Leading Change in an Established Church, Part 1

Danny Rollins

Isaac Newton discovered 3 laws of motion that, roughly interpreted,  state:  the natural state of an object is at rest;  a moving object must overcome resistance;  motion produces friction.  Wow!!  I wonder if he did his research for these discoveries in a Baptist church?  In leading an established church, a pastor constantly faces those same 3 challenges: natural inertia, resistance, and conflict.  No wonder so many first-year seminary students are opting for ministry outside the traditional local church. What are pastors to do in a day our changing culture needs the church as never before? Joshua gives us some practical help. 

Joshua 1 focuses on the primary issue a pastor must have settled in his heart if he will lead his church through significant change: he must know God has put him there.  God told Joshua,  “the time has come for you to lead these people…” .  (1:3 NLT).   Few pastors I know do not feel called by God to be doing what they are doing where they are doing it.  Over time, though, inertia, resistance and conflict tend to dull that sense of calling. Then Joshua meets the Captain of the Lord’s Host: “are you for us or for our adversaries?” he asks.   The battle-weary leader can lose a sense of God’s calling as he struggles with daily challenges.   God came to remind Joshua that His side was all that mattered.  If you ever get lost in who you are trying to please, whose mark you’re trying to make, you will forfeit the ability to lead your people to significant change.

I remember our first Pastor Appreciation Month here at Rolling Hills. We received so many cards and notes of thanks, that, laid in a stack, measured about 8 inches high.  Five years later, they measured less than an inch.  Ouch!! Some of those folks have gone on to glory, and a few others have left the church. 

This past Sunday, we baptized 15 people, and had 3 decisions for Christ.

I’ll take His smile any day.

Join in the discussion of the unique challenges pastors face in established churches. Go to www.theestablishedchurchpastor.blogspot.com

Danny Rollins serves as pastor of Rolling Hills Baptist Church, Fairfield, OH