I’m coming up on 6 months in my new position as the Lead Next-Gen Pastor at Christ’s Church of the Valley in San Dimas. It has been a pretty incredible journey. I left a great place at Saddleback (click HERE to read that story, it’s a good one) and entered into the unknown journey of leading my own team of people, two hefty ministries, and a whole lot of students. God is good; let’s just say that.

In the hustle and bustle of ministry, trying to cast new vision, getting to know the new volunteers and students, and sitting on our senior leadership team of the church, it can be overwhelming. It also can get to your head (thankful for my wife to bring me down to earth). It has been quite a journey and at times I have loved it but other times I have had the thoughts of, “Am I even cut out for this?” I’ sure we have hit the highs and lows of ministry. We also know ministry can be very draining and complex but it seems the easiest things are the things people most care about and remember about your leadership.

This is a list in which I think when we lead we need to remember that it really is the little things that make a huge difference. It’s something I need to remind myself:

  • Your quiet time is the most important part of your ministry. You will not exceed your potential if you don’t pour out everything you have to the Lord in devotion.
  • Prayer can’t be overlooked. You might be busy, you might have a lot on your meeting agenda, but do not start one meeting with your staff/volunteers without prayer. It makes a difference.
  • Remember names. Remembers names of students who come for the first time is almost a sure fire way they will feel known and loved and most likely will come back.
  • Your one-on-one time with your volunteers will go far beyond you think. For them to get to know you and you them will give them what they need to keep serving in your ministry.
  • Take your job seriously but don’t take yourself so seriously. We have a job to do yes, but don’t be “that guy”. Have fun. Fun breaks down walls with your staff, volunteers and students.
  • Be on time. Valuing the time of whomever you are going to into a meeting with is huge. It will give you good clout with your staff and your teams.
  • Don’t let the programming side of you get in the way of the pastoral side of you. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to minister to a student because you need to turn down the music or something.
  • Any time with your senior pastor is valuable.
  • Clear communication will save you a lot of pain and having to backpedal when moving forward.
  • Junior highers should not be thrown (as much as you want to do so sometimes).
  • Making your team and volunteers feel like they have a voice is powerful.

There are probably more but all of these things are simple things I tend to overlook sometimes when leading but they are powerful. What else would you add to this list?