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About 50 years ago I was publicly ordained into the gospel ministry…and never regretted moment of it, even during the tough times.

Leadership in local churches and ministries is not easy.

Some people can be quick to complain, criticize, and leave if things don’t go to their liking, even after you love and lead them well. 

There are days when you may want to throw in the towel. Most leaders tell me there have been “many a Monday” when they were done, but thankfully they chose to stay. 

It’s best, however, to focus on all the good, especially the amazing people who lead and serve so well and the lives that are forever changed. 

There are seasons of ministry when you think it’s time to quit, but God always has a better idea.

Not everyone is called to church or vocational ministry for a lifetime. In fact, some believe in many cases, you can do more ministry if you’re not carrying the weight of church leadership. 

Frankly, God can change your career if He wants to. I’m writing just in case maybe God wants you to stay, and you are struggling. Don’t quit. (If you’re a volunteer leader, this is for you too.) 

The following are just seven of the many good reasons I have remained in local church and ministry leadership.

Knowing the reasons to stay in church and ministry leadership can help you keep going in the tough seasons. Have you settled the reasons for you? 

Seven Good Reasons That Work for Me:

1. The miraculous still has me in awe.

The Holy Spirit still ministers, people continue to be transformed, and God’s Word is just as powerful today as when it was first written. This list could, of course, be much longer, but the point is clear. The Church operates in the supernatural realm, it can’t be managed, and the mystery of God is undeniably beautiful. It just doesn’t get old.

We don’t have to be in full-time ministry to be fully amazed and engaged with the miraculous, but I want to be as close to the front lines as possible. 

2. With a clear and strong purpose, problems energize me.

Five churches have captured my heart over these years. 

It began with a group of us planting a small church, Cornerstone Community Church in San Antonio, TX later needing to change its name to Christ Community Church because another church in the city decided to use our name. But that is another story. Then it was Perth Bible Church in beautiful rural upstate, NY.  Next it was Granada Heights Friends Church in La Mirada, CA a suburb of very busy Los Angeles in the shadow of Biola University and Talbot Seminary.  Not long afterwards we had a very encouraging ministry pastoring the dear island people and military families at International Church in Honolulu, HI. Finally, I served as the intentional interim pastor of Circle Community Church in Orlando, FL following the retirement of its pastor of 25 years. Currently I’m serving as President of Florida Bible College and Make It Clear Ministries in family friendly Orlando, FL.  And there were other wonderful ministry opportunities in-between. Wow, what a journey!

I have loved every church and ministry…and still do.

There are three things each church and ministry had in common, in addition to the presence of God; first, a clear and compelling vision, second, an amazing environment filled with great leaders and people, and third, problems to be solved.

Problems are part of the territory in leadership. Leaders solve problems, make progress, and help people! It’s that simple. There are no problem free churches or ministries that continue to take new territory for Jesus! 

3. It’s clear to me that the good a church and ministry do will far outweigh its mistakes. 

Consulting hundreds of churches and ministries, I’ve never found a perfect one. That’s a good thing. If churches and ministries were perfect, wouldn’t need me…or you!

Leaders are human and make mistakes. Decisions must be made, and sometimes, they are flawed. But if you consider the big picture over the long haul, the Church has been and continues to be, a force for good. 

I remember the 9/11 tragedy like it was yesterday. The country was devasted. That Sunday churches across the country were full, and that continued for several weeks.

People still know that the Church is the place of hope in times of great uncertainty. The Church brings light in our darkest hours. And ministries that come alongside the Church are very impactive!

4. I’m still learning and growing. 

One of the requirements to run the distance in ministry is to keep learning. 

Honestly, I think I’m learning, changing, and adapting faster than ever. One reason is that culture is changing more rapidly than ever. Relevance in leadership is directly connected to your ability to adapt and change. 

Cultural relevance does not include compromising the gospel; it means learning to communicate it in a way that people can receive it. 

What are you learning new? How are you adapting? How are you a better leader?

5. The potential for innovation is staggering. 

Innovation is fun, and now more than ever, the sky is the limit. How we do ministry will look very different in the next five to ten years. I don’t have the answers, but together we will. I’m pumped to be in the game and part of the solution to reach people in this new era. 

I get most excited to see the old, old story of the gospel still relate today even when methods change to connect with people. The goal is not to change for the sake of change, or merely making something different. Making ministry better is the goal.

At Make It Clear Ministries and Florida Bible College we’re working on cool innovations in several ministries. Not just adding staff or stuff but going for the best-streamlined approach in a zero-margin society to make an eternal impact in people’s lives for the glory of God.

What are you and the leaders at your church or ministry working on? You don’t need to change everything. In fact, you shouldn’t. But there are likely one to three things you could be improving in a big way right now. 

6. The eternal nature of life-change continues to inspire me.

The spiritual battle is real, and eternity is at stake. I don’t mean to be dramatic; I’m just saying it the way it is. We don’t have to get weird about it, but as for me, I sure don’t want to lose sight of it.

Here’s my practical approach to such a grand idea. 

I can’t focus on the negative, and if I do, I get stuck as a leader. I’d go into a defensive mode, and I need to remain on the offense to make progress. 

To stay the course, I focus on the positive. People are still saying yes to Jesus! People are coming to faith in Christ alone for their salvation. Lives are changing. Marriages are being restored, and addictions broken. People are being healed, and families reunited. I’m in…all in! 

I choose to put my energies into the next person who will come to faith in Jesus Christ, then live a better life here on earth and forever with Jesus. 

7. God has been unwaveringly kind, and my calling remains clear.

In talking with thousands of leaders, I’m very aware that your call to ministry is very personal and that sometimes it’s not clear. That said, I also know that deciding in downtime is not the best move.

God has been kind to me, and my calling, even the specifics have always been clear.

But that doesn’t mean I didn’t have to wrestle some to gain that clarity each time a change was made. 

God may be talking to you about a change. Listen to Him carefully and don’t rush it. Give God all the room He wants to make your calling clear.

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Leaders are put in situations where they must make decisions almost every day…and some of those decisions can come with great blessings when made correctly…or great consequences when not made using the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to guide them.

There are four ways you can reach an unknown destination. 

You can go by trial and error, where you don’t make a change until it’s obvious you’ve gone the wrong way. You can also use a map and see the entire plan ahead of time before you get started. Or you can use a compass to find your destination. 

But the best way to reach your destination is to get a personal guide. And followers of Jesus have the best guide—God and His Word! He leads you through decisions, knowing beforehand where you are and where you are going. He walks with you every step of the way.

The Bible says that God gives us the Holy Spirit to be our guide. Jesus tells us in John 16:13, “When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth…” (NASB).

So how does the Holy Spirit guide us as we make important decisions? The Bible gives us ten principles for guidance as we seek God’s direction in our lives.

1. Relax. 

Many people think God’s will is a tightrope. If you make one bad judgment, you’re done for. But that’s not how God responds to our seeking of His will. God wants us to know His will. He wants to guide us. The Bible says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Prov. 3:5,6 NASB). Ultimately, it’s not our job to learn God’s will; it’s God’s job to reveal it.

2. Be willing to obey in advance.

Ninety percent of the problem in knowing God’s will is not being willing to trust God in advance. We often like to play a game with God, saying, “God, you show your will to me, then I’ll decide if I want to do it.” But God’s will is not for curiosity seekers. He wants us to come to him like David did in Psalm 40:8, “I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.” (NET). You need to make that choice, too, before you discover God’s will.

3. Make sure you’re in fellowship with God.

Once you do as Paul writes in Romans 12:1 and “present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable [pleasing] to God” (NASB), then God will show you the specifics. When you’re in harmony with God, it’s much easier for the Holy Spirit to guide you in the Lord’s will. 

4. Search the Scriptures.

God’s will is found in God’s Word. Any time you’re facing a decision, it’s a great time to do a Bible study. I wouldn’t get married, take a new ministry position, accept a new leadership role at work, or make a major purchase without studying what the Bible says about it. A Bible and concordance are all you need to find the verses that apply to your situation. To know God’s Word is to know God’s will.  And to do God’s will is to do God’s Word.

5. Pray for God’s wisdom.

Over and over the Bible tells us to pray for God’s wisdom. Don’t know what to ask?

Don’t worry. “…we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us…” (Romans 8:26 NASB). God is ready to help with whatever decision you’re pondering.

6. Get the facts.

Some people think the most spiritual way to make decisions is to “go with the flow.”

That’s not what the Bible teaches. Proverbs 23:23 paraphrased says, “Get the facts at any price, and hold on tightly to all the good sense you can get” (TLB). Never make decisions with faulty information. God gave you wisdom when He gave you a brain. He expects you to use it.

7. Seek Wise Counsel.

Of course, God’s Word is our counsel.  Scripture tells us to seek wise counsel when making decisions.  Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.” (NASB). Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without consultation, plans [decisions] are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.” (NASB)

8. Consider your desires.

God wants to bless you. He wants to give you not just what you need—but also your desires if you’re committed to doing his will. Psalm 37:4 says, “And He will give you the desires of your heart.” (NASB). In fact, God can even use your desires to direct you.

9. In faith, make a decision.

Sometimes we can get hung up on this step. We wait for God to make it super clear for us. But there comes a time—after you’ve done your research, prayed, and studied Scripture—when you need to take a step of faith. “The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9 NASB).  Guidance comes to those who move in faith, not to those who sit in doubt. In the end, the Lord is the one who will direct your steps in the decision you made.

10. Let circumstances confirm God’s will.

Circumstances don’t reveal God’s will, but they will confirm them once you’ve stepped out in faith. Proverbs 16:1 says: “We can make our own plans, but the LORD gives the right answer.”” (NLT).

You should never let circumstances be the sole criteria for making any decision in life. If circumstances are the sole criteria on which you make your decision, you’re no longer an actor, you’re a re-actor. Instead, we should let God use circumstances as additional encouragement to let us know we made the right decision.  God is not trying to play games with you regarding his will. He wants you to know His will more than you want to know it. And He’s not trying to hide it, either. If you really want God’s will, and you’re sincerely committed to Him, it’s hard to miss it.

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