I have served in ministry at Mesa Christian Fellowship for nearly 26 years. I began as the part-time music minister, moved into the position of youth pastor, and have now been the head pastor for nearly 19 years. The time seems to have flown by for me, but apparently, from what I’ve been told, this kind of longevity in one church is becoming rare in our country. So, the question has been asked of me, “How?” How have I stayed in ministry, and especially ministry at the same church, for so long?
Well, I am sure there are countless factors that have contributed to what God has done here, some of which I am probably not even aware. However, as I reflect on my years, the lessons from my mentors, and what I’ve learned from my mistakes, I would like to share with you some things that I believe have played a big role in me staying for so long and committing so much of my life to this group of people. Though this is not an exhaustive list, I hope you can find something here that helps you as you strive to remain faithful to the ministry God has called you to.
Focus on who God has called you to, not what or where
When I hear pastors talk about calling, the conversation is always “what,” or “where.” We talk about the fact that God has called us to be a “pastor.” This is true, but it is just about a title. Then we talk about where, referring to a specific place. This is not necessarily wrong, but it still falls short of the real focus. You are not truly shepherding until you begin to focus on who it is that God has called you to. When you look out into the faces in your congregation you must understand God has called you to those people; that child, parent, grandparent, blue-collar worker, prison guard, banker, musician, teacher, businessman, and retiree. You are called to develop relationships, love, minister, disciple, and shepherd those individuals, not just fill a position or create successful programming in a certain town, which leads to my next point…
Look for progress in people, not budgets, buildings, or bodies in seats
The way we measure progress in a church can often lead to discouragement. Pastors ask other pastors, “how big is your church?” Boards look at the offering from month to month and often measure a pastor’s “success” in dollars. The community members who have never set foot in the church look at the building to see how well you are doing. As pastors, we cannot get too caught up in these things. In over 25 years of ministry, I have seen attendance grow and diminish several times, our giving has been up and down, and we have struggled to maintain a building but also built a new building during different seasons.
If you measure your progress as a pastor by these things, then the seasons of slow growth will cause you to quickly become discouraged and desire to move on. I always try to look for progress in people. And by people, I mean specific individuals. Nothing encourages me like the moments my wife and I reflect on the incredible change we have seen in people’s lives. Just the other night we talked about the ex-inmate who is now living a healthy life as a follower of Christ, the high school student who has overcome an incredibly difficult home life to begin serving in the church, the church leader who has ministered to our family through all of our difficult times, and the new believer who seems to just now be experiencing pure joy for the first time in their life. Looking for progress in people will do a great deal to keep you encouraged.
Don’t just take sabbath, teach sabbath
Most pastors I know are simply bad at resting. To last in ministry we must learn to take weekly sabbath. In recent years I have seen more and more pastors learning how vital rest is to spiritual health. However, if rest is an important spiritual discipline, then you shouldn’t be the only one doing it. So, when I say “teach sabbath,” I am talking about teaching your people, and especially your faithful volunteers. As pastors, we are eager to make use of the willing and talented in our congregation, hoping that their service will save us from burnout. However, I have discovered that the opposite often happens. By the time a pastor burns out, they have probably burned out countless volunteers. A pastor must practice sabbath rest. But you must also encourage your people to rest as well. Maybe people are at the church a little less, and maybe less programs are implemented, but I have found more ministry is accomplished because people are doing it with great energy and joy.
Lead your family to be partners in, not competitors with your ministry
Last summer I took a sabbatical (which is my regular practice every 7 years). This sabbatical was very difficult to accomplish, but not for the reasons you are probably thinking. I could not get my five kids to take time away from the church. From my 9-year-old to my 18-year-old, they all had ministries they were benefiting from, ministries they were leading, and relationships they were developing that they did not want to leave for three months. Most Sundays, as my wife and I visited other churches and spent time with friends in ministry, my oldest daughter drove her and her siblings to our church. They have developed a deep love for the people we minister to. Mesa Christian Fellowship is their ministry and their family, not just mine.
Recognize that you have the freedom to fail
As I thought about this aspect of ministry, I wasn’t sure if it is a key to longevity or one of its benefits, but I thought I should include it regardless. When your mindset is one of longevity you have the freedom to recognize this is not your only sermon/VBS/program/outreach/mission trip. Sometimes you are going to try things and they are going to fail. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Understand that those are learning opportunities and, because you don’t plan on going anywhere, you have a chance to do it better next time.
Spiritually speaking, put yourself first
Saying “put yourself first” in any way might sound heretical to a pastor, but hear me out…As pastors we all (hopefully) spend a great amount of time studying for our sermons and praying for our people. The mistake we often make, however, is that we lack Bible study for personal growth and prayer for ourselves. I have made it a practice to read through the Bible every year for my own edification; not preparing for a sermon or planning a Bible study, but simply enjoying God’s Word. I have also learned the hard way that I need a lot of prayer. Unless I am “all prayed up,” I am no good to anyone. I need to be constantly praying for myself. Prayer for me comes first, prayer for my wife comes second, prayer for my children comes next, and then I am equipped to truly pray for my church people.
Never stop learning
When I was first voted in as pastor of Mesa Christian Fellowship, I was immediately struck with the realization that I am not equipped. So that fall I began working on a MDiv at Gateway Seminary (Golden Gate Seminary back then). Almost 20 years later and a doctorate degree under my belt, I have realized I am never fully equipped. If any pastor thought they knew everything they needed to know to do pastoral ministry, COVID shutdowns should have changed that thinking. No pastor I know was prepare for what we faced during that season. Ministry is so complicated, draining, and ever-changing that we must be constantly learning.
The greatest church program I have ever implemented is “love one another.”
There is so much more to write, but this is probably a good place to end… I am enamored with the Acts 2:42-47 description of the first church; so much so that I preach on this passage every year. What draws me to it is that this is the simplest and most pure picture of a church – people who truly love the Lord and love one another. A church who really loves one another has incredible power. You can overcome anything the Enemy may throw at you if godly love is truly the center of all you do. First and foremost, pastor, love your people. What is the key to my longevity in ministry? It is difficult – nearly impossible – to leave people you truly love and who truly love you, no matter how hard the ministry may be.
Shane Cannon is the Lead Pastor at Mesa Christian Fellowship in Pueblo, CO
