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If you trace leaders’ careers, you will discover that they make every place they serve better. They might not perform miracles, but they make noticeable improvements.
During the beginning of my pastorate at a small church, the congregation could barely afford to pay me even the reduced pastor’s salary they had budgeted. During the four years I served the church, attendance grew, giving increased and we paid off our mortgage early. The pastor who eventually took my place inherited a much better financial situation than I had!
When I arrived at this little church, the auditorium was drab and neglected. I made small changes, such as bringing in live plants and adding fresh paint. Before I became the pastor, the services were conducted in a loose manner that wasted a lot of time. I tightened things up and brought more flow (and energy) to the services.
The congregation had been discouraged when I arrived because of all the people who had left the church. I celebrated the new people who joined. We had church-wide parties, outings and tournaments that were a lot of fun. People began to enjoy coming to church.
These changes weren’t earth-shattering. No church growth magazine sent a film crew to capture the magic we had achieved. But every time I saw something that could be improved, we made adjustments. Some changes were dramatic. Others involved merely a coat of paint. But small changes added up over time. Things looked cleaner and well maintained. Programming was modern and energized. Visitors had the sense that people cared about what happened.
If God has called you to be a leader, keep your eyes open for positive changes you can make. Don’t just focus on home-run-hitting changes that alter your organization right to its foundation. Those will happen.
But sometimes necessary adjustments might involve bringing a box of nutritious treats to the leadership team meeting or replacing the dried flower arrangement that has been in place for five years.
Small changes add up over time, and they create a sense of progress and momentum. They represent small wins, and enough small wins can add up to a big win.
Every time I left a job, I took an inventory. I listed what I was given when I arrived, and I listed what I was passing on to my successor. At my church, I was given a crippling debt. I handed my successor a debt-free organization. I was the only pastoral staff member when I arrived; my successor had two associate pastors, plus two other denominational leaders who had joined the church during my tenure.
Cataloging these improvements allowed me to move on in good conscience, knowing I was leaving the place much better than I found it.
Photo source: istock
 | Richard Blackaby is the president of Blackaby Ministries International and lives in Georgia. He travels internationally speaking on spiritual leadership in the home, church, and marketplace as well as on spiritual awakening, experiencing God, and the Christian life. Richard regularly ministers to Christian CEOs and business leaders. He has written or co-authored 33 books . This article was first published on RichardBlackaby.com. Used with permission from Blackaby Ministries International. Learn More » |
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