Longevity in Ministry

Episode Summary

Braun Brown (Director of the Watermark Institute) joins Adam and John in the studio to talk about longevity in ministry. Together, they discuss what it looks like to stay faithfully deployed for years to come.

Five Principles for Longevity in Ministry.

• Stick Around
• Pass Out Ministry Opportunities
• Remember the Lord
• Expand the Vision
• Expect Challenges

Stick Around (02:52)

This may sound simple, but this is actually much of the battle. Be really prayerful regarding decisions to move or transition to other jobs. Try to avoid making hasty decisions during times of stress or discouragement. Ministry is a developers game. Stay and see what the Lord will do.

You are going to always be tempted to check if the grass is really greener on the other side. However, if you leave a place, many of the same problems will go with you and you will lose whatever relational capital you were building there. Rather than asking yourself "Is there something else out there?", ask yourself "What would I change about where I am at?" Talk with your leadership, pick one or two things, and work with them to see change happen.

Pass Out Ministry Opportunities (09:56)

Encourage your fellow teammates and leaders to own the ministry with you. This means casting a big vision and calling people to something bigger. When people feel genuinely invested in, they are far more likely to stay. When the bar is high, it helps to ensure people are involved for the right reasons. Work to give ministry away. Delegation helps with scale and helps leaders avoid burnout.

Success must be measured with faithfulness. Don't focus on the numbers.

Remember the Lord 15:36)

"I'm not a gift to ministry. Ministry is a gift to me." - Braun Brown

It is crucial to remember why we got into ministry. It is so easy to get caught up in the numbers, platforms, and programs. Ministry can really quickly become about us. However, when we make ministry about the Lord, it starts to become far more worthwhile.

Signs you may be starting to not remember the Lord include: becoming really critical of others, envying other positions or people, and becoming prideful. When this happens, remind yourself that ministry is a gift and a privilege. This will be key in helping you with longevity.

Expand the Vision (20:56)

Give your teams a mountain worth climbing. We underestimate people whose hearts are connected and convinced. Compelling vision helps immensely. When the vision for your ministry is clearly articulated and encouraging, people will stay engaged and stick around.

Expect Challenges (25:10)

Rather than hoping challenges never occur (which is simply unrealistic), ask yourself what challenges you will face and how you are going to handle them. How are you going to help others get through those challenges. Challenges, when unexpected, can often throw leaders off course. Thankfully, challenges can also make better leaders. Remember there are no shortcuts around challenges.

Conclusion

For the discerning listener, you will notice the acronym formed by these points is SPREE, also Braun's favorite candy.