The elder’s advice to the recently hired minister was sound: “I like to start the way I plan to finish.” The elder was describing to me a conversation he had with a previous minister. The minister had begun his ministry with the church very slowly. When he was confronted with his lack of activity and direction during an early evaluation meeting with the elders, he explained that he intended to start slowly, that he did not intend to do much, and that he intended to limit his activity and work. He wanted to make sure he had time for personal things, for his family, and for leisure. He would increase his ministry activity when the needs increased. My elder friend pointed out that there are always more needs than can be met.
Regardless of the endeavor, there are some who start slow. There are always those who think the beginning is unimportant. There are too many ministers who plan to get around to a more active, more committed ministry later—better sermons, better classes, more prepared, more connected. It is easy to teach and preach out of the overflow during the early months. I appreciate those ministers who do not want to push multiple personal projects in the first year, but if nothing happens in the first year, it is unlikely that anything will happen later. During the first year, foundations are being laid (or not) that will determine much of the success or failure of the entire ministry.
Far too many ministers plan to begin some day. The truth is this: you most often finish the way you begin. If the work isn’t moving forward briskly after a year, it is probably not going to go very far or very fast. Ministers should start the way they plan to finish. In fact, I’m not sure any other option exists!