You have a great calling and responsibility as a pastor-teacher. God has given you the resources needed to fulfill the mission he has given you. Here is my advice for putting these resources into action.
Keep your relationship with the Lord fresh and vital. Stay connected with him. He is the vine. Ministry is challenging and labor lntensive. You will need his strength to stay in the work for an extended period of time.
Guard your time and manage it with wisdom. There are always more needs than you can possibly meet. Allow church members to exercise their gifts. More more will be done this way and their faith will grow. Spend regular time with your wife each week. Set aside time for her and for your family. If they are not on board with your ministry, you will be much less effective.
Keep learning and don’t be afraid to think outside the box or fear failure. I’ve learned much more in failure than success. Stay open to new ideas, but don’t jump on every fad that sweeps through the church.
Be as transparent as is appropriate in church gatherings and be involved in some kind of accountabilty relationship with men you trust. Seek their counsel and listen to what they say.
Avoid situations in which you will be tempted. Build hedges around your marriage so you will remain a man of integrity. A few minutes of bad judgment can destroy years of ministry and your family too. Don’t give the devil any foothold in your life.
Have some fun and try to see the lighter side of ministry. Don’t take things personally and be ready to overlook the faults of others. Change what you can change and be patient with those who have different perspectives on ministry. Pray all the time.
Sincerely,
Pastor Steve Williams