"50 things I would do - If I were a Pastor"

[Neck]

Originally Posted by Ferd

Renda would I get in trouble if I started a thread:

"50 reasons why Neck doesnt use commas"

?

Go for it.

I answered the question...

This is just for you.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Neck]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth

Nathan,

I am just curious. Why are you surprised that they (laypeople/pastors) would react they way did? I know you said your list isn't towards anyone, but it is about being a pastor and we have many pastors that post here, they are bound to feel your list is someway a subtle rebuke to their ministry.


A list like this is bound to create a reaction. Just food for thought.

How can I rebuke a minister or pastor when I have never been to their church?

I would not rebuke them...

I have been rebuked for my own goals of professionlism.

If I use these concepts in business today.

Why would I stop if I were leading a church?

It just does not make sense...

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by Neck

How can I rebuke a minister or pastor when I have never been to their church?

I would not rebuke them...

I have been rebuked for my own goals of professionlism.

If I use these concepts in business today.

Why would I stop if I were leading a church?

It just does not make sense...

I was hoping you would not zero in on that particular word.

it's the point of being surprised that there was a reaction to your list, were you thinking that they were not going to react?

[EA]

Originally Posted by Neck

No the Lord has called me to one day be a pastor and I will be the best that I can be...

The Lord has called you to "someday" be a pastor?

I've never heard of such a thing.

If you're called, you should be operating within that calling.

Why aren't you?

[rrford]

Originally Posted by Edward Anglin

The Lord has called you to "someday" be a pastor?

I've never heard of such a thing.

If you're called, you should be operating within that calling.

Why aren't you?

Tue. And in all honesty until that gets to #1 on his list the other 50 things don't mean a whole lot.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Edward Anglin

The Lord has called you to "someday" be a pastor?

I've never heard of such a thing.

If you're called, you should be operating within that calling.

Why aren't you?

Paul took a long while to operate in the calling of an apostle. God called him from the get-go to preach to the Gentiles. It wasn't until he was at Antioch that the Holy Spirit sent him forth to fulfill that calling.

Maybe that is similar to what Neck is talking about.

[seguidordejesus]

Originally Posted by Neck

It is proper when writing an email or text message to spread out the sentences.

Because some are reading these comments on their Blackberry while driving down the interstate.

What rock have most of you been living under?

Or does my business practices only trend in my field?

When you group sentences on an email or chat.

It is hard for some to read.

Also when responding to multiple questions it gives the responder a place to input their answer in the return email.

So they do not miss any of the questions asked.

OK

These two sentences should be connected with a comma.

[jrpreacher]

Originally Posted by Neck

I have brought in 50 customers into a company that until 2008 had no customers in Milwaukee.

Customers do buy on relationship once they know you.

But if you are competing for new business put out to bid.

I have seen several large deals go sour from ATT towards our organiztion.

All of this knowing that the customer IT Manager or Telecome manager had a great realtionship with someone at ATT.

I do not target the teleocom manager or the It manager.

I sell at the C-Level.

They do not care about the presentation and the understanding you have of their business.

The deals that were won left the relationship partners stunned.

We won because we had a better design, plan and understanding.

The onging relationship is then built during the implementation phase.

As is the install we have going on with the largest school district in WI.

How did we win it?

It was not on price...

Now when you have relationship, customer care and give the customer ongoing knowledge of their systems.

They will never leave you.

As my customer have follow me from SBC-Verizon Businss and now to my current company...

The problem Neck is you view eternal salvation as a product to pedal!

[LadyChocolate]

Originally Posted by Neck

This list comes from 40 years of church life. My personal family has over 10 ministers from the generation before that were pastors, evangelist, and Bible College Teachers . Within the United Pentecostal Church, Assembly of God, Southern Baptist convention and numerous independent churches. The current generation has over 5 minister's that are Pastor's, worship leaders, evangelist.

Feel free to comment.

I was asked this question recently.

If you were a pastor you would?

These comments do not reflect the actions or are they in response to any known individual.

They would be the code by which I would pastor....

Here is my list of "50 things I would do - If I were a Pastor."

If I were a Pastor – I would?

1. Preach on Heaven once a month.
2. Refrain from preaching prosperity as a signature of God’s approval.
3. Preach about victory – The victory that over cometh the world.
4. Spend time with the saints, (I spend time with my clients today).
5. Know the names of every saint. (I do that with my clients today).
6. Lead by example, i.e. Prayer, commitment, relationships.
7. Not watch TBN or the Word network for my material or sermon series.
8. Ministers should be like a song writer and preach from their own heart and with the words that convey their personal expression of God.
9. Never preach with any motive except to introduce the saint to a new expression of Christ and to the sinner “The Cross of Jesus Christ alone”.
10. Not write the new self help book that is a combination of Ziglar, Froid or L. Ron Hubbord.
11. If I can’t find inspiration from week to week I will get out of the pulpit.
12. I would preach how I was lost but now am found. I would say I am sorry from the pulpit.
13. My sermons would be fresh and inspired of the Lord.
14. I would not use a computer while preaching and would not be seen flipping yellow paged notes in the pulpit.
15. I would leave 5 minutes blank in my concept of the sermon outline for the Lord to speak through me for that moment.
16. I would spend a minimum of 10 hours a week preparing my Sunday sermon. (I spend twice that time today to prepare for a 1 hour customer meeting). When selling the concept of redemption and salvation should we not do better?
17. My sermons would have a connecting title. A title can be as important as the context of the sermon. How many titles of sermons can you quote from your pastor over the past few years?
18. Each and every sermon would have a goal that could be measured.
19. Saints come to church to learn something new not just to experience the next tingle.
20. I would “not” take control of the finances in the church.
21. I would “not” review the individual giving statements. My interactions with each saint would not be related to a balance sheet.
22. Never preach from the pulpit the freshly exposed sins of a saint in the church as inspiration.
23. Never comment from the pulpit on another Christian establishment, denomination or assembly for any reason.
24. I would never use slang or off beat jokes from the pulpit.
25. Never start a story and then not finish it.
26. I would credit like a writer when quoting another minister.
27. I would “never” discuss any personal conversation that is discussed with a saint. (Unless what is depicted by the laws that govern my state for notification).
28. I would have a goal to develop saints; men and woman to become ministers for Jesus Christ.
29. I would preach that we, “Will have growth” in the kingdom of God in this zip code.
30. I would never embarrass my wife or family from the pulpit.
31. My relationship with my wife would be an example that others could live by with observation.
32. Not preach that the saint’s kids should be mini-gods. If my kids are rough around the edges.
33. Every service would have one song sung about the Blood or price Christ paid for us.
34. Never take up more than one offering.
35. I would reach out to anyone that I knew was offended. Knowing you can never please everyone. What is wrong with the first hand of expression?
36. Teach folks how to worship God. It is not just with the fancy and catchy songs that we should raise our voices to God!
37. Keep a card in my pocket everyday with names from the church. Reminding me that the church is real people. Bringing their names before Christ.
38. The new list would be written every Sunday night to prepare me for the week. (I do that now with my customer appointment schedule).
39. I would call minimum of 5 saints a day. (I do that today with my customer rolodex).
40. I would say thanks personally and not just corporately from the pulpit.
41. I would share a minimum of 5 Evangelistic expressions everyday.
42. I would not share any situations even by keeping the folks unnamed to any evangelist or other ministers.
43. I would not manipulate a speaker to talk to someone by giving them hints on a saints needs.
44. I would have a guest speaker from the church or evangelist preach once every 2 months.
45. I would have my vacation schedule turned in by the end of March. Just like most employees of a company are required to each year.
46. I would request that my vacation time mirror a scale for years of service.
47. I would have a monthly review internally on the use of any charges to the church credit card.
48. I would share my external income from speaking engagements, business ventures or gifts to the church appointed trustee.
49. I would have a real open door policy. (I require that of my managers today).
50. I would always be open to add new items to this list.

...in all fairness, there were several points that I did like.... in fact, they are really good...

I will use them when I pastor!

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by Neck

I have brought in 50 customers into a company that until 2008 had no customers in Milwaukee.

Customers do buy on relationship once they know you.

But if you are competing for new business put out to bid.

I have seen several large deals go sour from ATT towards our organiztion.

All of this knowing that the customer IT Manager or Telecome manager had a great realtionship with someone at ATT.

I do not target the teleocom manager or the It manager.

I sell at the C-Level.

They do not care about the presentation and the understanding you have of their business.

The deals that were won left the relationship partners stunned.

We won because we had a better design, plan and understanding.

The onging relationship is then built during the implementation phase.

As is the install we have going on with the largest school district in WI.

How did we win it?

It was not on price...

Now when you have relationship, customer care and give the customer ongoing knowledge of their systems.

They will never leave you.

As my customer have follow me from SBC-Verizon Businss and now to my current company...

I can tell that you take your business serious, and I can see why you're successful! It's very hard to crack an account that has a strong relationship with your competitor. Sooner or later the competition will slip and mess up, and the door may crack open a tiny little bit. If you've impressed them with your previous presentations, they might give you a project that will send a message to your competition that they have choices. That little crack can turn into a wide open door from then on when you have a chance to establish a relationship.

The way I see it, there are two stages to growing a church:
1. Create something (choir, praise team, band, preaching style, etc.) that is very good and entertaining and will be a reason (buzz) for people to check you out for the first time. In other words, something that will bring them in the doors.

2. Keeping them there! Relationship! Relationship! Relationship!