A Journal of Seven Steps to Succeeding in Ministry
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Church leadership can at times be the most stressful occupation on the planet. We often learn all the doctrine we need in Bible School. What we may not get enough of, however, is on the job training. Usually, nothing else can take the place of, “Having been there and done that.” Why reinvent the proverbial wheel? Why not learn to avoid common mistakes? This book, in many ways, can help prepare you for what lies ahead, or even what you may be in the middle of right now.
This book contains seven strategic proven concepts to success in church leadership. I have done my best to offer transparency concerning some of the most difficult tasks facing anyone in leadership today. See some timeless, as well as fresh perspectives concerning your relationship with God, your spouse, and your children. Discover ways to manage your facilities, finances, and prepare for church growth through vision and mission’s programs. This book can also serve as a ministry tool to study together with your leadership team. Help the key people in your church to understand what it takes to serve and reach your community together.
Successfulness in ministry does not happen in a vacuum. The leader must lead in a distinct direction caught by those willing to walk along with you. I believe there are four key areas that we must live out in our own life before anyone else will catch a vision to follow us. These four areas are: (1) Our relationship with God. (2) Our consistent prayer life. (3) Our dedication to knowing and understanding the Word of God. (4) And our care about our relationships with other people.
Successfulness in ministry is exceptionally dependent on leading and keeping your family at the forefront of your life. I had at least three ministry assignments before being married. During those assignments, however, I was on the lookout for a wife. For me looking for a wife meant asking God to help me, more than anything else, to find the right person. I believed that nobody knew me more than my Lord, and I also thought He could help me find the right one. I also wanted to get married just once and stay married for life as much as anything else. Taking care of your wife and your children is as important as anything else you will ever do in ministry.
Successfulness in ministry is dependent on not just giving but often sacrificial giving. One of several great blessings on this side of heaven is that God wants to bless us financially. My heart is so full of passion for the subject of finances. Finances, in many ways, can either make you or break you. There are ten areas of understanding that we simply must comprehend before ever understanding the absolute and fundamental basis of being successful in our ministry's finances.
Successfulness in ministry is dependent on leading and keeping the great commission as the primary focal point of your church. A church could not exist without a mission. The overall purpose of anything and everything your church does needs to focus on that mission. That primary mission should be God's mission. God's mission is to lead people to a saving knowledge of His son, Jesus Christ.
Successfulness in ministry is dependent on preparing for growth, building a staff of volunteers, and in God's time, paid staff members to help you. I'm sure I don't need to convince anyone of this, but to have more than one person working on something, makes the task easier, provides you with fellowship, and hopefully provides more ideas of how to improve.
Successfulness in ministry is dependent on keeping your facilities in immaculate condition. There is a distinct behavior that I have had modeled before me since my earliest childhood memories. If you expect company to come over, you usually go out of your way to make sure everything is clean and presentable. You should probably also make sure you have enough of something to provide for them. You do all of this because you want your company to think well of you. You also want your company to be comfortable and to enjoy their stay with you. How will we ever influence our church family and our guests to enjoy coming to see us and then eventually join us without giving them the very same cordiality?
Successfulness in ministry is dependent on finding a place for your ministry in the city in which you minister. I believe it is a different thing also to understand the need of your church in the community you minister. It will take time to discover how your particular parts fit in with all of the others. As you find out where you fit in, I believe you will become more comfortable with that concept and find yourself happier in your ministry.
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About the Book
Church leaders usually learn all the doctrine they need in Bible school, but on-the-job training can be in short supply.
Pastor J. Stephen Jordan shares “been there, done that” lessons in this guide for anyone playing a leadership role in the church. By focusing on pursuing excellence in seven key areas, you’ll learn how to:
make a positive difference by having a positive attitude;
strive to be all that God has created you to be;
stay prepared throughout your ministry journey;
seek wisdom from God through consistent prayer.
Drawing on his more than forty years of experience in pastoral ministry, the author shares numerous insights from the Bible and reminds readers that we must never forget that we simply cannot lead anyone further than we have already been for ourselves.
Join the author as he shares how to grow the church, spread the Word, and share the glory of God with as many people as possible.
About the Author
Pastor J. Stephen Jordan, also the author of Desktop Bible Reference at desktopbiblereference.com, served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He received training from Berean Bible School and served as a senior pastor for over forty years. He taught at Lighthouse Bible Institute and also served as district treasurer for Oregon and Washington with the Christian Evangelistic Assemblies. In 1998, he became senior pastor of Cornerstone Christian Worship Center in Downey, California, until he retired in 2018. He and his wife, Patricia, have three grown children and three grandsons.