The call to ministry is the call to prepare — and preparation is an ongoing process. You will never learn all there is to be learned about any subject; you’ll never reach the pinnacle point in any area. And who would want to? It’s the continual reaching that grows you, equipping you to live and minister at an ever-increasing level. Part of being an effective pastor and a more fulfilled person is deciding to be a lifelong learner.
One common mistake pastors make is to focus too much attention on growing their churches, while failing to prepare themselves personally for leading at a higher level. Personal growth always precedes healthy church growth. If the church’s growth begins to outpace the pastor’s personal growth, cracks become evident pretty quickly. Given this reality, creating a personal growth plan is key to fulfilling your calling. Take a look at these six primary ways God grows you:
- God grows you as you study Scripture.
- God grows you as you seek Him in prayer.
- God grows you through the internal witness of the Holy Spirit.
- God grows you through the books you read.
- God grows you through the people you meet.
- God grows you through the circumstances you face.
– Nelson Searcy and Jennifer Dykes Henson
The above excerpt is from pg. 76 of The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life and Ministry.
Drawing from Nelson Searcy’s decades of ministry experience, The Renegade Pastor is a relevant, step-by-step resource for church leaders who are ready to step up in surrender to the pursuit of God’s best for his or her life and work.
P.S. – Click here to grab your copy from Amazon today!
Your partner in ministry,
Nelson
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