Monday, June 10, 2019
Pastor Search 101: Seek God When Seeking a Pastor
If prayer is not the central focus of your pastor search, then all you are doing is conducting a job search. As a search committee, prayer must guide your process and decisions. You are not just searching for the best business fit. You are searching for God’s chosen man to lead.
I have now chaired two search teams. In human terms, I was not equipped. I knew of another search being conducted and the chair there was far more experienced than I. He had 30 years of Baptist work and Baptist contacts. He had worked with a number of churches. He knew people. I remember being out one evening walking my dog and thinking about the contrast. My prayer began like a pity party. “Lord, you know I do not have those contacts. I do not have that experience. Lord I hardly know where to begin.” Then it hit me. I stopped walking, took a knee and said, “Lord, this search is all yours. I am going to trust you to find the right man and to guide our process, all I can do is pray.” It was then that God began to move in people’s hearts.
The team followed a process and God did the hardest work.
I am convinced that extraordinary moves of God begin with our obedience and our desperate prayers. Give the process over to God daily, moment by moment, and be prepared to experience a tremendous spiritual growth experience.
Without God’s leading, it is easy to base the decision of a minister on feelings or emotions, people politicking in the congregation or even rumors. God is not a God of disorder and he will order your steps. If you feel pressure or are told to rush, that is not God. If there is anger and rumors flying and human pressure put on you, that is not God. If there is disorder, that is not God. God is going to ask you to seek Him and to seek advisers (remember the Holy Spirit can reach you through prayer, circumstances and other people).
It may not be in your timing. It may not be how you expect. But it is a fact, that when we humble ourselves, God moves.
If you would like to receive a packet of info containing advice on pastor searches include examples of materials, questionnaires, congregation updates and more, email me at dburton541@yahoo.com and I will email the information (as a PDF) to you. The information is free. My desire is simply to be of help to other search teams because we all have the same goal: to see more worshippers around the throne of God.
