Originally published in July 2011

Over thirty years ago my wife Joyce and I traveled to the Soviet Union for six weeks on a three-city missionary tour. This began a three month process culminating in our official launch into full-time church ministry in November 1980.

As I look back and reflect upon our thirty years of ministry–including numerous evangelistic events that saw thousands give their lives to Christ, founding a growing and very influential local church, founding a children’s charity that serves thousands of at-risk children, starting a coalition for apostolic leaders and pastors, starting a large network of pastors overseas, and speaking at hundreds of leadership conferences in many different nations–I have attempted to write down the top thirty lessons I have learned so I can pass them on to other leaders.

1. Spend time with God before meeting man (Acts 6:1-4, Exodus 18:19-23)

Some pastors become hyphenated pastor-deacons because they spend more time in administration than in the word and prayer.

Up until thirty years ago, most pastors worked out of a study because they spent much of their time reading and praying. Now pastors (including me) work out of our offices because our primary work is administration and strategy. A lot of this cannot be helped in smaller churches and/or because the world we live in today is very complicated. But we still need to strike a balance and at least spend our mornings studying and seeking God before we go to our offices.

The early church and Moses of the Old Covenant were powerful because their first line of business was to be “Godward” so they could adequately enunciate God’s word to their congregations.

2. Prioritize time with my wife and children before ministry opportunities

I fill my calendar first with vacation time with my family before I plan anything else. This guarantees my time with them is protected.

Nothing stresses me out more than when my relationships with my wife and children are out of whack. Truly, Satan gets the biggest foothold into the lives of leaders by destroying their families. When we neglect our wives because of overworking in the church, our ministry becomes our mistress! When we neglect our children for the work of the Lord then our children become resentful towards God and church, and fall away from their kingdom purpose!

3. Prioritize my time in the local church nurturing those with leadership potential

My ministry focus has always centered around 2 Timothy 2:2 in which Paul instructs Timothy to prioritize spending time discipling those who would be able to teach others and are faithful.

This is more important than counseling, hospital visits, or running around putting out fires.

I find that I cannot pastor effectively unless I have leaders that will bear the load.

4. Develop a strong administrative team

Anointing to preach and lead inspires and gathers people but only the creation of systems grows and stabilizes a church.

Many great leaders have small churches because they haven’t created systems for shepherding, finances, small groups, and discipleship programs.

5. Reach out and network with key pastors in your city

There is only one church but many congregations in every city and community. Hence, it behooves us to get to know and partner with key pastors and churches in our communities. If we don’t do this we become islands and will not properly discern the Body of Christ in our city. (First Corinthians 11:27-30 shows that often there is a lack of apostolic power in our churches because of all the divisions in the church.)

6. Get involved in the civic leadership of your local community

My influence for the gospel greatly multiplied when I showed care for the practical needs of my community by joining the local community board, aiding the NYPD, and giving counsel to key political and community leaders.

Also, these leaders turned out to be incredible blessings to our church, helping us with zoning and other important issues related to the logistics of operating a large ministry in a complicated city like New York.

7. Obtain influence by serving others

One of the most important lessons I have learned is that “he who serves leads.” When we try to push our own agenda on people they will back away and become suspicious of us. But when we are concerned with the agenda of others and are willing to serve them we gain influence. Jesus said the greatest in the kingdom is the one who serves (Mark 10:43).

8. Have a holistic approach to ministry and enhance the quality of life in your community instead of offering mere words

The church is called to glorify God the Father by our good works (Matthew 5:16).

When a church meets a felt material or social need in their community and contributes to enhancing the quality of life for the population it gains great influence and respect. When most people in a community don’t know a local church exists or don’t think the church is relevant then it has not been functioning as the salt of the earth and light of the world.

The main reason why community boards are now blocking churches from obtaining the best real estate and fighting their tax-exempt statuses is because the main reason for tax exemption is that churches were deemed benefits to the quality of life for their communities because they enhance the general quality of life. When churches only offer good preaching they are not deemed relevant and are at risk in our post-Christian America of being stripped of their most favored tax status.

9. Develop a personal mission statement that will aid you in choosing which events to participate in

I get so many offers to attend meetings and speak at conferences that I must have a strong base of core values and priorities based on my mission that serve as a grid which narrows the ministry opportunities I will take.

10. Develop close mentoring friendships with specific people representing church, business, law, health, and politics

As a pastor I could have a narrow view of the world if all I did is socialize with other Christians and/or pastors. In order to be effective I need to have a strong inner circle of people who are experts in various realms of life.

11. Engage in life-giving activities outside of ministry for mental and emotional renewal

When you are involved with the same thing (even ministry) over and over again it drains you emotionally and mentally.  I have to renew myself with activities outside of church ministry by doing things I love like playing my guitar, exercising, and having fun with friends.

12. Prioritize eating a healthy diet with regular exercise

Eating healthy and staying in top physical shape enables a leader to have great amounts of mental, spiritual, and physical energy to fulfill vision. Those who are continually getting sick and are run down and tired because of their diets and poor heath are poor stewards of the life God has given them.

13. Get enough sleep and take regular time off for prayer, study, and reflection

I have found that I can’t think clearly unless I get away regularly for several days at a time to pray and hear God’s voice for my life. When I don’t do this I easily get lost emotionally because I don’t give my body enough time to process challenging events in my life which results in me getting off-center.

14. Take your leadership and key people away on retreats on a regular basis to pour into them and develop community

I have found that a one-day seminar involving fellowship and reflection does more to bring unity and vision than many meetings over the course of several months.

15. Develop leadership communities built around friendship, covenant, and kingdom purpose instead of only having meetings centered on teaching and agendas

When we have meetings that minister to the personal needs of those who serve in leadership we will actually get more work done than if we just meet to discuss problems and go over our ministry agendas.  Eventually people get worn out attending meetings but when they are renewed and refreshed in a meeting they can’t wait to come back for more!

16. Love and appreciate every person irrespective of whether or not they are serving and benefiting your local church or ministry

17. Attempt to keep a good relationship with every person who leaves your local church or ministry

Unfortunately, many pastors take it personally and even blackball those who have left their churches, possibly for fear they will influence others to leave. I have found the best thing to do in the sight of God is to continue to love and reach out to those who have left, even if they have no plans of ever coming back! This keeps love flowing in the Body of Christ, and it is Christ-honoring when we put His kingdom first!

18. Have a top finance manager and CPA managing the tithes and offerings

Since most pastors are not equipped to properly oversee the accounting of a church or organization, the highest priority should be given to hire a competent CPA and then a skilled and trustworthy finance manager. When the finances are not managed well it opens up a satanic door for scandals and can dry up the tithes and offerings faster than any other accusation!

19. Make a distinction and have elders who focus on only the spiritual aspects of the vision and other elders who focus on only the finances meeting regularly in separate committees to get more work done

20. Purchase your own church property as soon as possible

I have found that our local church didn’t really have its greatest influence in our community until we were able to purchase our own property. Having our own property enables us to greatly establish and expand our ministry and gives our church a greater sense of stability and respect in our community.  Renting limited our ministry capacity because we couldn’t set our own hours and could only meet a few days per week.

21. Save at least 10% of all monies that are collected in case of financial emergencies

Our church donates 10% of the congregational tithes to other ministries and also saves another 10% in a reserve account in case of emergencies. Functioning on 80% of our weekly offerings allows us to be wise in how we spend our money and has proven to be one of the smartest things we have ever done!

22. The senior pastor should start preparing the next generation of leaders and also prepare their potential successors when they reach 45 years-old

Numbers 8:23-26 teaches that priests are to serve between the ages of 25-50 years-old. Then, at age 50 priests should retire and only assist (and mentor) the younger priests. This forces a continual flow of generational continuity and demands that young folks start getting trained to serve, probably in their early teenage years.

It is a shame and unbiblical when we see older pastors (60 and over) serving with no plan for succession.

23. Have a strong presbytery of apostolic leaders you submit to for counsel and in case of an emergency

I tell independent evangelical pastors they need to submit to an overseer and belong to an organization for mutual support, accountability, input, and for fire insurance in case a scandal breaks out and they need someone to come in and mediate between them and their congregations.

24. Plan seasonal campaigns to keep a continuum of momentum in the ministry

For starters, you can take advantage of the already established Christian calendar that has served the Body of Christ well for over 2,000 years (Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost Sunday, etc.).

Often we will have a momentum-creating event (like Easter Sunday or an anniversary) but nothing to follow up the event and we lose any momentum that was created. This is like a plane using half of its energy to gain altitude to 30,000 feet and then running out of fuel and diving back to the ground!

25. Never make important decisions regarding a relationship or the ministry while you are angry, tired, depressed, or frustrated

Many relationships have ended because of an email sent out in haste or in anger.

26. Understand that all crises and challenges are God’s way of speaking to us

Every problem is an opportunity to grow and develop leaders, and expands personal or corporate leadership capacity (read Acts 6:1-9).

27. Minister out of weakness like Paul the Apostle (2 Corinthians 12:1-7)

When leaders minister out of brokenness and transparency they gain the respect and trust of their followers and enable others to see the grace of God at work. When leaders brag about their spirituality or abilities, or preach condemning messages to their congregations, they discourage those struggling with their faith and walk.

28. Have a community-centric–not a church-centric–approach to ministry

Most churches plan on how to bring people in the community into their church instead of planning how to send people from their church into their community!

I have found the most successful discipleship is that which prepares people for life in the world, not just church life.

29. Honor older spiritual leaders who have impacted your life and/or region

In 1999 our coalition honored twelve apostolic fathers in our city who paved the way for younger ministries and churches. This was one of the highlights of my life. It broke open the heavens and imparted an incredible spirit of unity and cooperation in the New York City region!

30. Establish a strong intercessory ministry in your church for your family

Satan tries to destroy the weekly prayer meeting more than any other meeting in a church!

Our weekly prayer meeting has become the spiritual epicenter of our church and the power behind getting our congregation and leadership behind our vision because they are exposed to God’s heart for evangelism, discipleship, and city reaching

Years ago we also established a prayer shield that includes armor-bearers who focus on praying for me and my family’s needs. This has been a lifesaver. I encourage all those in senior pastoral leadership to have personal armor-bearers they can call upon in emergencies and that they can give monthly prayer requests to.

Bonus Lessons:

31. Raise up sons and daughters, not just church members

32. Don’t allow yourself to be in competition with other pastors and leaders in your region

33. Don’t try to copy another pastor’s leadership gifts and church methodology

There is only one “you”. Also, each church has its own unique fingerprint that will leave an imprint on this world! Although we can learn much from other leaders and churches we can never completely replicate anyone else because we all have different gifts, abilities, and callings.

34. Learn to enjoy life

Cherish your key relationships, enjoy nature, and walk in the joy of the Lord!  Those who always keep their foot on the gas quickly burn out their engines!