For the week of November 8, 2001
Statistics show one out of every 18 Southern Baptist pastors
will lose his job every 18 months, Landrum Leavell II warned recently.
In such a setting, students must prepare for ministry by committing
to the principle found in Colossians 3:23 – “Do everything in the
name of the Lord Jesus” – said Leavell, president emeritus at New
Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
During a recent chapel address at the school he served as president,
Leavell told current students that after 53 years in the ministry, he had learned
many things he never was taught in seminary.
“I dont walk with the presumptuous step of a know-it-all,
but there are some things you need to be told,” he noted.
Leavell said a pastor should consider himself blessed to be
called to a Southern Baptist church. He reminded students that the work of a
pastor is a calling and a job – not a position. “God places you there,
and work will keep you there,” he noted.
The work of a pastor also is a determined activity, and a pastor
must set goals, Leavell continued. “Make up your mind what you are going
to do, what kind of church you are going to have and how to lead them to get
there,” he said.
One goal every pastor should have is to visit every resident
member of the church body, Leavell counseled, saying he was able to accomplish
the goal in the last three churches he served. The last of these churches had
more than 7,500 members, and the entire church staff participated in meeting
the goal through careful organization and high accountability, he said.
Such visitation helped the church break Sunday School, baptism
and giving records, Leavell said. “The church was alive because the people
became convinced that the church staff really did care.”
Leavell said he believes pastor candidates have the responsibility
to “check” churches out just as thoroughly as the church checks them
out in the process. This can be accomplished by calling the former pastor and
the director of missions, he said.
If the church checks out, Landrum advised, “Go with the
flow.
“If they are not into contemporary music, sing hymns.
Sing the songs that they know and love. If your church is not interested in
(choruses) and your church does not want a contemporary service, dont
try to force it on them. You can destroy the spirit and the fellowship of your
church by radical changes.”
Instead, Leavell advised pastors to ease into changes at their
churches.
A pastor also must be determined to avoid certain behaviors,
Leavell added.
“Dont you dare steal a church,” he said, explaining
that pastors should not try to change the churchs denomination because
of their personal preferences. “Start your own church. Dont go into
a Southern Baptist church and split it down the middle.”
Leavell also cautioned against questionable actions with church
money and members. “The church budget is not your personal slush fund,”
he said.
Any change to the budget must be voted on by the church, Leavell
maintained. “Dont touch the churchs money, except for your
paycheck,” he said.
Other people in the church must carry that responsibility,
Leavell said.
The former seminary leader also urged students not to compromise
their integrity.
“Your staff should set the example for the church members
to follow in tithing and service,” Leavell asserted.
He reminded students that Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
“Do you want to be like Jesus? Get with the program. Go out in a relentless
day-by-day search for the unsaved. Instead of lusting after a big church, get
out there and build one. The sky is the limit. You have billions of people who
are unsaved and who are prospects.
“Gods call is not for spiritual journeymen,”
Leavell continued. “God didnt call you for two years and then you
move on to a better paying job. If your call is from God, it is for life.”
Leavell concluded by admonishing students to thank God daily
for the opportunity to serve. “Thank the people publicly and privately
for what they do for you,” he said. “Work hard. Let them know you
are earning what they pay you.
“Youre in for the most thrilling, enjoyable ride of your life.”
(BP)