Transitions - are always around the corner...

Entry in Prayer Journal, January 13, 2012: "...that I could lead effectively and honorably during this transition and beyond."

This particular entry reflected the challenges of yet another staff member leaving.  But what I didn't realize then, was the prophetic last part of the prayer request: "...and beyond."

Two-and-a-half months later, I would begin to understand that God had been preparing me for a greater transition: after 18 years of service, our Senior Pastor would resign.  As the Executive Pastor for our church, my role would both change and remain the same but all the more vital if the church was to weather the storm it faced.

This begins what I hope will be a series of blog posts regarding the critical approach and process of successful (and not-so successful) transitions.  I think the first lesson I learned is this:

Transitions are inevitable.

Like death and taxes, transitions, change, gain, and loss are going to be a large part of our lives as leaders, especially within the church.  And, why shouldn't it?  As those who are "in Christ", we are only sojourners on this rock, third from the sun. That is to say, this is not our home.  That our home is in heaven builds transition and change into our lives from the very beginning.

So, because the first lesson is that transitions are inevitable - they're going to happen - then how might we prepare for transitions?
  • Pray for it - that we're ready and that God is glorified in the process.
  • Expect it - because we've been praying for the transition, don't whine about it when it arrives.  Complaining doesn't help you lead, nor does it help others follow. 
  • Honor it - recognizing that God is not surprised in these times of transition, identify the transition as one He ordained. Let others know that God alone will be glorified in this transition process.
What transitions are looming for you? I don't know and you might not either. But, the One who does is waiting for you and I to trust Him to lead us into, through, and out of it -

"...and beyond."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Storehouse of Goodness

Image
How great is Your goodness which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in You. Psalm 31:19 When I think about the LORD and His goodness to me and those around me, I am so thankful. And yet, I'm not sure I've thought often about how He stores up goodness for me.  Have you? If we fear Him alone (and that's a BIG IF), then we can be assured of this promise: that He will store up goodness for us! The doctor gives bad news. God has goodness stored up for us. A spouse asks for a divorce. God has goodness stored up for us. Children make decisions that grieve us. God has goodness stored up for us. Fellow students or colleagues at our place of employment treat us with contempt or worse. God has goodness stored up for us. Dreams and goals we thought were important are no longer possible. God has goodness stored up for us. No matter what we encounter along the Way - whether calm or storm, peace o
Read more

Lessons of Trust

As promised, here are a few of the lessons learned after the challenges wrought in the experience on Thursday night's Living Last Supper: When we do something intentionally to God's glory, He receives the glory and protects us. Continue to put trust in God alone. As we trust God, if an outside organization desires access to the church, one must perform due diligence to verify who they are and what they intend to do. If there is no time to perform due diligence, then the offer remains unaccepted. The farther away an interviewer/videographer lives, the more due diligence is required. Interviewers or videographers rarely (if ever) pay you to do their work. If sufficient due diligence is performed, review ALL waivers before signing or making them available for signatures. If after due diligence, a group is allowed on site, increase security to ensure the group behaves as promised. And, the oldest lesson of all: people may not do what you expect them to do, but they will do what you
Read more

Who is your king?

  Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”    Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”    Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” John 18:36-38a In a culture that stresses having the “right” identity, you and I have many.    For example, I am a son of my parents, husband to my wife, father to my children, grandfather to their children, a neighbor, a friend, a pastor.    You get the idea.    All of these relationships mark us – identify us.    While we might like to consider all of these identities equally, there is a hierarchy whereby one identity overshadows or has priority over another.    As we raised our children, my k
Read more