Yesterday was my first day as pastor of Huffman Baptist Church.  I have been looking forward to that day for a long time and now the wondering is over and it’s time to start another chapter of ministry. Beginning a new ministry is both exciting and daunting at the same time.

Churches are not like corporations that hire a new CEO who comes in and legislates changes throughout the company.  In a business the main goal is usually the bottom line of profitability.  In church the bottom line(s) are 1) Honoring God, 2) Proclaiming the Gospel, 3) Building up the body of Christ.

So how does a pastor who is called to lead, feed, and love God’s people for whom His Son died decide what to do?  He doesn’t look first at models of successful churches… each one is different.  He doesn’t need to call in a consultant right off the bat… the Holy Spirit is The Consultant (So to speak).  He doesn’t need to change things just for the sake of change… there are usually good reasons why things are done a certain way.

The approach a pastor takes when he begins a new ministry is counter-intuitive to the way most every other organization is run.  If the pastor is smart, he will do some very simple things as he leads the congregation to do what is NEXT in the life of that particular fellowship.  Here are a few thing he will engage in…

First… He will seek God through prayer.

Second… He will preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ from God’s Word.

Third… He will love God’s people passionately.

From those three things… in due time as God so determines… the next thing for the church will become clear.  As it is written in 2 Chronicles 20:12 when God’s people said… “We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

I don’t know (yet) what will be “The Next Thing” for Huffman Baptist Church.  I don’t know (yet) what God would have us do as a congregation.  I don’t know (yet) what goals, projects, and/or ministries God wills for His people.  But I do believe, in time, God will do His will among us.