3. Gather some change before you make change.
Change will always cost you as a leader, so you need “change in your pocket” before you make changes. This comes by earning trust, building strong relationships, and getting some wins under your belt. The good news is that the church will loan you some change upon your arrival. If you spend it well, they will give you more. If you spend it unwisely, they will charge you interest that will kill you.
One young pastor used his borrowed change to announce from the platform on his first Sunday, without discussing this with anyone, that the choir would no longer be wearing robes. He said it was about time they caught up with the 21st Century. He didn’t last long.
Don’t Miss
Another and wiser pastor, a United Methodist in Georgia, not a week on the job, saw that his church of 200 plus desperately needed a win. It was a plateaued church with little money and even less hope. They really wanted new choir robes but couldn’t afford them. The pastor knew that choir robes had little to do with the success of the church in the big picture but was wise enough to know they needed a win. He told the congregation that God was big enough to provide the money for the choir robes – $2400. He stood beside the pulpit and lovingly challenged the people to give. He took a risk and God blessed. Over $2500 came in, and you never saw such a pumped and enthused church. They thought, “If we can do that, what could we really do?” The pastor gained serious “change in his pockets” that morning!
4. Be yourself.
People like you best when you are yourself. Not everyone will like you, but people like you best when you are genuinely you. When you are yourself, people can connect with you. When they connect with you, they can trust you. When they trust you, they will follow you. It’s not easy, but it is that simple. Just be you.
Relationships are always important, but especially in the first three to six months. Invest time with the people, not to be their pal but their leader and friend. Let people get to know you as you get to know them. Don’t try to make everyone happy and don’t lose sleep worrying about what everyone thinks. Remember that while you lie awake at night thinking about it, they are snoring. Find the key leaders and care about what they think, but remain true to yourself.
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