This is part of a blog series that has 30 practical tips for the pastor looking to start or restart well. You can get the entire series as a Kindle
Meet Other Pastors in the Area
I really don’t understand why churches don’t partner more often. I have seen how they don’t and observed the way pride has prevented me from collaborating, but it still doesn’t make sense. When you really consider it churches and pastors not having some sort of partnerships make drama among middle school girls look sophisticated.
One of your biggest challenges as you get settled in is to figure out the local culture. Every community has a specific rhythm, pace, and to some extent a specific set of values that are vital to understand.
The easiest shortcut to figuring some of these things out is to talk to those who have been living it. There will be some that give you the run around and won’t jump at the idea of talking to the new kid in town. Then there will be the majority that will be more than willing to talk, but just had to be asked.
In my experience something very interesting and life giving happens when pastors from different churches talk to one another: they are themselves. Whether we admit it or not having someone to talk to that isn’t in the middle of it but still understands is needed and something we don’t get very often.
There are people down the street and on the other side of town that have been on the same path that you just started, why wouldn’t you want to learn from them?
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Josh – this is huge. I’ve been in my current place of ministry for just over a year, after moving halfway across the country. The most helpful thing I have done to understand this “strange land” is get together with the other local pastors, to introduce myself, and to hear their stories. From this, 5 of us get together monthly. (That makes me sound like I started that… it was actually more of a being in the right place at the right time thing.) Not only has it been a great help in transition, but it has also been a great time of fellowship and friendship. These men love the city I am learning to love… nothing better.
great to hear Frank, when you get together is there a pre-determined agenda or is it more relaxed conversation?