The world is changing dramatically.  Pastors have been trained to do spiritual care.  But now the goal is leadership – whatever that really means in a church.

Do you struggle with what it looks like to be a leader in the church?  Do you have secret moments when you feel like a failure, when you don’t really know what to do next?

Consider this:  Churches need to stop doing good things and concentrate on those that are great.  It sounds strange.  But congregations need to stop doing many of the good things they do.  That is because we try to do too much.  Then we get stressed out, and we rarely do the one or two things as well as God hopes.

So this is an invitation to take a serious step back from your ministry.  What are the things that someone else could do better?  Is there a chance that this aspect of ministry is a calling for a different church?  What is it that God is really calling you to do?  What are your resources that come together in a delightful way to empower something special for the Kingdom of God?

It is like we think that somehow God calls us to exhaust ourselves.  Maybe we are discouraged, but at least if I am always doing “something” and am cranky from being tired, then I must be doing what God wants.  Right?  God should at least be happy that I am offering my own sacrifice.  Right?

God does call you to take up your cross.  But he took care of the whole crucifixion thing.  As is said so often, it isn’t about working harder, it is about working smarter.

What if you regularly took a day away to pray and dream?  Be honest.  Doesn’t that sound inviting?  Perhaps you feel guilty to even consider such a “lazy” day.  Jesus was routinely going away to get restored and find direction.  Perhaps we need to feel guilty about not taking time away to pray and dream.

Why not put this on your day away agenda: What is our most vital ministry that God calls us to be about which is unique to our setting and resources?  Are we doing this fully to the glory of God?  Is this ministry connecting with the community in such a way that people beyond our congregation would miss it if it went away?

And what are the “good” ministries we are trying that are taking too many resources away from the one thing God wants us to do in a “great” manner?  How can we graciously allow them to fade away?

To me, a secret to effective ministry is honing your call to the point where there are enough resources, including time for rest and envisioning, to do one activity to the point where it makes a lasting impact on the community.  If you find that ministry, then put all your best resources there.

Resources are limited.  Find your one true calling.  Place all of your passion and energy there.  People will follow you.  And that makes you a leader.

How do you feel about letting go of some “good” ministries for the sake of one that is “great?”  What gets in the way of doing this?  Leave your comment below.