Filters for moving
Before you get to my blog today would you take a moment and read two others?
One is my sisters. After you read her’s you won’t have to ask why I wanted you to:
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3191104462569339854&postID=4743034356676237233&page=1 She is what we might call an occasional blogger (she’s written three in the last two plus years:)). She needs to write more.
The other one is my brother’s blog: http://blog.jeffajenkins.com/ He just got into blogging a few weeks ago but, being the older brother and all, his blogs are not only touching but have very “to the point” lessons.
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Now on to today’s blog:
This past week on iPreach the Podcast (you can hear it at www.talkshoe.com, search iPreach) we talked about staying and moving. We had four guests on and they helped make it one of the more insightful podcast that Adam and I have done. Near the end I gave some of the “filers” I have used to aid me in determining when to move or not.
I have always believed the bottom line is that God calls us to faithfulness and we get to determine where we can best live out that mission. I’ve always been thankful when a church calls me and asks me to consider moving to work with them - and typically a tad shocked - but that’s another blog. To be paid to do the greatest work in the world, what a blessing at any place. Sometimes in our moments of frustration we forget that.
I hope this will be helpful to some. And I suspect your comments will be the icing on this little cake:
1. Where can I be most effective? I preach because I want to reach people, impact their lives. It doesn't matter how happy I am or how much people love me or I love the people if I am not making the most impact I can with my skills then I need to move. This could be the hardest measure to figure. Sometimes you underestimate your effectiveness sometimes you overestimate it. You may not be able to fully access this. For instance when I left GW (Granny White) for SM (Spring Meadows) it looked like the work at GW was still progressing and why would I leave a place like that for a little place like SM? But I felt my effectiveness was GW was at best diminishing. I still loved the people but the level of frustration was growing in my life and I felt it was time for someone to come there who could do things I could not. Dad left Hamilton in 1966 for Birmingham (the year of the Birmingham church bombing), because he felt he could reach more people in one Sunday via television than in 10 years of preaching in Hamilton. And, I’d say he has been effective in that work. He always said to go where you believe you can reach the most people.
2. My family: Is this move best for them? Not is it what will make them happy but is it best. I left my first work because my Mel was suffering spiritually. When we left Hamilton for GW we were VERY happy and content “in the great state” (maybe to much so) - BUT I wanted my boys to see and know of opportunities they would never have the chance to see or embrace in Hamilton (don’t take that wrong my dear Hamilton readers, you know I love you and H’ton will always be home). They thought I was a tyrant for moving them BUT I knew (I thought) that in the long run they would be happier. I sometimes think this is a little selfish. I wonder if Peter or Paul, Campbell or Stone would have felt that way. In our sometimes “hyper-sensitive attention to our kids” culture we might not always be doing them or the work we do justice.
3. Will this move allow me to do more for the Lord? Is it good for me spiritually, will I be challenged. When I left one work, part of my feelings were that the week to week challenges were no longer, well, challenging. If I so decided I could pull a sermon out of an outline book and they, because they loved me, would have been happy with it. That doesn’t do the work we are commissioned to do justice.
4. Can I support my family in this move: Some people think it is wrong for a preacher to move for money and I’ve known more good men to feel guilt on this front than I can count but Paul’s words to Timothy are for us too (a man who will not provide for his own is worse than an infidel). I’ve “lost big money” in leaving places before but I figured I could still support my family on what I would be making. I've had offers in my life to make six figures - but it did not interest me - that was a freeing time that taught me in a tangible way that money is not my motivation. Nonetheless I left one church because I did not see where I could support my growing family there.
5. Do I think I can work with the leadership at this place - not what are their views on issues but are they reasonable people - can I work with them. That is hard to know before you go in but it is certainly essential to try to figure out.
I don't know if this will help any but it is some of my process. I've learned that bigger is not always better, though it is always tempting. I'd rather be at a growing church of 100-200 than a stagnant and refusing to do what is necessary church of 1000-2000.
I know regardless of the move, if you will be faithful to the Lord, YOU will be a blessing! Sometimes it's a win-win situation, and isn't God good! I could say much more here but will close with this. I have been blessed well beyond what I deserve and am worth at every place that has given me the blessing of serving with them. I don’t know why, but I praise the Lord for His goodness.