Tag: change

  • Letter #24–Changing Others–2

    Dear Small Church Pastor,

         In the previous letter, the third suggestion I made for a pastor attempting to make a change in the operation of a congregation was to be patient.  I gave the example of moving a piano one inch at a time.  Please pay attention—fast changes that occur through the authority of the pastoral position only, without including the ideas and opinions of the leadership and general congregation as a whole, usually last only as long as that individual is the pastor.  They will not necessarily become permanent, regardless of the success the changes bring into the worship of the congregation.

         Remember comfort zones and habits?  People have a tendency to revert to old habits and preferences whenever the driving force of a “new thing” is no longer present.  In order to continue to bring more successes, the change must replace the old habits and preferences, not simply delay their return.        

         For that replacement to occur, there must be a consistent repetition of the “new thing.”  The change has to be presented often with highlights on the successes that occur in order for the new habit to be established in the minds and lives of the members of the congregation.  Repetition will take time.  Replacement of old habits takes time.  Creating support for new preferences takes time.

         Example: The platform of one of our facilities was very small.  It was so small that it quickly became overcrowded when one or two new instruments and people were added to the singing portion of our worship services.  In the center of the platform stood a large podium, complete with a door and shelves.  I approached the leadership with the idea of replacing the podium with a smaller stand for a short period of time in order to see if that would help with the overcrowding on the platform.  I explained why I felt it would be helpful to the music portion of our worship service and made the suggestion to the whole congregation before I moved the podium. 

         It took a couple of months of talking to the leadership and musicians in casual conversations before I actually brought it up to the congregation.  (Suggestion #2 from Letter #23.)  The podium was replaced on a temporary basis and remains replaced to this day.  The congregation had become accustomed to seeing the uncluttered platform and had accepted the change as beneficial.

         Not every change pastors feel led to present to a congregation succeed.  One of the most significant changes that occurs in congregations is associated with the music program and the songs that are sung.  Traditional hymns are valuable to any congregation and their spiritual development.  Praise choruses are, too.  New songs with verses and choruses are, too.  Changes in music styles need to be prayerfully approached with a great deal of patience. 

         I discovered it takes time for a congregation to accept and begin using new songs on a regular basis.  Be patient when it comes to using new music in a congregation that has not had new songs introduced very much.  This is true for any group, even a congregation that is composed of young couples who have usually sung contemporary music, although I’ve noticed that young people will accept different music quicker than older folks simply because they are younger and have not been singing the same songs for forty years.

         Sidebar—If you want to introduce a new song or a new music style to an older congregation, it might help if the singer/musician is a child or grandchild of someone who has been associated with the congregation for a long time.  People can be more accepting if the new sound comes from a family member.

         I made these statements about music because I have seen instances in which a pastor introduced new songs or styles to a congregation with what appeared to be some success.  However, as soon as the pastor moved on to another location, the music reverted back to older, more familiar songs.  The song leaders were cooperating with the pastor in the new music, but they did so only because the pastor was leading in that direction.  As soon as a new pastor arrived, the old preferences for a different music style prevailed, and the new music disappeared.  Do be patient about creating an atmosphere of acceptance for new songs.  This particular change might take more time than you could ever imagine.

         It has been quoted that the city of Rome was not built in a day.  According to Discover Magazine, it took roughly 800 years from its foundation in 735 B.C. for Rome to reach its peak in its construction.  Hopefully the changes the Holy Spirit leads you to introduce will not take that much time.  But remember, replacing old habits and preferences will take time.  You’ll need to constantly remind yourself of this reality.  Be patient.

    Sincerely,

    A Small Church Pastor

  • Letter #23–Changing Others–1

    Dear Small Church Pastor,

         This letter will begin a mini-series on the topic of changing others. 

         The very first thing you need to understand is that YOU cannot change anyone.  You can lead them, advise them and make suggestions to them, but you cannot make the decisions that must be made in order for a change to occur in anyone, especially not in a whole congregation of people.  Only the Holy Spirit can bring in the changes that will help your people become more like Jesus.  Remember who is in control and who is building the church Jesus established so long ago.

         That being said–

         When it comes to changing others, after we start working on changing ourselves, there are numerous issues that must be addressed before any changes in a congregation can occur.  Do the people see a need for change?  Are they willing to make any changes?  Are they completely controlled by their routines and comfort zones?  How open-minded are they when it comes to temporary changes as opposed to permanent changes?  I could go on, but you get the idea.

         Then there are the unseen taboos that exist that are never mentioned until the pastor (that would be you) suggests a change, even if the change is for a few days.  Example: I once wanted to cover a painting, which was located on the back wall of the platform, with a large drape for a couple of weeks during a special sermon series.  When I mentioned the idea to the people, I was immediately reprimanded for wanting to cover a painting that had been donated by one of the “founding fathers” of the church.  The period of a few days was immaterial.  I wanted to cover a “sacred cow” in the minds of some of the people.  Sacred cows fall under the list of taboos.

         Back to the matter of changing others–Any time a pastor is faced with the understanding that a change needs to be made, there are some questions that need to be asked.  Is the change necessary for the spiritual development of the congregation, or is this a change motivated by the latest trends in congregational structure and operation that are being instituted in other locations?  Example: About fifteen or twenty years ago, a local pastor set up a week-long revival at his church and felt led by the Holy Spirit to invite different speakers for each night of the revival.  The revival was a glowing success.  The next pastor down the road decided to do the same and held a revival with different speakers.  The next pastor farther down the road did just like the others were doing and had several speakers at his annual revival.

         As I watched what was happening, I realized the first pastor had followed the direction of the Holy Spirit and had been rewarded with a great outreach to his community.  It appeared to me that the others had looked at what he had done and decided that God was now moving by having revivals with several speakers.  I’m not judging the others for their decisions.  I am merely stating a pattern that I saw developing during each repetition of the original revival.  Many churches still follow that pattern in our area years later.

         Getting back to the question, again—do you feel that the change will help your congregation grow spiritually?  If the answer is “no,” then ask yourself why you want to make the change.  Remember, your motivations will have a definite impact on your congregation and its future.  If the answer is “yes,” ask yourself what would be the best way to make the change.  Remember, as their pastor, you should always seek what is best for the congregation as the Holy Spirit directs your steps.

         Here are some suggestions when you believe a change will help your congregation grow in their relationships with Jesus:

         Pray, pray and then pray some more before introducing the idea of any change to the structure or operation of the church.  Then ask the congregation to pray with you as you seek the Lord’s guidance about the future.

         Informally bring up the change in conversations with various members of the congregation beginning with your leaders.  Ask them “How do you feel about….” types of questions and really listen to their answers.

         Be patient.  If you’re going to move the piano, do it one inch at a time.  Changes that are lasting should occur in small increments whenever possible.  People need time to adjust themselves to new things, no matter how small the changes are.

         Never make a change for the sake of change.  Always have a definite goal in mind, and be sure the goal will benefit your people in the long run.

         As led by the Holy Spirit, minister to your people about the control routines and comfort zones have over everyone’s lives and how to overcome that control through God’s help and direction.  Remember to use examples from your own life and from scripture when you do this.  Don’t try to point out their routines and comfort zones to them.  Rely on the Holy Spirit to do that.

         There is much more to discuss on this topic of changing others through God’s guidance.  We’ll address other things in the next letter.  You already have enough in this one to ponder and pray about as you lead your people into necessary changes.

    Sincerely,

    A Small Church Pastor

  • Letter #22–Changing Yourself

    Dear Small Church Pastor,

         The only constant in this universe is God.  Everything else changes.  That includes you, your congregation and everything you do.  Everything that is alive and growing changes.  When it stops changing, it begins to die.  Eventually it will begin to decay and, finally, disappear completely.

         You, your congregation and all things in your ministry are no different.  Allow me to remind you of something you already know.  When you stop changing and becoming more like Jesus, you begin to stagnate.  The same holds true for your congregation.  When your ministry stops taking on more and more of the qualities that existed in Jesus’ ministry, that will stagnate, too.

         Let’s address how you can ensure that you do not stop growing to maturity by changing yourself.  This letter addresses two aspects of our lives that might hinder our ability to change so we can be more like Jesus.  They are routines (habits) and comfort zones (personal preferences).

         We all have routines and comfort zones.  We all enjoy regularity because it helps to create stability in our lives.  We all have areas of life that make us feel secure and not vulnerable.  But are our routines and comfort zones controlling how close we are to accomplishing God’s will for our ministries?  Are they keeping us from changing into a more mature and useful member of the body of Christ?

         Routines and comfort zones include all those thoughts and activities that occupy our lives every day and that occur repeatedly, so much so that we don’t even think about the reality that they affect our lives every single day.  What you did the first fifteen minutes today is probably what you do the first fifteen minutes of every day.  The activities you feel capable of performing are the ones you perform every day.  The people with whom you associate this week are very likely many of the same people you encounter every week.

         There is nothing wrong with having routines and comfort zones.  But are we allowing these to control our thoughts, words and actions because we simply feel too comfortable in them to be willing to change anything about them?  In other words, are we remaining tied to our routines and comfort zones for the sake of convenience and personal preferences?  Do they have such a hold on our thoughts, words or behaviors that we do not want to, refuse to, staunchly oppose any effort to change from what we have always thought, said or done?

         Remember, living organisms that stop changing begin to die.  You are a living organism.  If you have stopped changing because of routines and comfort zones, there is a conclusion to what is happening to you.  You have begun the process of dying.  And death does not occur just in the physical realm.  It can also occur mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  The first three are bad enough.  That last one has eternal consequences for yourself and for the people you lead.

         We all must ask ourselves if our routines and comfort zones are keeping us from growing, maturing, getting closer to the image of Christ.  If there is any indication they are, then we have a choice to make.  We can choose to stay in them and accept their control and their consequences, or we can choose to change them and seek new growth, more maturity, being drawn closer to the image of Christ. 

         If we decide to change so we can grow, how do we do that?  It has been said that recognizing a problem is ninety percent of solving the problem.  Pray that the Holy Spirit will help you identify any area of your life that is being controlled by routines (habits) or your comfort zones (personal preferences).  Then, with guidance from prayer, scripture and sound Christian counsel, decide what you can do to change.  Create a plan for making the changes you feel are necessary for your own personal growth.  Then consistently start working the plan.  Stick with your plan, regardless of the temptation to fall back into your old ways of living.  You’ll begin to see progress toward growth as you change.

         Do you want to grow in Christ and see your congregation do the same?  Start with changing yourself first.

    Sincerely,

    A Small Church Pastor