I’ve been thinking about what I learned about life and ministry in 2007 and now having completed 1 year at Christian Church at DeLeon Springs.

-More time allowing God to run my life. I can focus way to much on getting through life, ministry and the good times and the bad times with out asking God for help and direction. I need to spend more time in prayer seeking God’s direction and will in the things He puts me and the things I get myself into.

-Spending time with people in your first year of ministry is invaluable, especially to learn about your community, people and where they’ve been. We were better about this when we first moved to DeLand because we didn’t have a rent payment and now that we do it’s been a little harder. We need to have people over more in 2008 in stead of going out or not going out as the case has been.

-Figure out the best way to communicate with your people (ie. leaders, members, students, parents). Each church communicates differently, I’ve found this out the hard way a few times this year. If putting a blip in the bulletin worked at your last church it doesn’t mean it will at the new one. Communication also includes the words you choose to use and when and where you use them. This year I’m going to work harder at being a better communicator all the way around. One thing that works where I am is direct weekly emails to the parents covering upcoming events and info, what we’re teaching and even links to blog posts.

-Discipleship needs to be a higher priority and teaching private/ personal time with God is more important than anything we teach to our students. 2008 for me is a year of discipleship and that will work out in my conversations, time, energy, messages, small groups and service opportunities.

-Less time needs to be spent behind the desk and more time spent with people. It sounds like a no brainer but for a lot of youth guys its easier said than done. I’m building blocks into my schedule this year specifically for this. Time in the schools, time with leaders (both adult and students), time for volunteering and time to be around people in general.

-Less TV. TV is stifling my time with my family, my responsibilities around the house and my reading time. TV is just one distraction that I need to get rid of. I’m working on other distractions at work also: check my email less, less internet and blogs. More focused daily planning, setting my daily MITs (most important tasks), better organization of calendar and review times.

-Taking time monthly for Spiritual Retreat Days. Time away from people, distractions, computers, and phones. Specific time planned and spent connecting with God through prayer, fasting, meditation on Scripture and what He is revealing and teaching me and through reflections on my journaling.

-More Expression. I need to clear my head more often of the thoughts and ideas that run around in there. I need to blog more, journal more, keep a log of ideas, have more conversations and invest more into people the things that I’m learning and thinking.

What about you, what did you learn about life and ministry and God in 2007?

Next time I’ll share my goals and thoughts for 2008.

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 3rd, 2008 at 1:15 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.