Saddleback didn’t have an organized youth ministry until we had 500 in attendance. We didn’t have a singles ministry until we had 1,000 people in attendance.
And I’m glad we didn’t.
It’s not because those ministries aren’t important. They’re vital! But God hadn’t provided anyone to lead them. Never create a ministry position and then fill it. It’s backwards. Your most critical component to a new ministry isn’t the idea to start it—it’s the leadership of the ministry. Every ministry rises and falls on leadership. Without the right leader, a ministry will just stumble along. It may even do more harm than good. I could tell you some horror stories about poorly-led ministries.
Be patient and trust God’s timing. Don’t try to outrun or outthink him. The staff at Saddleback never starts new ministries. We may suggest an idea but we let the idea percolate until God provides the right person to lead it.
Don’t push people into ministry either. It’s not about you finding the right person to start your dream ministry. It’s about God raising up the right person. If you push people into ministry spots, you’ll be stuck with a motivation problem for the life of the ministry.
Most small churches get in a hurry and try to do too much. Pray and wait for God to bring you the person best shaped to lead it, then let them start the ministry. If there’s no interest in a particular ministry, don’t worry about it. It is so important for church leaders to have a long-term perspective concerning their church’s development. Solid growth takes time.
Study the book of Acts and you’ll discover that any organization always followed what the Holy Spirit was doing first. Not once in Acts do you find people organizing a ministry and then praying, “Now God please bless our idea.” God would begin moving in people’s hearts, a ministry would spontaneously spring up in a small way, and, as it grew larger, they would add some structure to it.
Follow the model of the early church!
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Pastor Randy Griffin here I just like to say, just like many others have said when it comes down to starting your own Church DO NOT DO IT YOUR WAY just like it says in Acts the Disciples prayed and allowed the Holy Spirit to lead them and trusted the Lord Jesus to lead and instruct them in what to do as far as starting a Church; always pray and let the Lord and the Holy Spirit lead you, never try and do it your way do it Gods way you will be truly blessed.
Pastor Randy Griffin
I pastor Rick Warren I’m évangélist vilsaint jusnel but God call me and ministry but the state I’m living have a big problem. I would like to start a church bit I really don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I mean I seen lot of people who not even go to the church but I would like to make them get back.
God bless you
A timely message. Thanks Warren.
i no I’ve been called into the ministry but where do i start
I’m very blessed to stumble on this untimely ministerial guides. This direction is what I have seeking and searching for as a minister.
It’s really opened my understanding deeply to reconsider my approach for the vision l have for the future. If you have books on this topics l will like to purchase.
Thank you pastor Rick…….
It’s a Great blessing to share this to our fellow Christians who started a Church and Ministries their own ways not God’s way…Will continue to pray for whatever God is trying to bless the world through you and your team out there…the world surely need people like you that always open for God’s voices and willing to share it to others…:) God will surely bless u without me asking for it :)
Great article!
An eye opener, indeed!!!
That is so good!
Thanks for todays message ,am about to start my own ministry and what you said has been the dirrection am going through and i may need more teachings from you . Thanks and bless you
Our challenge is what to do when the original leader steps down from leading that ministry? In our case, it’s Children’s Ministry. We didn’t start the Children’s Ministry without a minister, but we have to keep it going without one if that leader did not prepare another leader. Otherwise, we just stop Children’s Ministry? I’m trying to figure out which is wiser – stop children’s ministry or try to keep it going with someone who is not the right person.
Jeff, that’s my question, too. Although, on more than one occasion, I’ve either seen interim leaders step up for a short season, or I’ve seen the leadership cast on someone who really didn’t want it, but who felt powerless to decline (mostly on staff members).
That’s what I’ve seen in the world, but who can we turn to in the Bible? Can you think of any stories and people from the Bible whose circumstances mirrored our experience? No one comes to mind, although there must at least one experience we can turn to as an example.
Thanks Rick this is absolutely accurate in my experience. I learned this lesson the hard way a number of years ago.