Newer pastors burnout generally not because regular preaching and teaching are more difficult than they expected, but because these activities too often happen under the stress of sharp conflict.
I have been at the same church for 23 years. I followed a well-loved man. The best advice I received before coming from some seasoned pastor friends was this.: Don't be surprised if the people who were your biggest supporters in the beginning will be the first to leave the church. In the first couple of years some will leave simply because you are not the guy who was there before. Do NOT take it personally. They would have left no matter who followed the former pastor. Congregational turnover is inevitable regardless of who the new pastor is. Secondly, assemble a group of seasoned pastor friends that you can call upon for counsel and encouragement when "situations" come up. They have probably experienced the same themselves and can offer valuable help. Thirdly, do not make any changes in the 1st year. Spend that time learning to love those folks and assessing their spiritual maturity and vision. In my opinion the main failure of the schools is the lack of training in dealing with the "personality conflict" issues. There is also the matter of spiritual warfare that is to be expected when you serve the Lord. Leo G.
True. An older pastor who was also a neighbor at my first church told me early on that the biggest supporters I have n the beginning will be my biggest detractors as time goes on. He was right.
This was my experience. I survived by finding another church after 4 1/2 years, and by applying the lessons there which I learned at my first one. THAT part is important. If we just go on doing the same old stuff in the same old way, we might as well just find something else to do.
I have been at the same church for 23 years. I followed a well-loved man. The best advice I received before coming from some seasoned pastor friends was this.: Don't be surprised if the people who were your biggest supporters in the beginning will be the first to leave the church. In the first couple of years some will leave simply because you are not the guy who was there before. Do NOT take it personally. They would have left no matter who followed the former pastor. Congregational turnover is inevitable regardless of who the new pastor is. Secondly, assemble a group of seasoned pastor friends that you can call upon for counsel and encouragement when "situations" come up. They have probably experienced the same themselves and can offer valuable help. Thirdly, do not make any changes in the 1st year. Spend that time learning to love those folks and assessing their spiritual maturity and vision. In my opinion the main failure of the schools is the lack of training in dealing with the "personality conflict" issues. There is also the matter of spiritual warfare that is to be expected when you serve the Lord. Leo G.
True. An older pastor who was also a neighbor at my first church told me early on that the biggest supporters I have n the beginning will be my biggest detractors as time goes on. He was right.
This was my experience. I survived by finding another church after 4 1/2 years, and by applying the lessons there which I learned at my first one. THAT part is important. If we just go on doing the same old stuff in the same old way, we might as well just find something else to do.
Right one, the worst attack is the one that is unexpected. It comes in a variety of ways, and you never see it coming.