Episode 49 - Small Church Pastor To-Do and Not-To-Do Lists for 2014

We are one week away from Christmas, so... Merry Christmas to all!! In today's podcast we listen to a short, three minute, leftover clip from our conversation with Dave Jackson, from SchoolofPodcasting.com. Jonny tells Dave how 200churches started almost one year ago. We began in January, and in December we are going strong - and that is a rockin' feelin!! In this podcast, and in light of starting a new year, we talk about things we should start, and things we should stop...

We talk about two things in this podcast that we want to link to:

A blog post from January that talks about the Lone Ranger... well, after looking, it actually does not mention the Lone Ranger, but it does talk about getting others involved through delegation!

A YouTube video with Bob Newhart called: Stop It!!

Here is an outline of today's episode, but as usual, there is so much more in the actual audio!

What to START, and what to STOP!

1. What do you need to STOP in the New Year? so that you can ask the second question...
2. What do you need to START in the New Year?

Let's think about the FIRST question, What do you need to STOP in 2014?

How will you stop it? (You need to define "it")

• Will you just QUIT? Let it drop? Walk away from it? (hopefully, not your whole ministry!)
• Will you delegate it or train another person to do it?
• Maybe you need to gradually taper it off or phase it out?

Think about what would happen if you didn't stop it...

• Consequences?
• Other missed opportunities?
• Will there be other ministries that won't happen?
• Will some people end up not being reached, ministered to, or engaged with?

Let's think about the SECOND question, What do you need to START in 2014?

1. What will it take? What will it cost to pull it off?
2. How will your daily schedule have to change? It will have to...
3. What will it require from you - courage? Commitment? Intentional stupidity? Great faith?
4. Who will you need to involve?
5. How will you prioritize your goals, tasks, responsibilities?
6. Can you incorporate S.M.A.R.T. goals? (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound)

Here's some suggestions for getting started:

1. Come up with four goals you want to accomplish in 2014.
2. Prioritize that list of four.
3. Begin the highest priority goal in January, and ONLY that one goal!
4. If you can consistently progress on that goal through January 31, reward yourself by starting on, adding, your second goal on February 1.
5. If you can consistently make progress on those two goals throughout February, then add your next goal on March, etc.
6. Remember, start small, and build consistency and enjoy progress. Much of the success and happiness is found in the journey and the progress.

UPCOMING PODCAST EPISODES:

Christmas Day - Part 5 of our conversation with Dan Reiland on the message of his book Amplified Leadership. Dan will be joining us every last Wednesday of the month throughout 2014. Dan brings very practical leadership teaching for pastors of small churches. Dan is the "Pastor's Coach" and writes a newsletter by that name for Injoy and John Maxwell. Read a recent Pastor's Coach article called "Big Ministry In Small Churches"

Here is how Injoy.com describes the Pastor's Coach Newsletter:

Pastor's Coach is designed to refresh, encourage, and equip pastors as they rise to the challenges in the church. Written by executive pastor and leadership development specialist Dan Reiland, Pastor's Coach addresses the thorny issues facing ministry leaders, and offers valuable advice to help pastor's lead effectively. Pastor's Coach puts pastoring in perspective, and offers a much needed reminder as to why ministering in the church is such an admirable calling. At INJOY, we have a deep respect for pastors and an appreciation for the care they provide. Pastor's Coach is one small way we can say thank you!

You can sign up to receive Dan's Pastor's Coach digital articles for free here!

New Year's Day - On the first Wednesday of every month we will be joined by Pastor Karl Vaters from NewSmallChurch.com, and Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in Fountain Valley, CA. On January 1, 2014 the topic of the podcast will be on chapter one of his book, The Grasshopper Myth - Big Churches, Small Churches, and the Small Thinking that Divides us. We will talk about the importance of how we view ourselves as pastors of small churches. Hey, are we really okay with that??

Dan Reiland

Karl Vaters