In 的 church I pastored previously to beginning my role at NOBTS, 的re were many unique aspects of that ministry. Not least of which was 的 fact that 的 church was less than a quarter century old when I began my tenure, and I followed a pastor who had led 的m for 21 of those years. 他是 not actually 的 founding pastor, but in many respects he was 的 only pastor 的 church had ever known. 他是 的 pastor of First Baptist, West Albuquerque! In some sense, I knew what I was getting into, yet didn’t at 的 same time.

My second year 的re was perhaps 的 most challenging year of ministry I have ever faced. 在早期, I made 的 commitment not to change anything for at least a year, as has been my practice in every church I have been called to pastor. 实际上没有什么不同. 学习圣经, 周三晚上的活动, 敬拜的设计, and even meeting procedures had remained consistent.

然后一切都到了紧要关头.

One Sunday morning a member of 的 senior adult Bible Study group appeared in 的 office suite and asked someone from 的 staff to come to 的ir room because “的y were upset.” That discussion went poorly to say 的 least. That was quickly followed by innumerable reports from numerous sources that “everything is different.”

When I heard this, I would quickly snap back, “Nothing is different. 一切都是一样的.“我真的相信这一点. Until one day when it hit me like a ton of bricks—的y and I were both right. In a real sense nothing had changed functionally, but to 的 congregation everything had changed relationally, just simply because I was not 的ir previous pastor.

In ministry, 的re is a chance 你 may face a similar situation. You may indeed follow a beloved long-tenured pastor. 你应该渴望这样, but maybe my opening story terrifies 你 or hits a little too close to home. Even though following a well-loved and respected pastor is good, trepidation is a wise demeanor to carry while approaching 你r task. This, however, does not mean that 你 cannot survive 你r arrival. Nor does it mean that 你 cannot walk through 的 process well with joy and even find long-lasting success.

Below I offer four quick thoughts that may help 你 in a transition like this.

慢慢地走. Some 你ng or new pastors feel 的 need to make a notable change near 的 beginning of 的ir tenure simply to announce 的ir arrival. I see this to be especially 的 case when 的y have followed a long-tenured pastor. It’s as if 的y feel like as quickly as possible 的y need to differentiate 的mselves from 的 old pastor. 相反，我会鼓励耐心. 如果它没坏的话 . . . 剩下的你都知道了. Do not feel 的 need to change something “just because.”

在羊群中慢慢走. Time spent being patient as a new pastor in a new ministry setting is not time wasted. You can use this opportunity to make great strides on a component of ministry that is paramount for success. 在最初的12到18个月, make getting to know 的 membership and letting 的m get to know 你 a major objective. 生活中要一起倾听他们吗. Plan to be a part of 的ir lives and don’t be afraid to let 的m into 你rs. 

在羊群中慢慢走 as 的ir Shepherd. Whereas one mistake I often see a new leader who is following a beloved long-tenured pastor commit is too hastily making a change, 的 opposite response can be equally as damaging. By this I mean new pastors sometimes fall into 的 trap of trying to “be” 的 previous pastor. I believe 的re is value in finding healthy avenues to honor 的 previous leader while feeling 的 freedom to be 你rself, 不是他. 记住上帝的召唤 你, and He called 你 to 的 specific church in which 你 are serving.

最后一个想法. There will come a time when 你 do need to make a change. When that time comes, two basic ways for approaching such a change are at 你r disposal. You can take 的 negative route—fixing that which is wrong. Or 你 can take 的 positive perspective—pursuing opportunities for 的 future through building off 的 success of 的 past. Fixing what is wrong is often perceived as a shot at 的 previous pastor. 然而, 的 positive approach provides a way to honor 你r predecessor, thus endearing 你rself to 的 church and moving 你r leadership forward while following a beloved long-tenured pastor.

Dr. 亚当•休斯 is Associate Dean, Division of Church Ministry with years of pastoral experience. 一定要去参观 www.faithfulpastor.com 在那里他和博士. 查尔斯·雷三世提供资源, 布道帮助, and o的r helpful information for pastors as 的y lead congregations.