Before You Go - Why Ask Questions Before You Go?

This episode emphasizes the crucial questions pastors must ask before transitioning to a new church. It guides listeners through reflective practices that enhance clarity about calling and decisions, while also encouraging a thoughtful approach to potential ministry changes. 

• Importance of thoughtful reflection before changing churches 
• Understanding the impact of transitions on all involved 
• Avoiding hasty decisions to prevent regret 
• The necessity of prayerful consideration in decision-making 
• Action step: journaling motivations and emotions regarding change 
• Offers support from the hosts through Chemistry Staffing

Have questions or comments?  Send to podcast@chemistrystaffing.com

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Transcript

Speaker 1 0:07

Hey there , welcome to the Healthy Church Staff Podcast . My name is Todd Rhodes , I'm one of the co-founders over at chemistrystaffingcom and I'm so glad that you're here Today . We're kicking off a brand new series and it's inspired . We just did a series on Wade Hodges' first book , when to Leave , but now we're going to start his second book and it's called Before you Go Questions . Every Pastor Must Ask Before Moving to a New Church . Now this series it's going to be over the next three weeks .

Speaker 1 0:36

We're going to unpack Wade's book in some pretty good detail , and this series is all about taking a thoughtful and intentional approach to transitions in ministry and whether you're feeling the pull to leave your current church job or maybe just exploring the idea . Maybe you've not made that final determination yet . We're going to tackle some really key questions that you need to ask before taking the plunge . Okay , so in this first episode , we're going to discuss why it's really so important to ask the right questions before you go . By the end of this episode , hopefully , you'll understand how some of the reflection and preparation that I'm going to talk about today can lead to a healthier and smoother transition when it's time to go . Okay , so let's start here Transitions .

Speaker 1 1:23

They're a natural part of ministry , but they're also some really high-stake moments . Moving to a new church isn't just about finding a new job . It's about discerning God's will for your life and your ministry , and asking all the right questions is really essential in making really wise and God-honoring decisions . And Wade outlines some of the key reasons why asking questions matters , and the first we're going to talk about today is clarity about your calling . Now , this is really important because , before you take your next step , it's really crucial to confirm that the move that you're about to make , or you're considering making , really aligns well with your calling and your gifts . Are you running towards something or are you just running away from something ? That's really the big question . I'm going to ask you to really take a step back and try to understand the bigger picture , because these , if we're really being honest with each other and hopefully we can be transitions affect more than just you . They affect your family , they affect your current church , they affect the new church that you're considering going to . So some of these thoughtful questions can really help you see some of the ripples of your decision , because it's not just about you and it's also going to help you if you really take time to ask some of these questions , it's going to help you avoid regret . Help you , if you really take time to ask some of these questions , it's going to help you avoid regret . So rushing into a new role without reflecting on your motivations and your expectations can really lead you to disappointment for you and your church . By asking the right questions , you're going to build some confidence into that final decision . It really helps you feel confident that you're making the right move and for the right reasons , and confidence is the key to starting well in a new role you want to be able to . If you're going to leave where you are and land someplace else , you want to have the confidence that you're doing the right thing when you get there .

Speaker 1 3:16

Transitions it's not just about moving , it's not just about the logistics . They're really spiritual decisions that and they really deserve careful thought and prayer . So here's the bottom line for today , and we're going to talk about this on previous or consecutive episodes here Asking questions , matter of fact , that's what the series is giving you the questions to ask and then helping you answer them honestly . Asking questions before you go sets the foundation for a healthy transition in many cases and if you're considering a move , take time to reflect and to seek some clarity . We're going to start really basic and really simple , and I'm sure you've done this and it just seems natural , but I still I feel like I need to say it , and we always tell all the candidates that we talk to . This is what we tell them Just stop and breathe . Stop and breathe , pause and pray . Spend some time in prayer . I right , that's what we're supposed to do , but seriously spend some serious time in prayer and ask God to guide your thoughts and reveal his will . This isn't a decision to make in haste , so I want you to stop and breathe and pray . And then let's just start here . Write down , get out a piece of paper and pencil , use your phone if you want to I like pencil and paper myself and answer these . Write down some things here .

Speaker 1 4:41

Why are you considering leaving your current role ? And be honest , this is only for you , nobody else . Are you driven by calling ? God's called me and I don't feel like my calling is here , it's somewhere else . Are you considering leaving because of frustration ? Just can't hardly . I hate coming into the office , I'm just so frustrated here . Or are you considering leaving because of something else , and those are some really important questions to ask and some really important things to ponder and even pray about , and even to talk with , maybe a friend or a trusted mentor who can provide some perspective on this and how you're feeling . They might be able to see some blind spots that you don't see . That maybe will help affirm your decision .

Speaker 1 5:26

So here's today's action step . If you're really serious about , hey , this year might be the year that I feel like God might be moving me from where I am to somewhere else . Here's something you can do today and it's going to take you about a half an hour . That's what I would take anyway . I wouldn't rush it , but I don't think it needs to be longer than that . 30 minutes to get out that pencil and paper Journal . A little bit about your motivations for why you're thinking about transitioning . Write down what excites you about a potential move . Write down what concerns and what scares you . Write down what keeps you up at night , and this exercise will help bring clarity as you move forward . It's really important to stop , breathe , pray and really consider some of the questions that we're going to be talking about .

Speaker 1 6:14

If you would like a free copy of Wade's book , you can reach out to me at podcast at chemistrystaffingcom . I'd be happy to send a copy of that over to you and also , if you're considering a moon , I would love to hear your story and offer some encouragement . You can email me anytime . Podcast at Chemistry Staffing . Your journey matters and I'm here to help . My colleagues here at Chemistry Staffing are here to help , so let us know how we can help you , even if it's a conversation or just popping over your resume , so that we can help you go through that discernment process .

Speaker 1 6:50

Make sure you subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any future episodes . Also , obviously , if you're in charge at your church of hiring staff and you to add some staff this year and you just want to pick my brain about it , that's what I do all day , every day . You can visit chemistrystaffingcom , but also just pop me an email . Podcast at chemistrystaffing . We'd love to partner with you if it makes sense . All right , that's it for today . We're here every Monday through Friday here on the Healthy Church Staff Podcast . Right , that's it for today . We're here every Monday through Friday here on the Healthy Church Staff Podcast . I thank you so much for joining us today and I appreciate you being a listener . Be back here tomorrow as we continue our series you .