Archive for July, 2013
Three Benefits of a Few Days Away From Your Ministry
Pastors, there are many benefits of taking a few days away from your ministry. In my younger years, I wondered if I could afford to be away. But the longer I am in the ministry, the more I know that my body, my family, and my church need me to take a few days away from the ministry. It is profitable for all parties.
When we first started out in ministry, our time away from the church was mainly spent with our families. It seemed like when we arrived at Jeana’s family home, six hours away, or at my parents’ home, 11 hours away, we were on a retreat. Our families played with and cared for our boys while we rested and slept. It was not about where we went, but being away was always profitable.
Since today’s blog is directed towards pastors and church leaders, let me share a few of the benefits I have found in taking time away:
Benefit #1: Diversion relaxes the mind
Regardless of where you may go to be away from your ministry — it is a diversion. This diversion relaxes the mind. Stepping away from the daily grind is very beneficial for the mind. Even though technology can keep us connected, and even if you enter into a time of some decision-making, you are still removed from your normal ministry routine.
Benefit #2: Learning refreshes the spirit
When I am away in a friendly, relaxing place I choose to learn. I am able to read books I’ve wanted to read, rather than books I must read. I am able to take some more time for running and exercise, which provides me opportunities to listen to pastors and teachers who mentor me through their podcast ministry. Earlier this week, I wrote a blog about, “Four Books I Read While Away For A Few Days.” I encourage you to read that post to see what I did and read during that time.
Now, when it is just Jeana and I away for a while, learning can occur much easier than if we take a week away with our children and grandchildren. That time away is much more engaging, but again, beneficial as a diversion. The season of your life definitely determines the benefits of being away.
Benefit #3: Changing pace rests the body
Time away from the ministry always should result in a change of pace. Your schedule should not remain the same; in fact, you need to insure it changes some. When we go away, decision-making is lessened. Quite honestly, here is what will comprise a day while Jeana and I are away. These things you can count on:
*We always begin our day with God — while at home this is usually very early most days. When we are away, we sleep later.
*We exercise nearly every day while away — we both do this, using the time to learn, grow, and be mentored by someone through listening to a podcast of some kind.
*We will spend our days together — this may be at the beach, or shopping, or every now and then we take in a movie.
*We will eat — this is usually our biggest decision of the day in our time away. We will usually go to an early dinner and we greatly enjoy this time together.
*We will usually drive around, taking in the environment — this is refreshing to both of us, but especially for me.
When your daily pace is changed, your body is more likely to become rested. In the few days away we just had together, I came back rested.
In closing, Pastor . . .
Take time away. There is nothing noble or spiritual about refusing to go away. Yes, through the years, I have had to force myself to do so. There have been times when I’ve left the office feeling fearful of what may happen while I would be away. There have also been occasions that while I was away my time was jeopardized by problems at the church. Just recently, my biggest issue was that I felt the “treadmill of life” that I had been on for several months was running so fast I was not sure I could get off of it.
So Pastor, there will always be reasons to not be away from the ministry. But let me be completely honest with you. There are three major reasons you need to be away:
*YOU need it
*YOUR family needs it
*YOUR church needs it
Therefore, take the time. Let God use it in your life.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
This Week at Cross Church | What God Is Doing
I am often asked, “What is God doing in your church?” I want to take an opportunity for fellow Pastors and Christian Leaders, but also for our Cross Church family to talk about what I believe God is doing.
God uses people, yet God alone gets all the glory. Therefore, all I share with you has to do with God’s movement to extend His glory through His people called Cross Church.
God is Getting Us Ready
I believe God is getting us ready for His mightiest move yet through Cross Church. His leadership for us to walk through the book of Acts in 2013 is all a part of getting us ready. He is creating an appetite through this powerful study for us to see Him do great and mighty things.
This coming Sunday, we continue our series on Acts with a mini-series from Acts called, “When Jesus Comes To Church”. This coming Sunday, we will preach our 18th message from Acts since January. As I teach through an extended book like Acts, along the way we lift up a section, categorizing it as a mini-series.
For example, as the “When Jesus Comes To Church” miniseries is communicated, our people will learn this is a basic study on the work of God through the Church at Antioch. While much was done through the Antioch church, for five weeks we will look at the movement of God and what happens through the Antioch church. This will be a study on Acts 11-15, understanding these chapters are not related to Antioch alone.
As God continues to put upon me the need to create and release a new prayer ministry here at Cross Church, this is all part of God getting us ready. God is moving cross-generationally. God is getting us ready for His mightiest work through us in the history of our church.
God’s Movement in These Days is Supernatural
Through a seven-day period of time, we saw 175 people baptized to the glory of God. Part of this movement was day-to-day movement through our church. Part of it was a very supernatural movement of God at our High School Student Camp in Florida, where sixty of these baptisms occurred. This is highly unusual compared to camps before. Additionally, the 101 people baptized at the foot of the Crosses on Sunday night at our “Fireworks At The Crosses” is amazing. Only God could do all of these things.
This means that our church, in the first 45 weeks of our Church Year, has already baptized over 1,095 people. This is only seven people less than our all-time record year of baptisms in 2012. Therefore, if the Lord does not come back before Sunday, Cross Church will see a second consecutive record-breaking year in baptisms, all to the glory of God.
Some would say it is not about numbers. I would agree, except for one thing: each number represents a person, and each person represents a story. You see, each time you hear us mention a number, we are talking about a person; a person who has a story about the power of the Gospel in their life.
One other note which I could never minimize: last week, God called fourteen of our people to full-time ministry and missions! Wow, this is exciting and supernatural. They each had leanings about their future or career, but now everything has changed. God has altered their future to extend His glory globally.
Cross Church is Healthy
Those who know me well realize I have a pretty strong commitment to health and fitness. There are seasons of life where fitness may exceed your emphasis over health, and at times, it is the other way around. As any church or family, Cross Church has gone through the ups and downs of health.
Let me report to you in case you happen to be wondering: Cross Church is healthy. We are not perfect, but we are healthy. The fellowship is strong and unified, and our mission is clear and compelling. The healthier we become, the more we are seeing the movement of God increasing. Pray for Cross Church to be healthy. The healthier we are, the more fruitful we will become.
What is God doing through Cross Church?
One Thing . . . God is extending His glory throughout the world.
One Final Thing
An estimated 10,000 people were at our “Fireworks At The Crosses,” celebrating an amazing country called America. People still love America.
Don’t forget that. They are still moved to tears during the National Anthem and any recognition of our veterans of the armed forces.
Happy 237th Birthday, America! On July 4, we celebrate you!
Father, thank you for America and for letting me live in this great nation.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.