4. Neglected a family member for a church need.
“It seems like I was always able to justify neglecting my children or wife by saying that the church members’ needs were God’s work. But the Bible is clear that I am to take care of my family first; they are God’s work too. I failed too many times.”
5. Pushed an initiative rather than getting buy-in.
“The building program became about me rather than God’s work at the church. The members voted for it because they love me. But they never owned it for themselves. As a result, we have no momentum to move forward.”
6. Left a church too soon.
“I am guilty of the ‘grass-is-greener’ syndrome. I now live in regret about leaving my former church. I wish I could stop asking ‘what if?’”
7. Focused on/obsessed over another church in the community.
“For over two years I stayed mad about a new church starting near us and a megachurch taking families from us. I know I was not the leader I should have been. My obsessions often caused me to have bad attitudes about my own church members.”
The purpose of recollecting these mistakes and desires for do-overs is not to heap guilt or to dwell on past failures. Rather, the purpose is to hear from the wisdom of others so that we may not make the same mistakes they did.
I would love to hear from you about do-overs.
Are some of these consistent with your experiences?
Are there others you could add?
