Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 203
March 1, 2017
At What Age Should a Pastor Retire? Ten Diagnostic Questions
There are a lot of us Baby Boomer pastors and Christian leaders around. And it’s cliché, but we aren’t getting any younger. It’s a quiet question that many are asking, but they are asking it nonetheless: What age should I retire?
Instead of responding with a specific number, I ask my Baby Boomer peers a series of ten diagnostic questions:
Are you physically and emotionally able to continue to lead at a high level? If not, you probably should retire.
Are you still highly motivated in your place of leadership? If you don’t wake up each morning excited about your ministry, you might consider stepping down.
Are you a continuous learner? Are you reading, listening to others, attending conferences, learning new technologies, and staying current in key areas?
Are you hanging on primarily for financial reasons? If that is your dominant reason for staying, you are doing your church or ministry a disservice by staying.
Do you have a clear and compelling vision for your ministry’s future? If not, you may be coasting and ready to retire.
Is the church’s health deteriorating under your leadership? It’s not always the fault of the pastor, but you need to ask if new leadership could bring new life.
Does the word “change” cause you to feel threatened or angry? If you are not happy with the way the current generation is leading churches, you may be too change resistant to lead your own church.
Do you empower others regularly? If you are not taking time to equip others to do the work of ministry and to become leaders, it could be an indicator you are coasting.
Is your family supportive of you staying in your current ministry position? Your spouse or children may really know what’s best for you and the church, and it may be retirement.
Do you find yourself longing for the good old days? If so, you might be living in the past, ineffective in the present, and unable to lead toward the future. It might be time to step down.
I know. You never retire from ministry. I know. Our current president was inaugurated when he was almost 71 years old. Those facts do not change the reality that it might be time for some pastors to retire now and find other ways to serve.
So, at what age should a pastor retire? It really depends. Every situation is unique. You may have many years left in your current church.
Or you may need to retire now and allow new leadership an opportunity to take the church to a new level.
Be honest with yourself. Above all, be honest with God.
If it is truly time for you to retire from your church, He will be with you just as He has throughout your entire ministry.
February 28, 2017
Congregational Singing with Keith & Kristyn Getty – Rainer on Leadership #306
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Keith and Kristyn Getty stop by for a discussion on congregational singing and practical steps you can take in your church to help the congregation sing more.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
Pastors who take congregational singing seriously will lead churches who take congregational singing seriously.
“We are all called to sing and sing praises to God.” Kristyn Getty
“So many people are spectating in church and not singing.” Keith Getty
“Part of how every great movement has built deep believers is with the songs they sing.” Keith Getty
“I want to be at a church where people sing together and encourage each other in song.” Keith Getty
“We want congregations to be known by their singing, not by their music.” Keith Getty
“We are created, compelled, and commanded to sing.” Kristyn Getty
About Keith & Kristyn Getty
Keith and Kristyn Getty occupy a unique space in the world of music today as preeminent modern hymn writers. In re-inventing the traditional hymn form, they have created a catalogue of songs teaching Christian doctrine and crossing the genres of traditional, classical, folk and contemporary composition which are sung the world over.
Episode Sponsors
Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.
Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting WeStaffTheChurch.com.
Midwestern Seminary, one of the fastest growing seminaries in North America, exists to train leaders For The Church. The local church is God’s “Plan A” for the proclamation of the gospel, and there is no Plan B. And this is Midwestern’s vision and heartbeat—equipping pastors and other ministry leaders who are called to expand God’s mission in the world through the local church. At Midwestern Seminary: they train leaders ‘For The Church.’
Visit them online at MBTS.edu and start your ministry training today.
Feedback
If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of Who Moved My Pulpit?
Resources Mentioned in Today’s Podcast
Sing by Keith and Kristyn Getty
Getty Music
Getty Music Conference
Don’t Waste Your Christmas – Rainer on Leadership #082
Easter and Hymns with Keith Getty – Rainer on Leadership #111
Pastoral Tenure & Expository Preaching with Alistair Begg – Rainer on Leadership #070
Pastoral Leadership and Missions with David Platt – Rainer on Leadership #166
February 27, 2017
How the Entitlement Mentality Crept into Our Churches
In 1974 Burger King made a bold move to take market share from McDonald’s. At the time, McDonald’s made burgers en masse. If you wanted a special order, you had to wait interminably while it was cooked separately.
I remember. I’m a ketchup-only kind of guy.
So Burger King announced that each order would be cooked at the time of the order the way the customer wanted. Their new slogan was “Have It Your Way.” Burger King, at least at the time, understood the consumer entitlement mentality.
So what does this story have to do with our churches?
It provides a brief historical backdrop of the mentality that has crept into our churches, where many of our members think church is a place where I can always “have it my way.” For now, let me share some key reasons many of our congregations have become more like country clubs than churches, a place where some members demand their way instead of serving and self-sacrificing.
Failure to state clearly the expectations of church membership on the front end. A membership class, or some similar entry point into churches, should not only give information about the church, it should provide expectations about membership. Membership without expectations becomes membership with entitlements.
Failure to make certain as possible that members are Christians. Sadly, we church leaders often neglect to discuss the spiritual conditions of prospective members. Are they truly followers of Christ? As a result, many of our churches have unregenerate members.
Seeking numerical growth at all costs. We certainly should be Great Commission churches. We certainly should be inviting people and sharing the gospel. But if our end goal is numbers, we will make compromising statements to bring people into our churches. We should seek to grow our churches out of obedience to God, not to create our own kingdoms.
Failure to remind the congregation regularly what it means to be a part of the body of Christ. All of us church members have the potential to lapse into self-serving, entitlement members. We all need to be reminded that church membership is not about perks and privileges, but serving and sacrifice. I have been encouraged to see many churches have annual renewal and commitment services.
Allowing the most entitled members into positions of key leadership in the church. One of the more common manifestations of an entitled church member is a person who seeks to gain power and leadership positions in a church so he or she can control and get his or her own way. We yield to them too often because they might be big givers or because we don’t have the fortitude to resist their bullying behavior.
Failure to deal with difficult issues. Church leaders too often are conflict avoiders. And while we shouldn’t pick a fight over every issue of minutia, neither should we allow a pervasive culture of entitlement, bullying, and manipulation to grow unabated. A problem not handled now is a larger problem later.
The biblical mandate for local congregations is counter-cultural. In many passages of the New Testament, such as 1 Corinthians 12, we are clearly taught that members are to be sacrificial, giving, and serving.
Such a mentality goes counter to the culture in which the church ministers.
Church is not about having it our way.
It’s about bringing glory to God by having it His way.
February 26, 2017
Pray for Pathway Church
Location: Redlands, California
Pastor: Dr. Jonathan Jarboe
Weekly Worship: 9:00 & 10:45 AM, Pacific
Fast Facts: Pathway began in 1950 as Temple Baptist Church and while its name, structure, strategy, and nearly everything else has changed, their commitment to the Gospel and reliance on God’s Word has not. Pastor Jarboe has been on staff since 1993 and even attended the church for a couple of years prior to coming on staff. Know Grow Show sums up their purpose, mission, and strategy. Please be in prayer for the this summer’s Pathway Sports Camp held July 10-14. It is their largest community outreach of the year, and in 2016 they had nearly 200 kids attend. Pathway Sports Camp helps kids improve their skills while hearing about the love of Jesus in a positive and encouraging environment that pumps up their confidence and self-esteem. In 2017 they are praying for 250 kids to participate and asking God to move in the lives of these kids. Many families have come to faith, seen God transform their lives, and currently attend Pathway as a result of Sports Camp.
Website: PathwayOnline.com
“Pray for . . .” is the Sunday blog series at ThomRainer.com. We encourage you to pray for these churches noted every Sunday. Please feel free to comment that you are praying as well.
If you would like to have your church featured in the “Pray for…” series, fill out this information form..
February 25, 2017
Notable Voices and the Week in Review: February 25, 2017
Ten Ways Pastors Can Be Great Bosses
The Disappearance of the 11:00 AM Sunday Service – Rainer on Leadership #304
Six Main Traits of Preacher Eater Churches
Seven Tips for Guest Email Follow-Up
10 Questions to Diagnose the Evangelistic Health of Your Church – Rainer on Leadership #305
8 Reasons Why You Need Regularly-Scheduled Testimonies in Your Worship Service — Chuck Lawless
I believe strongly in regularly (that is, once a month or once each quarter) using testimonies in a church’s worship services. Here’s why:
7 Reasons Why You Can’t Seem to Get a Job Interview — Art Rainer
If you are consistently not getting initial interviews, there is probably a reason why. So before you send out your next resume, consider these seven reasons why people often don’t get job interviews:
3 Reasons Why Ministry Leaders Choose to Be Isolated — Eric Geiger
It is not uncommon for ministry leaders to preach on community while living in isolation. While we can preach on community for everyone else, ministry leaders are often tempted to live in isolation. Why do ministry leaders often choose isolation? What pulls them away from community and away from being vulnerable with others? While there are a plethora of reasons, here are three painful reasons ministry leaders often choose isolation over community:
Confessions of a Church Shopper — Kelly King
I’ve visited a few congregations, and I want to make a few observations as an “outside” person who is walking through your church door. I’m not trying to be critical, but if you are a ministry leader, I want to give you some practical ways you can make a good first impression.
5 Unfair Criticisms People Levy At Strategic Church Leaders — Carey Nieuwhof
You can be strategic and deeply devoted to Jesus. You can think and be faithful. However, if you’re a strategic leader, get ready. As soon as the conversation gets specific and detailed, some people start criticizing. Here’s what you need to be prepared to hear.
Five Key Giving Trends in Churches — Sam Rainer
Much about church giving is changing. Worship attendance, conversions, and baptisms are often the most scrutinized metrics, but giving trends are close behind. Here are five macro trends that are affecting most churches in the United States.
February 24, 2017
10 Questions to Diagnose the Evangelistic Health of Your Church – Rainer on Leadership #305
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Evangelism in the church is waning, so today we cover 10 questions you can use to determine the evangelistic health of your church. Also, the “bee-line to the cross” quote is Spurgeon after all.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
Relational evangelism without a gospel presentation is not really evangelism.
Once you move people to an outward focus, they stop thinking about themselves as much.
Many people don’t pray for lost people by name because they don’t know anyone outside their holy huddle.
We should be praying for eternal issues as much as (if not more than) temporal issues.
Becoming evangelistic requires getting outside of your comfort zone.
When you’re a good evangelistic leader in a church, you’re probably leading outwardly.
Small groups should be one of the most evangelistic tools a church has.
The priority of the leaders will become the priority of the church.
The 10 questions we cover are:
Are members more concerned about the lost than their own preferences and comfort?
Is the church led to pray for lost persons?
Are the members of the church open to reaching people who don’t look or act like them?
Do conflicts and critics zap the evangelistic energy of the church?
Do small groups and Sunday school classes seek to reach lost persons within their groups?
Is the leadership of the church evangelistic?
Do the sermons regularly communicate the gospel?
Are there ministries in the church that encourage members to be involved in evangelistic outreach and lifestyle?
Have programs become ends in themselves rather than means to reach people?
Is there any process of accountability for members to be more evangelistic?
Episode Sponsors
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Find out more at mbts.edu/mdiv.
Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.
Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting WeStaffTheChurch.com.
Feedback
If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of Who Moved My Pulpit?
Resources Mentioned in Today’s Podcast
Church Answers – Available until the end of February
MBTS Timothy Track
I Am a Church Member
Three Circles App
February 23, 2017
Seven Tips for Guest Email Follow-Up
By Jonathan Howe
Email is one of the easiest ways to initiate a connection with first-time guests to your church. However, many churches either fail to use it or fail to maximize its capabilities if they do.
Here are seven tips to maximize your church’s use of email to follow up with first-time guests.
Send a welcome email within 24 hours. Timing is important. I’m not advocating that the first time guest should still be in the parking lot when the email hits their inbox. But if they visit on the weekend, an email before lunch on Monday would be best. This shows the guest that they are a priority to the church.
Send all your welcome emails from a generic church address that uses the name of the church. I recently received a welcome email from a church I visited—but I missed it because it came from a staff member I didn’t know. His name showed up, but since I didn’t recognize the name of the sender, I thought it was spam at first. Had the sender name been the name of the church, I would have recognized it immediately.
Use an engaging subject line. Try to stay away from generic subject lines like “Thanks” or “Thanks for visiting” if possible. Use something more engaging or personal like “We are so glad you visited _____ Church yesterday” or “It was good to see you at _____ Church this weekend.” Just be careful about the length. Anything over 65 characters might get truncated in smart phone notifications and apps. Make your email stand out so that the guest feels compelled to open it.
A template is ok, but be sure to include relevant information. You can send the same email to everyone who visited if you’d like. However, include only relevant information to guests. They don’t need a full event schedule or small group directory in the body of the email—include links to those instead. And for those of you who opt to use a mass email for all guests: use either an email program like MailChimp or ConvertKit or use the Bcc: function. Do not include everyone who visited in the To: or CC: fields. One final note, if you can personalize the email to the individual guest based on their family’s make-up, that’s always best. I realize you may not have enough information for that, but if you do, take the time and make the effort. It will likely pay off.
Prompt the guest for a follow-up action. In the body of the email, offer action steps for the guest to take. Prompt them to find out more about specific ministries or next steps classes. By providing information and opportunities for engagement on the front end, you’re more likely to retain those guests.
Use email sequences if the guest take action. This is where using a service like MailChimp or ConvertKit can really pay off. You can set up email sequences with information about certain ministries, which trigger when the guest clicks on a link in the initial email. These sequences shouldn’t be overwhelming or pressure-packed. But they can be highly informative and engaging for the guest when done correctly.
If possible, check your future records for a second visit. Want to know if things are working? Create a way to measure your return rate and retention rate of guests. If a guest has kids who are checked into childcare, this is an easy metric to track. If they are adults attending worship service only, it’s a bit more difficult. For those, you’d need to track membership class or small group attendance records.
Should email be the only way to follow up with guests? Probably not. Personal contacts always are better than electronic ones, but email can be a starting point for your church to use to get first-time guests engaged to a point where the pastor, staff, or lay leaders can meet with them personally.
Does your church use email to contact first-time guests? If so, do you have an email service you use?
Jonathan Howe serves as Director of Strategic Initiatives at LifeWay Christian Resources, the host and producer of Rainer on Leadership and SBC This Week. Jonathan writes weekly at ThomRainer.com on topics ranging from social media to websites and church communications. Connect with Jonathan on Twitter at @Jonathan_Howe.
February 22, 2017
Six Main Traits of Preacher Eater Churches
Preacher eater churches?
I had never heard the term until I became a pastor.
While I was serving as a pastor at a church, a search committee representative from another church called me. She wanted to know if I would prayerfully consider coming to her church.
Immediately after the call, I got on the phone with a friend who served as pastor at another church in the same town. What did he know about the other church in his town? His words were, at least at the time, strange and enigmatic to me.
“Don’t even consider it. That is a preacher eater church.”
I would soon learn what he meant. A preacher eater church has a series of short-term pastors, and those departing pastors have few positive words to say about them. As my pastor friend noted, “That church will eat you alive.”
Over the past three decades, I have learned much about preacher eater churches. Most of the time, they can be described with six main traits:
Their pastors don’t stick around long. These churches hardly get to know their pastors before they are gone. Some pastors leave voluntarily but unhappy. Others feel coerced to leave. And many are fired.
The church has bullies and power groups. Those bullies and power group members see their roles as primarily to get the pastor to do their bidding. When the pastor refuses, it’s time to get the pastor to move on. Often the power group is connected to a single family.
The church is in perpetual conflict. Even non-believers in the community know about the “fighting church.” Church business meetings become war zones. Pastors often receive enemy fire and friendly fire.
The church has non-biblical expectations of the pastor. Pastors are welcome to stay as long as they are omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. But if they fail to make one visit, their time is up.
The church does not believe pastors should be compensated adequately. I have actually heard a form of this direct quote at least a dozen times: “If we pay our pastor as little as possible, it will teach him humility.” Of course, the speaker of those words has no intention of practicing the same humility.
The pastor’s family is not supported. I had this conversation with a pastor this week. He said, “I had to leave the church because they were so mean to my family. If my wife did not show up when they demanded she did, they talked about her incessantly. And they had expectations of my kids they never expect of their own.”
I know. Pastors are not perfect either. But this post is not really about pastors. It’s about those churches that run their pastors off every few years.
They are called preacher eater churches. Many of those churches are having difficulty finding pastors these days.
I wonder why.
February 21, 2017
The Disappearance of the 11:00 AM Sunday Service – Rainer on Leadership #304
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The post this podcast is based on really caused a stir. Today, we give a little more explanation as to the reasons the 11:00 AM worship service is disappearing and offer tips on changing your service time if needed.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
When deciding what time to have a worship service, survey the church and the community.
11:00 AM is rarely, if ever, the preferred time for a church’s single Sunday morning worship service.
Too many church leaders want to reach Millennials without changing what they do or how they do it.
Most members would choose a mid-morning worship service instead of 11:00 AM service if given the option.
For many Millennials, a single 11:00 AM Sunday worship service doesn’t fit their normal, everyday routine.
It’s ok to have a single 11:00 AM Sunday worship service if your church has a good reason for it.
When changing things in a church, begin with the “why.”
The five trends related to the 11:00 AM worship service which we discuss are:
When a church moved from one service to two, the 11:00 AM slot no longer made sense.
Churches with one service began to realize the disadvantages of the 11:00 AM service.
More people choose a mid-morning time if they have a choice.
Millennials are particularly averse to 11:00 AM services.
Some people perceive a church with a lone 11:00 AM service to be too traditional and out-of-touch.
Episode Sponsors
Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.
Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting WeStaffTheChurch.com.
Midwestern Seminary, one of the fastest growing seminaries in North America, exists to train leaders For The Church. The local church is God’s “Plan A” for the proclamation of the gospel, and there is no Plan B. And this is Midwestern’s vision and heartbeat—equipping pastors and other ministry leaders who are called to expand God’s mission in the world through the local church. At Midwestern Seminary: they train leaders ‘For The Church.’
Visit them online at MBTS.edu and start your ministry training today.
Feedback
If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of Who Moved My Pulpit?
Resources Mentioned in Today’s Podcast
Five Reasons the 11:00 AM Worship Service Is Disappearing
Who Moved My Pulpit?
February 20, 2017
Ten Ways Pastors Can Be Great Bosses
“There is no other person I would rather work for.”
“I enjoy my work and ministry so much, and the biggest reason is I serve under an incredible pastor.”
“My pastor rocks.”
Those are some of the laudatory comments we heard from church staff persons who serve under excellent pastors. In my previous post, I shared the top ten ways pastors can be bad bosses. In this article, I look at the positive perspective.
Here are the most frequent comments we heard from church staff. These are ten ways pastors can be great bosses.
Cast a clear vision and path. “You have no doubt where he is leading our church and us. He is clear, articulate, and his vision is compelling.”
Support other ministries. “As a children’s minister, I have served in churches where the pastor never says anything about our area. My pastor, though, is always lifting up my ministry and other ministries.”
Create a fun atmosphere. “Those who serve on staff in local churches face many serious and challenging issues. I love the way our pastor encourages us to have fun and enjoy our work. I love the way he jokes around with us.”
Provide a good role model and example. “Whether it’s work ethic or character issues, my pastor serves as an excellent role model. Even when I disagree with him, I never question his integrity or commitment.”
Be decisive. “This pastor is the first I ever served under who does not hesitate to make a decision, even if it’s a tough decision. We are never left wondering if or when something will happen.”
Include other staff as part of the team. “We have different responsibilities and ministries among our staff, but our pastor makes certain we see the big picture. He really helps us to feel like we are part of the team.”
Have the back of your staff. “I knew what kind of boss I had the first time a cantankerous church member read him the riot act about me. My pastor let the church member know he supported me and respected me. I will never forget that.”
Listen well. “He is really a rare leader. You know when you go to talk to him about something you have his full attention. He not only listens, he responds very well.”
Support the staff member’s family. “I don’t know how he found out about our financial struggles. But my husband and I cried openly when he quietly gave us a check from funds he had collected from church members. I suspect he contributed a lot himself.”
Communicate frequently and clearly. “Most leaders, pastors included, never communicate enough. That is not the case with my boss. We are always in the know. He actually worries about over-communication. I love it!”
Bad pastor bosses. Good pastors bosses. Those who serve under them have spoken clearly. May we who lead take their words to heart.
