Since I “ain’t from around here” (a phrase I’ve been hearing a lot recently) a reporter from a local newspaper came to the church office to interview me today. At one point she asked me about my objectives for my ministry here, which got me thinking.  So, as something of a complement to my first post reflecting on leaving ministry in London, here are some thoughts on my priorities for beginning a fresh ministry in a new place.

I’ve been trying to tell myself, among other things, the following:

1. Try to keep your mouth shut and your ears open as much as possible.

2. Make your leaders your priority. They will set the tone. If there’s a problem here it will trickle down to the congregation. If there is health and vigor here it will work through the whole church.

3. Faults are easier for a new pastor to identify than for a congregation to accept. Go slow! And remember they can see yours as easily as you can see theirs.

4. Be on the alert for tell tale signs of spiritual health or disease. Are they praying? Do people share their faith? Is the tone and ‘feel’ of the worship slothful and lifeless? Is there in-fighting and backbiting? Is there a love and hunger for preaching? Is money a bigger issue than it ought to be?

5. Be all about the main things. Talk about the gospel more than you do about ‘the church’ when you meet with people.

6. Get the church praying. If there isn’t a prayer meeting start one. And get praying yourself. You need to model this.

7. Work hard at preaching. Do not preach a manifesto for change. Preach the gospel. Open the word. If the gospel doesn’t change hearts, any changes you might want to make won’t mean much anyway.

8. Pick your battles.