What do you need?

Scot McKnight has been running a fantastic series...

If you could begin all over again, what one thing would you have focused on more? Or, put differently, what wisdom would you give to a new pastor if you were asked this question: What should I focus on? Here’s a reflection by Bob Smallman, pastor at Bible Presbyterian Church way up in northern Wisconsin where, if you’re not looking, you can get bitten by a muskie.

First of all, I am glad by God’s grace that we can’t “begin all over again!” Once around is enough for me. I’ll never understand why reincarnation appeals to so many!

For context, I’m 61 years old, and Linda and I are in our 30th year in our current parish. I was at my first congregation, a church plant, for nearly three years. And that would be my first suggestion to someone starting out: don’t try to start a new church right out of seminary! In fact, knowing what I know now, I would have looked hard for an assistant/associate position to get several years of seasoning. That first church just about finished me off, and only my wife’s faith in me and a return to seminary for an advanced degree kept me in ministry.

It’s almost impossible to answer the question, “What ONE thing would you have focused on more?” because the pastorate (at least in smaller and medium-sized churches) won’t let you do that (and I don’t have the iron will of a Eugene Peterson to stay focused!). With the exception of an incredible half-time youth director (who’s been with us for 15 years and built an amazing youth ministry), I am the only paid ministry staff member. Because we’ve invested our personnel dollars in youth ministry, we don’t even have a secretary (though a volunteer does put the Sunday bulletin together). So I am the classic “jack-of-all-trades” pastor — and I love it! It has forced me to lean heavily on the ministry skills of my people (and made me wish I were a better mentor/trainer than I am).

But if I could go back (now) and talk to myself as I was first starting out, I would say to myself...

Read the rest here

But as I read this series, I wonder... is it just what we wish we'd done differently? What about what others bring to the table, specifically in a mentorship role.

So here's my question for all you young bucks and buckettes who read bob.blog:

What do you need in ministry right now? Whether you are volunteer, paid or whatever- you are working hard for the Church, for people, for others... and you wish that people would notice what need? Would bring what? Would build into you in what way?

Comments

[anna]

This is a good question. I spent last week at a discipleship training retreat and one of the things we covered in depth was our spiritual giftings and how they work together. One of the things I realized was that I need someone to teach me how to make myself dispensible. How to begin a ministry and immediately begin training and inspiring someone to take it over for me.

I think that first I need to learn how to cast vision in a clear and compelling way. Any advice?