“During Gideon’s lifetime, the land enjoyed peace forty years” (Judges 8:28).
Everyone should congratulate Amanda Manuel and Stephen Combs. Amanda celebrated two years on our WCC staff in June. Stephen celebrated his 6th year on staff at WCC this July. Make sure you tell them how much their service means to you and to our church family!
It’s wonderful to have people who commit to serve over the long haul. In ministry there is a clear connection between longevity and church health.
One of the marks of healthy, growing churches is that their senior pastor has been in the job for ten or more years. Leadership longevity is one of the key characteristics of nearly every thriving church.
With my 20th anniversary as WCC’s pastor approaching in a few months, I’m thankful to God for giving us the blessing of longevity. We must thank God for it because there are too many variables out of our control to say that we have accomplished this. However, there are certain commitments that one can make that will leave room for God to bestow the blessing of longevity.
What got me thinking about this was a recent interview I gave to an author doing research on a book he is writing about healthy, gospel-centered churches. He asked, “What are the top five things you would list for young pastors and church planters about longevity in ministry?”
Here are five commitments that a young pastor can make to leave room for God to give him and his church the blessing of longevity:
- Be sure of your calling. Fast and pray to know with certainty that it is God who is calling you to this work before starting out. After you begin it will seem that everything conspires against you to test your calling. There will be days where your calling seems to be all that remains.
- Take care of your family first. This is one of the criteria for elders and deacons in 1 Timothy. Is your house in order? If not, how can you lead in God’s house? Know going into ministry that your marriage will come under spiritual attack. Commit yourself to put your wife and family ahead of your church work. Otherwise, you may disqualify yourself for both.
- Buy your tombstone. When I first planted WCC, I told God that I would invest the rest of my life in this work, if He would allow it. I did this even though I was not from this city, but did feel sent to it. Ministry longevity begins with a commitment to stay. Buy your tombstone in the city to which you’ve been called.
- Build a team. The Great Commission says to “make disciples.” Don’t try to be the hero. Powerful personalities can often get a big work up and running, but over time they burn out without a team to support the work. If you want to survive for the long haul, find people that will commit to run the race with you. And don’t be afraid to pick people who are better than you in your weak spots (Maybe even in your strong ones too).
- Never quit on Monday. Too many pastors quit during a down season. They say they feel “called” to leave, but often they are just too beat up to stay. I often ask young pastors during a season like this, “Do you have clarity on this today?” Don’t quit on Monday. Don’t make a decision to leave when you’re feeling hazy, lazy or crazy (or all three). Wait. Ask yourself, “Am I running away from or towards God’s call?”
These five commitments are important for longevity, but when all is said and done, being allowed to stay and prosper in one place is really a gift from God.
As I study the Bible, I see a clear connection between God’s blessing on a leader and on a people to allow them a season of peace and longevity. In the book of Judges, Gideon and Israel were blessed to have him lead them for 40 years. Israel’s good kings and leaders were often given 40 years of longevity. This was a reflection not only of the leader’s commitment, but the people’s as well. Forty years was the length of a biblical generation and seems to be the time span that God would give as a mark of His approval. Leadership longevity is certainly a blessing from God.
As we approach the 20-year mark in ministry at WCC, I wonder if God has 20 more in store for us?
I’m up for it. Are you?