Shepherd Your Own People

Advice for young pastors in their first church

Photo by Skull Kat on Unsplash

I was 30 and I didn’t know what I didn’t know. After working for several years in Christian media, I pastored my first church. I had started as a volunteer student pastor, sent over from my home church. Angela and I were starting our family. Our youngest daughter was 3 and we had our son on the way. The church was a small one in the Chicago suburbs, near where I grew up. It had been pastored by an interim named Bill who became a mentor and a dear friend. Bill saved me from a lot of trouble in those early years.

I’ve since served in several executive roles and on church staffs, but I think I learned more in that experience revitalizing a small church than almost any other place I’ve served. I recently gave a talk to some would-be young pastors in seminary and I thought perhaps I could share some of that insight with you. Even if you are not a pastor, you may know a pastor who might benefit. Or perhaps you hope to pastor one day. At any rate, here are a few pointers: