disciples of all nations by going, baptizing, and teaching them, then perhaps this will help. Jesus gave His final marching orders to His followers right before He ascended to heaven. Acts 1:8 says:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
With clarity, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are to make disciples and witness His gospel everywhere regionally, statewide, nationally, and internationally.
Pastor, get back on message! Readjust your life and leadership with clarity. Lead with clarity!
Pastors, Lead Strategically
Since you have been given this clear task of leadership as described above, lead strategically. You are on mission with God and your task is to move the church or ministry entrusted to you to be on mission with God. His mission to redeem the world!
Leading strategically toward accomplishing the grand task is given to us in Acts 1:8. If your church runs 25, 250, 2,500, or 25,000 on Sunday, lead your church to strategically advance the gospel globally. The influence of the web as well as television gives your people a global perspective they did not have ten years ago. Today, they are influenced by it whether they want to be or not.
Strategically lead your church to advance the gospel in your small community of 300, town of 3,000, region of 30,000, or city from 300,000 to 3 million people. Pastors must lead their churches to advance the gospel strategically or we are like a basketball team that prides ourselves on being good dribblers. You can have the greatest dribbling basketball team in the region, but if you do not put the ball through the net more than the other teams you play, you will lose continually.
Sadly, we have thousands of churches that are good at dribbling a lot of church stuff that does not matter! We cannot continually miss our goal: Making disciples of Jesus Christ by going, baptizing, and teaching.
This is our clear message, task, and mission. If we do nothing else well, we must do this well.
Pastors, Lead Boldly
As I have traveled this country and beyond, there is a fearfulness that is consuming pastors today. We fear failure. We fear criticism. We fear people. We fear Satan.
New Testament churches were led by pastors who led this missional advance boldly! They had their detractors just like we do. They had their critics just like we do. They had their contrary vocal adversaries just like we do. They faced Satan head-on just like we do. None of this has changed nor will ever change until Jesus comes again.
What has changed is that fewer pastors are leading their ministries today with boldness. This “play it safe” mentality is plaguing the Church with carnality and paralyzing the advancement of the Church.
Let me give an example. This past Monday, I released an article, America Needs Heroic Leadership in the Present, Leadership That Champions Religious Liberty Globally. If you haven’t read it already, please take the time now. When you come to the end of the article, ask yourself this personal question about your leadership: What am I doing about the brutalization, abuse, and murder of thousands of people that is happening globally in the name of religion?
Pastors, stand up this Sunday and the Sunday following, sounding the alarm, calling upon your people to take action with their leaders locally, statewide, and nationally, calling upon them to do something now about this global crisis. We must speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves. We must stand up and do something now.
Perhaps you may be thinking, “Ronnie, what if my people get upset?” Let them! Lead boldly!
Pastors, LEAD! I am cheering you on!
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
3 Decisions a Pastor Can Make That Will Help His Family
My wife Jeana grew up in the home of a Pastor, and we have always worked hard together to ensure our family is our #1 priority following our personal commitment to Jesus Christ. To God’s glory, my wife did not ever resent the church as the wife of a pastor, and as our children grew, they did not ever resent the church. In fact, our church was our life!
The four of us loved the church and we still love the church! Our boys’ spouses love the church and they are now raising children who love the church!
How did we escape the testimony I often hear of pastor’s families resenting the church? By God’s grace and prayer. I also believe we made several decisions that moved us along toward a positive experience. I will note three of these decisions.
Decision #1: We Were Always Positive About the Church
On multiple occasions, we shared with our children how blessed we were to be able to know some of the greatest people in the world, which were people connected to the church. While we did not ignore the challenges along the way, we did not ever resort to negativity in front of our children. Nor did we permit it to come out of their mouths.
Pastors, never speak negatively about the church in front of your children. In fact, rarely even speak negatively in front of your wife. It never proves to be beneficial to anyone.
An additional thought: remind your wife and children of the benefits you receive because of serving as a pastor. There are many. You get to know leaders of the community. You get to be a part of significant events and experiences. You also may be afforded some rare blessings and invitations that would never come to anyone other than a pastor. This is a blessing, and we need not ever forget it.
Decision #2: We Spent Time Together as a Family
There was a moment when I decided I would never sacrifice my family on the altar of ministry success. This pivotal decision led to a commitment to take each Friday off to be with my wife and children. All of these years, I have been faithful to this, rarely violating it. What began in 1985 is still practiced today.
Focused time with Jeana and the children while they were growing up in our home resulted in accelerating our family life greatly. Therefore, for thirty years, Jeana and I have spent Fridays together.
Yes, life sometimes gets in the way. And I have to admit this is being challenged now more than ever before. Two of the last three Fridays, Jeana and I were not able to spend together due to various responsibilities. But because it is a commitment we have made, this is rarely violated. At times, I have turned down significant opportunities that would take me away on Fridays, and have been glad to do so for our family.
You see pastor, you must realize now: Marriage and parenting has no dress rehearsals! You get one shot; therefore, make it count!
Additionally, we vacationed together as a family when our boys were young, and still do today. We allocate at least one week each summer to this experience none of us would ever consider missing. As well, I was with the boys at the events they valued in life. By the way, nothing was ever sacrificed at the church to make sure this happened.
Decision #3: We Prayed Together as a Family
Our boys never left for school without us praying over them. Yes, all those years. When challenges occurred in life, we would also hit our knees as a family and give our burdens to the Lord in prayer.
For years, I would pray and fast one day a week for my children, their future, and their success. When I still enter a day or a season of fasting, my children and wife always make my list of concerns along with my daughters-in-law and our six grandchildren.
I also pray daily for my wife, children and spouses, and grandchildren. For example, I pray the following daily for my grandchildren, Peyton, Parker, Jack, Reese, Beckham, and Nora:
“Provide them godly Christian friends and help them achieve in school successfully. May they love Jesus and His church. Grow them in their faith in years to come. May they be used to change the world for Jesus Christ. May they know we love them and we are there for them in every way. May the boys date and marry only godly girls who love Jesus and His Church. May the girls date and marry only boys who love Jesus and His Church, and will be men who are spiritual leaders.”
I take my role seriously as an interceder for my family. This is why for decades, I have prayed for Jeana, my boys, their spouses, and our grandchildren, placing the armor of God upon them spiritually as recorded in Ephesians 6:10-20.
Therefore, my Pastor Friend…
Lead your family spiritually. You can do it. It is done one decision at a time. Lead on!
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.