Last Thursday our entire staff team gathered at the Greenville campus. I think we have just over 100 folks on our team now. That includes the folks from the Florence, Anderson, Greenville and the Internet campuses.
Our entire staff meets once a month. This time, we had a time of worship, prayer and teaching. Then our team ate barbecue together. It was a lot of fun.
During the teaching, though, Perry shared this challenge:
“If you’re not working your dream job, resign today.”
The day before he shared that with the staff, Perry asked a few of us if he should be that bold with that challenge. We encouraged him to lay it all out on the line. In fact, we decided in advance that we would provide a three-month severance package for any staff member who agreed to resign within 24 hours.
We want staff leaders that are passionate about the mission of NewSpring Church. We believe that what we are doing is critical to the lives of thousands of people. People’s eternities are at stake. There’s an urgency to our mission that requires a team that’s fully engaged in our cause.
- We can’t afford to pay people to be bitter about their job situation.
- We can’t afford to pay people to try to figure out what God wants them to do.
- We can’t afford to pay people to wish they were someplace else doing something different.
As Perry suggested, you can go to Hardee’s and flip burgers (or Carl’s Jr. if you’re on the left coast) and get paid to do that, but we’re not going to pay you to do that at NewSpring.
This was a challenge for NewSpring staff, but I think it’s a challenge for any person in any job. If you’re not doing what you are created to do, you should resign today. If you aren’t passionate about what you are doing, you should resign today. If you can’t commit fully to the mission of your organization, you should resign today.
Any way you cut it, life is too short to just work for a paycheck. Figure out what God created you to do, and go do that.
hey Tony,
My passion is challenging and leading people in worship, but was told I didn’t fit at my last church, and I’ve been out of work for three months! No one is knocking down my door to hire me even though I’m passionate and diligent about it! To make ends meet, I’m going to have to take some retail job that I really am not passionate about, but I’ll do it to the best of my ability so I can feed my family! I read your Twitters and Perry’s and praise God that y’all get to do what you do, but what if, as in my case, God took that away from you, and wasn’t providing a new work, what would you do?
so, did anyone resign?
chuck, provide for your family, and follow God’s direction.
stephen, yes.
It is so much easier to say than to do.
I sit on my couch stressed out today because I’ve been dealing with this exact situation for over a month now. It’s funny, actually it’s just a God thing, but it’s funny that you would post this today. of all days. i’ve been back and forth for the past few about quitting my job. the one that pays the bills, the one that brings that type of financial security. this post could not have come at a better time.
please pray for me as i do this. it’s not going to be easy.
thanks for posting this.
I admire how serious Newspring takes their mission and vision. It’s rare that u find a team ambitious enough to challenge people to leave if it isn’t their passion. It’s challenges like those that create a high-quality culture with dedicated people.
To me, this is one of the most powerful posts you’ve ever written
As a “Springer” may I just add that while I am somewhat sad about the resignation(s), I think we should celebrate the obedience that (those) people have exhibited! Obedience is always to be celebrated and honored! So, to any staff member that responded to Perry’s challenge by resigning, I thank you for your obedience and I will praying for you to hear more from God!!!
You wrote: We can’t afford to pay people to try to figure out what God wants them to do.
Actually, I think the opposite is true: You probably can’t afford to pay people who aren’t in the midst of figuring out what God wants them to do.
I understand that you don’t want someone on staff who is just there (and hating it) while they try to come up with something better – but on the other hand, you may well benefit from having people on staff that God only wants there for a season (albeit perhaps a long season), and you may benefit from being their workplace at this point in their process. Someone who never questions or doubts whether he or she is 100% percent doing what they are supposed to be doing in life may very well be living an unexamined life – and someone who says, “I might want to do something else with my life, but at the moment this is the best way to serve God right now” is simply showing that they don’t have to be 100% certain to be able to invest their talents wisely.
Taking a process-oriented approach rather than a destination-only approach to the life callings of your leaders is bound to trickle down to how people your church serves are encouraged along into discovering their own callings as well.
When I was in business, this was a good policy. In a church, it is focusing on results and objectives. From a church, if find it apalling.
that is so ballsy and wise. i love it.
@theologien I have to disagree that this is about focusing on results. It is about the passion you have for the mission that God laid out, and what it is that He has created you uniquely to do.
And if the results and objectives are bringing people to an authentic relationship with Christ…what is appalling about that?
It’s awesome that you guys stand behind this challenge in a very practical way.
great post – I think it’s way too easy to get in a job and just coast for the paycheck, never really considering what God really has our purpose to be – what a different world this would be if we all really spent time finding just where God wants to plant us and then thriving there!
Focusing on results and objectives is more important in ministry than any place else. People who are going through the motions hurt a business, but only the owners or stockholders are hurt- when ministry is populated with people going through the motions, Satan delights, and an important part of the Kingdom work suffers. God will hold ministers to a higher standard- why shouldn’t the temporal Church do the same?
Well having worked at NewSpring for a season, I have a few quick thoughts on this.
I know I was called to work at NewSpring Church. I also know I was called to leave. While there, I know that God used me to help accomplish great things for His kingdom. Through a series of events while on staff (ie – going from HS pastor, to graphics and eventually helping design the new youth buildings) God revealed to me that I needed to leave the church to pursue architecture again, and He has done nothing but confirm that. The thing is, Perry’s challenge to evaluate your calling is a necessary one for multiple reasons. One, as the Pastor of the church, HE is responsible. But above that, He wants whats best for his staff. And what is BEST for his staff is doing what GOD wants them to do. If Perry (or anyone else for that matter) gets you to think about it, and you realize you aren’t doing what God wants you to do (there are signs you should look for), EVERYONE wins. GOD wins because you will go toward your true calling. YOU win because of the same reason. The Church wins because by you leaving, the position becomes available for the needed person to fill it to advance the ministry (ie – Brad Cooper…um yeah he rocks). It is a WIN, WIN, WIN situation and above all else, God is glorified…which is the ultimate “Objective”. The principles apply in BOTH the church and in business. If my firm (and any other business) put the wrong people in certain positions, the business would not be fully successful. And in business terms, that is failure.
As a former NewSpring staffer, I applaud the challenge and encourage other pastors to grow a set and issue the same challenge.
sounds great. understand the heart behind it. but, i don’t think it’s very practical or realistic.
it’s pretty easy for driven leaders to demand this level of commitment from their staff because they demand it of themselves. not asking you for anything they are not willing to do themselves.
however, with the number of staff, and as many layers (stratification), there are bound to be employees who are not working their “dream job”. how many? who knows? better than trying to ensure that people are in their dream job would be to make sure they are giving their best to the organization.
God is preparing some people on that staff for their dream job. they haven’t arrived yet.
i think the season the organization is in matters as well. it appears you guys are in a healthy growing season. if things ever slow down, or plateau, it will amaze you how many people will all of a sudden cease to be in their dream job.
also depends on how you interpret “dream”. for some people a dream job is one in which they don’t have to work very hard.
likely over thinking it a bit, but it’s my two cents.
Interesting post. The idea of working in a field about which you have great passion is a wonderful idea although I can’t recall any scripture that tells us to resign our current job if we do not have passion for it. What I do see are many scriptures that tell us to serve Christ in the place he has placed us. We are commanded to work as if we were working for Christ-to be salt and light. I would doubt that there is any job, even a job at Newspring, that does not have its ups and downs. I also do not believe that God would have us abandon a good job when we have the obligation to support our families simply because we may not have “passion” at any given time. In fact, I believe God would have us persevere until such time as he clearly releases from our current situation. I’m afraid that “passion” is a deceitful measure when taken alone. It assumes that we must always be “up” which is a dangerous standard for this generation. Perhaps a better focus is to remind folks of God’s vision for each person in the place they find themselves and how God wants to use us to bear fruit despite how we may feel on any given day. The danger of focusing on passion alone does not contribute to building Godly character in that any job has its passionless day…I should have passion about the fact the God sent his Son to die for me and that should motivate me to serve Him in a place that may be difficult.
I get the gist of this post. In the morning I will go in with a lot of passion. I do that anyway. BUT, this post is convicting.
I’m a divine call guy. I don’t require much from others to be motivated because I know God’s called me to ministry. Am I in my sweet spot? Am I where God wants me?
I believe in God’s mission. I’m bought in at the church where I serve. But tomorrow, I’ll run with a little more passion just because of this post.
Great!
Hi Tony. I read your blog so gratefully every day and learn a ton. I’m not so sure about this particular one, even as I understand the great motivation. Have you seen the book of Mother Teresa’s correspondence that was published last year – Come Be My Light? If I understand you and Perry correctly on this one, Mother Teresa should have resigned. To me, it’s John of the Cross stuff…sometimes it gets dark and God’s power is hidden in the darkness — but fully there. I’ve heard some great lead pastors — Hybels, for instance — give testimony to ambivalence, struggle, bitterness. It’s not always a sign to beat feet. Sometimes it means a long season of knee time, patience and persistence.
With a grateful heart for all you teach us — Bruce Cole
Our church occassionally hires staffers who do not know Christ. We’ve hired communications directors, av techs, and others in order to share the gospel and make disciples.
Isnt that cool? We don’t fit your model though? But we allnneed dedicated sold out leadership!
I’m sorry, I believe this too be too broad of a statement to be true. I think there’s a huge difference in trying to keep someone who’s working hard to discover who they are and who God’s made them, and keeping someone who’s doing it just to make a paycheck.
If you never keep anyone who’s not 100% certain, how in the heck do you develop young leaders?!? Make a distinction between those unsure but running 110MPH and those doing the bare minimum because their heart is somewhere else.
I don’t think encouraging someone to get into their “dream job” or even to “do their work from passion” is equivalent to having a “job you love every minute and nothing ever goes wrong.” You can be in your dream job and still have days when you want to strangle your colleagues or your clients (parishioners). It’s the passion that keeps you working through those periods and getting to a better place. And if you are not doing it to achieve results then I’m not sure why you are doing it?
Is there scripture on this? I think so. Deuteronomy 20. Focus on verses 5-9.
Thanks for all you do Tony!
This seems like a strategy aimed at burning people out for the sake of today’s battle. When I compare the logic here to what I see at some of the best ministries in the country… I see this post as a justification for mistreating staff, burning them out, discouraging them, and then NewSpring taking a self-righteous attitude towards doing it. “We can always buy you out. The best thing you can do after leaving here is flipping burgers.”
Please tell me I’m missing something in translation here? (From NewSpring language to the rest of our country) This post comes across as extremely arrogant and centered on NewSpring and NOT God’s love for your staff. I mean, is this about loyalty to Perry? Who the heck is he anyway? He’s just a dude. Is your strategy big enough to take you past Perry? Maybe I’m missing something.
Please tell me you care about developing people through their struggles. Please. Please. PLEASE tell me you are omitting something from this strategy in this post. There must be more to it.
I only hope your staff is as sold out for Jesus as you’re asking them to be for Perry and NewSpring.
gutsy – love it!
I am about to start work at one of the worlds most influencial churches next month. What an amazing challege you have given me to never lose my passion, and to dream what God dreams for me. I am sure I will look back on this challenge in years to come and be grateful for it, it is a defining moment in my walk with Christ.
I get what you are saying, and I do think that we should have boldness and trust in God’s provision to be following him wherever He may be calling us. But what if God DOES want that lukewarm, bitter person to be on your staff, but they aren’t currently passionate because of a dark time in their life, or because of sinful laziness or apathy or selfishness on their part? So you only want completely whole and struggle-free folks on your staff? Good luck finding them, because everyone goes through tough times, and should be allowed to without thinking that means they should quit their jobs and turn their lives upside down. What about investing in people for the long term, despite their weakness? Hopefully you all see that, and just missed saying it in your zeal for serving Christ….right???
If you have ever been in ministry and have lost passion for your a position, I think you get what they’re saying. It’s not about ups and downs. It’s ridiculous to think that’s what they’re saying. I have down days at my current church, but I’m not going anywhere. I still have passion in my soul for what I’m doing. If I lose it like I did at my last job, which will cause my effectiveness to diminish, I hope I’m moral enough to step out. Somehow I don’t think it’s right to collect a check off the church for a constantly diminishing performance.
Great post, Tony, and congrats on the many saved at NewSpring today.
So. When 50% of your commenters disagree with your post…
and I should know, trust me,
there is obviously a mistranslation.
Because I KNOW what you are talking about.
But alas, when I send my readers over here to discuss this, because it is a GREAT topic,
How do you deal with the staffers whose dream job is New Spring but work at podunk church X in West VA.
Keep these posts coming Tony!!!
Love it.
Los
los, the first test as to whether or not we’ll consider them for our team is how they respond to this post. :-)
tony
HA!!! Awesome.
Alas, this is why I love you.
HAHAHA.
Heather – “Why are you laughing out loud Carlos?”
Carlos – “I’m reading Tony’s Morgan’s blog”
Heather – “He’s not funny. He’s smart. But not funny. Right?”
Carlos – “No. He’s funny”
Heather – “What did he write?”
Carlos – “Actually, it would not be funny to you”
Heather – Rolling eyes.
that’s it. i’m writing a blog post dedicated to heather this week just to prove that i’m funny…and maybe not so smart.
tony
Love it.
I also like what Sandy said above.
You guys are rocking SC and the world.
Chief Strategic Officer? Are you serious? What is the Church coming to? “Cultural Relevance” through corporate-like titles? Somebody help me… I just don’t get it.
This is an interesting concept, but doesn’t really have a scriptural basis. If you can’t apply this across multiple cultures, then it doesn’t represent a true scriptural principle. This idea is an American concept. Granted, it is great if you can work in an area where you have passion, but that may not be an option to feed your family. See if you can apply this concept in a third world culture to a person that makes $100 a month equivalent just to survive.
On the other hand, if you guys want to apply this to your staff, then more power to you. Just don’t cloak in in scripture.
[...] From Your Job? Tony Morgan has a great post about having real passion for your job. What should you [...]
I am all about people being called to the role that they are in i.e.: facilities director, youth pastor, children’s pastor, campus pastor… They should have the commitment to being unquestionably the best {fill in the blank} there is; however in my humble opinion I believe that just because a person is not doing what God created them to do today, doesn’t mean that season won’t lead them to what they were created to do tomorrow.
I have some young leaders on my team that are amazing, passionate, sold-out to the vision, not just drawing a check, understand that people’s eternities are at stake, perform with the best of them… but they might not be in their “Dream Job.” It can be a “With-time or Over-time” thing with some people.
I think we are in the same neighborhood my friend… maybe it’s just semantics “Dream Job vs. Calling.”
Tony- If they are all bitter and negative they could be kinda like a cockroach and you should probably just kill them. :-)
Thanks for the post and the discussion!
Re-reading this and all the comments. I wonder what the spouses think? I wonder what the children of staff members think? First the “other duties as assigned” craziness and now the “you’re invited to quit” offer.
This reminds me of your 20 ways to get a job at Granger post from like 2005. I just wonder if all of this is planning for the long term or is only concerned about short term success?
Others? What do you think?
Awesome. I just did this last week. I told my boss what we both knew: I was not happy and it was time to move on. I have two weeks left and absolutely no idea what’s next but it was the most liberating conversation I’ve had in months.
I HAD TO WRITE THIS IN CAPS CAUSE I FEEL SO PASSIONATE ABOUT IT. I 100% AGREE WITH WHAT YOUR SAYING. People can say whatever they want but if you don’t feel passionate about what your doing you need to move on. Why hinder a ministry’s or organization’s growth because you need a job or you feel like your helping out. We have situations in our church where people have been put into positions and you can tell by their performance and attitude that they don’t have a 100% commitment to the ministry or the vision or our church and the church is suffering because of it. I think this post is realistic and here’s the practical: sumbit your resume to your dream job, once you find it Resign from your current position.
I read this and could not agree more with you and Perry. However, I am the same guy that dropped out of college because it wasn’t my passion! :)
I don’t think God is glorified when people who “work” for him aren’t even passionate about it. If you’re not passionate about what you’re doing, go freaking do something else! If you’re not passionate, you hurt the whole ministry!
This is why I love all you guys at Newspring by the way!
I had a very wise man once ask me, “If I was new to the area would I go to the church that I was serving at?” When I answered no, he gently let me know that I was stealing from that church and it was time to move on. I loved ministry, but not the leadership or the church. It was a chance to start. Three months after that I was at a place where I love my pastor, team and church and have been there for 20 months now. It is so important to take the time to interview the church as much as they interview you, in the end you may not have to ask yourself this question, you’ll know you are in the right place.
As for doing things that your “not called to do”, Sunday is where the win for the team and the church is at. Our calling is the church not our specific ministry. Our specific ministry works to better the experience of a guest on Sunday.
Now I can really respect what Bob has to say . It would be cool if you guys communicated this to the staff of your church because you felt the conviction to “weed out” some people who were not as passionate about working in your environment as you want them to be…. but to make a generalization out of this is dangerous.
This idea really breaks down in 80% of the world where people don’t have options to do the thing in life they are passionate about. They are doing their best to survive while we project ourselves like we are somebody because of the positions we hold in our businesses, organizations and churches.
Wasn’t there a bit of a contradiction between what is said at the end of the post and the brief response to Chuck Harris (the first comment)? What if someone was hanging onto their position at NewSpring and couldn’t get themselves to resign because they were fearful that they wouldn’t be able to find their dream job within three months before their severance ran out?
Doesn’t the urgency of the mission of the church apply to that staff member too? To their well-being? To making sure the relationship to them as a brother or sister is more important than their role as a paid staff member of the church?
Very interesting concept. My passion is to be part of a great ministry like yours, where lives are being changed all the time. However, a job hasn’t been offered to me! So I attempt to work where the door has been opened, and do it as unto the Lord. Sometimes it is hard to reconcile concepts…
Maybe this opens one for me?? :)
I do believe that a team of positive, passionate people is why you are making such an impact for the Lord, so I guess periodically you have to take the temperature as you just did.
Amazing about the 151 souls saved today. My sons attend the Anderson church and my daughter’s family are part of the Florence church plant so I thank you for your continued sharing of the Word.
Is Newspring their provider or is it God?
I know that hindsight is always perfect, yet I digress.
When I was in my last season at Sandals Church, after 9 years, it was time to go. Truth be told, I knew it. But not until God gave me a GREAT way to follow that lead did I go.
The ballsy thing would have been, before I knew about anything down here in the deep south, to get out.
But again, easier said than done.
If Matt had called us to this in a staff meeting though, who knows. Maybe I would have realized it then.
Or maybe my California mortgage payment would have blinded me.
I think the reason why New Spring is where they are, and going where they are going, is because you are just that.
A balls out church who wants nothing more than see people come to know Jesus Christ.
And about the Bill Cumming question about Tony’s title.
He is actually the Chief Stategic Officer with a bit of Chief Global Strategist mixed in.
this is both fascinating and enlightening. i think i’m beginning to see why newspring is such a unique ministry. apparently we have a very different standard for those we employ in our ministry. now i love my church (and my job) even more!
tony
Now Tony. Install Disqus on your blog so I can keep track of all these comments as well.
;)
Can you jump right out of college to “a dream job”?
Don’t you “pay your dues first”?
While it would be pretty awesome to work at newspring, I think it’s presumtuous to think that every level of your staffing is opperating at a dream job level. What do you do with your young leaders who are thinking at their potential level, while working at a lower level. Where Im working now isn’t my dream job, but I know it’s where God would have me currently.
I wonder if young Timothy, on a missionary journey with Paul would have said, “This is my dream job”… while all the while, he was dreaming of leading a church one day…
I just believe God develops people, bringing them closer and closer to their next level of destiny… during that ‘preparation process” (I believe thats what Steven Furtick called it at Catalyst 08) I believe people have a vision of their “dream job”
Thanks for the post Tony, It has provoked a lot of thought.
I felt a passion from God in 1999 to leave a nice six figure finance career and take over a Parachurch organization. With no pay to start I knew it was God’s will. It took nearly six months before I got a paycheck, but nearly two years to get the people out of there who were not passionate about the ministry. I gave the last guy to leave a twelve month severance package, and it was the best thing we ever did. With everything on board and passionate the ministry took off and grew by nearly 300% in two years.
I have spent foru years back in the secular world and my heart and my passion are being pulled back to full time ministry. If you lost any financial/business people and you need one with a ministry heart let me know.
Every ministry could learn from your example of pruning to increase the harvest.
i love my job (what i do) i just hate where i work and who i work with.
then what?
isnt ministry complicated..
I agree with this, but if you got bills pay you do what you got to do until you can afford to follow your beliefs and passion
The bible says without vision the people will perish. Proverbs 29:18
I have attended NewSpring Greenville since July 2008. NewSpring has a vision that I 100% agree with. I’m not on the staff of the church, but I do what I can to help spread the message and volunteer when I can. Our vision is simply reaching people for Christ and it is very evident with the souls I have seen saved since July 2008.
If we do not share the same vision then how can we move forward in that vision? I personally have a burden for the lost and I have a burden to see people accept Christ.
If I were on the staff it would not be about a paycheck. It would be about working to enable us to reach more people spreading the gospel of Christ in truth and love. It would be about growing the vision of our church.
If this post was only meant for the staff then I’m sorry for spamming. I just felt it was the right thing to say.
In Christ,
David J Horn
i agree wholeheartedly.
does this mean you’re hiring?
:)
as a NewSpring member, I’m totally excited about this challenge to our staff. I totally understand that Perry is not asking anyone to not have struggles in life, that not every day will be perfect, that their position at NS will be easy, or that God will not possibly give them a new dream in 10 years.
My understanding is that Perry wants ALL staff to be sold out to Jesus and making His name famous, not the name of Perry Noble or NewSpring. That Perry wants the staff to be 100% committed to the vision of NewSpring.
And as a member, it trickles down (in a positive way!) to the members and those that attend NS. I for one am very thankful that I don’t have to worry about our leaders being lukewarm for Jesus.
IMO…since those of us that are not on staff were not there, we don’t know what was said in the worship, service or prayers time. This is just a SMALL portion of those hours that you guys spent together. We don’t see the hours that Perry spent preparing for this staff meeting. And if you aren’t at NS every week to hear and experience the passion that is in our body, then you quite possibly don’t get it. (it’s like I say to my non-motorcycle friends, if I have to explain it to you, you won’t understand.)
I, like Leslie White, will be praying for the one(s) that resigned.
And if flipping burgers is what God has put in your heart…go for it! I don’t want someone serving me at a fast food joint or sit down eatery that does not like their job. What ever you do, do it for God’s glory and to be a light unto the world!
Dang…LOVE my NewSpring!
thanks for ALL the staff, ya’ll rock!
Jane
This is why i like reading your blog. you guys say and share the things that many others are scared to.
Jesus shook things up. He turned things upside down. So many complain about the lack of absolute truth in today’s culture but to me it begins with us being real and honest with each other in ways like this. Not skirting issues but hitting them head on so that we can speak truth in other areas just the same.
I was there… it was effing AWESOME! I have the notes from the day over on my blog— if you care to NOT reply in a purely presumptuous manner—
“Dream Jobs” are not easy… They are fulfilling b/c God created each of us ON Purpose… With Purpose… For Purpose…
“Happiness” is not “Passion”… dont mistake the two…
“Joy” is not circumstantial… ask Paul and Barnabas (or any Disciple following Christ)
*I think ‘Dream Jobs’ can be seasonal… look @ the seasons of John ‘The Baptist’…
I think Christians should be some of the most irrational… unpredictable people on the planet… Humanity cannot rationalize God and all His moves… nor should humanity be able to predict Christ-followers who are in sync with the leading of the Holy Spirit… Our promptings and movements will always appear ‘crazy’ when viewed through a worldly lens… AND THAT’S OKAY!…. “foolishness” is what the Bible would call it!
“this is both fascinating and enlightening. i think i’m beginning to see why newspring is such a unique ministry. apparently we have a very different standard for those we employ in our ministry.”
I don’t think it’s all that different from anywhere else or otherwise unique. Why in the world would anyone work for a ministry if you didn’t agree with the vision/mission? It’s not for the money or the great benefits. I think this post has drawn attention because it is emblematic of larger things in “the church.”
My point from the beginning is that, as written, it doesn’t seem to be very loving long term towards a staff member who is struggling. Further, it doesn’t sound very encouraging to those on staff who may be tired or whose family may be giving sacrificially of their staff member or may be questioning their calling? Sounds like you are telling them to lie or risk losing their gig.
I can’t fathom any organization that doesn’t encourage a highly qualified but tired staff member to think about it, pray about it, and encourage them to stay before allowing them to resign. It just seems so quick to accept a resignation.
I’m simply asking how NewSpring supports that person. Can it really be so simple that you offer them 3 months severance and “good luck flipping burgers?” I’m wanting more of the story.
I know a lot of members of NewSpring are watching this thread. My point here is because I know SO MANY churches look up to and idolize (yes, that’s the right word) everything you do. If this is not perfectly clear, it may be taken to an extreme to abuse people OUTSIDE of your community.
I look forward to more discussion.
I love what Perry said to the staff. I am proud of the people who stepped down, and I am proud of the people who stayed.
The church should have a higher standard than other organizations. Frankly, anyone working in the church should be in their dream job or they’re in the wrong job. Fulfilling the call of God isn’t easy everyday, but it should be the answer to, the fulfillment of the dream that God has placed in your heart.
Disgruntled, bitter people should be sitting in the congregation, allowing God to minister to them. I was one of the bitter people serving the church at one time. My time out of ministry has been the most growth I’ve seen in all of my years as a follower of Christ.
I wish more companies and ministries would have sessions with this much honesty.
I Just left my job at my church after 8 years on staff and roughly 4 years prior to that as a volunteer leader. I had to leave because it was time to go and I knew God was (and had been telling me to go). I wasn’t passionate about it anymore in fact I had become the thing that I once said I couldn’t stand or understand…a person just there collecting a check. I had seen so many other staff members come and go before me who had lost there passion. I began to ask them about this as I found my own passion decreasing and the common thing I heard from most of them was that they knew it was time to move on but had not been obedient to God’s urging. I sat on mine for over a year and it only made things worse at the church and I was miserable in my life. My walk with God was lacking and quite frankly I had pretty much stopped going to church. I was there because I was working not because I was being spiritually feed, I turned that off sometime before. The reality is, if people were truly honest most already know whether it is time for them to go or not. And for the few that aren’t sure stop and spend some quiet time with God concerning this he willfully guides those who seek Him. I finally obeyed Him and while it hasn’t always been easy it’s been wonderful and I love God like never before and my whole life is reignited as a result (ask my wife she will tell you that I’m smiling again and that my face lights up like it used to). For the person who says what if God wants the lukewarm, bitter person on staff…well that doesn’t agree with God’s word in revelation where he says be hot or cold but if you’re lukewarm I will spew you out of my mouth. Also as a someone who works with churches concerning business issues I think it is interesting that some feel as though running your business and running a church are somehow inherently different. The reality is every successful business principle out there can be traced back to the word. Jesus must have known something about business since He used a variety of related parables to bring home his message (i.e. talents, counting the cost, wheat silos). The problem is the world has successfully gone about applying good business, service and relationship principles that some christians wistfully explain away in effort to protect their slackness and lack of knowledge. We gotta get it together church. BTW God stood via moses in the midst of the people of Israel and commanded (and I paraphrase) Choose ye this day whom you will serve. Not to mention the directive in both ephesians and romans to work unto the Lord. Hard to do when you have opted to just hang out and grab a check until the next best thing comes along…We gotta get it together, be accountable and hold others under our care accountable. That said Newspring also offered a three month severance package. In a way they are supporting your dream by providing you the time with minimal lapse in income to reach the goals you have set. If a severance package is not yours to get seek the Lord on when exactly he wants you to move. If you move when He says move your provision will meet your provision will meet you there.
I’ll just say this: ”WHATEVER you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men.” -Colossians 3:23
This applies to any job, hobby, career, or lifestyle a Christ follower could have. Whether its flipping burgers or pastoring a church. I think every employer in this country should ask their employees this same question. If we work at WHATEVER we do like we’re working for the Lord, not for our boss, or whoever else, then it would probably be amazing what could get accomplished.
I agree with this in theory but understand that there can be seasons of walking through brokenness when God calls us to remain faithful in the midst of heartache and difficulty, when we might rather be somewhere else, somewhere where it doesn’t hurt quite so much.
Three years ago I would have said without a doubt I am working in my dream job – leading worship, building a team, excited about my church, loving every minute of it. Then the wheels fell off the wagon – pastor’s wife committed suicide, a year later the pastor suddenly resigned, we’re in transition and we’ve lost a full 50% of our congregation……
So am I working my dream job now? Is my dream job to rebuild what I spent almost ten years building to begin with? Is it my dream job to lose friends and tons of team members? Is it my dream job to look out on Sunday morning and see the vacant spots and feel the pain of beginning all over again? Is it my dream job to constantly slash my budget and worry if we’ll make it through this time of transition? Is it my dream job to lead worship through tragedy and heartache, loss of trust and relationships?
No, it’s not. If anyone is honest, it’s not theirs either. Should I quit on the days I’m not passionate about serving in these circumstances? I don’t think so. If I did, I believe I would have been disobedient and unfaithful. I believe I have honored God and loved His church by remaining faithful despite my feelings. I love my church and I love the people in it – and I love those that have left us. I am excited about what we can – and will – be one day. I pray with all my heart that I am around to see us rise from the ashes. But today – today is hard. Today it can be difficult to be passionate because my heart is broken. And God has worked in me deeply through that brokenness. That is the truth. IT’s unpopular, but it is a truth. God can work in the darkness.
I applaud the sentiment. I just think it’s a bit simplistic and should be considered very carefully depending on our circumstances.
I loved hearing this from Perry and I love hearing it from you, Tony.
I am at NewSpring because this is my dream job — I promise to leave quickly if that ever changes.
With regard to some of the responses above, I do sense that some people are in a place where they are struggling with what to do next. I certainly was a few months ago. But that should simply be a challenge to motivate us to discover what’s next. It should be a relatively short period of time of questioning and doubt.
I am sick of Christians who spend their entire life talking about doing something big for God but never move a muscle.
It may just be that our lack of passion is how God goads us along. As Perry said on Thursday (Isaiah 59:17): we need to seek out the cloak of passion (or zeal).
Brad, whats “effing”?
in response to mr. Mclane’s comment…being a spouse of a staff member at newspring, I am EXTREMELY grateful that my husband is living his dream job (straight out of college, mr. Connell). There is no other job that could challenge him more, and therefore, be more fulfilling for him.
Great Post Tony. Sounds like a Gideon Revival moment.
I think we are in agreement and I think understand the heart of Perry’s statement.
The only question I would have is that I think for me sometimes I have been so committed to the vision of Seacoast and so committed to Greg Surratt as one of his armor bearers that I have been willing to serve in capacities that are not my “dream job” and have said to my leader, “Do all that you have in mind, Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” I am willing to do whatever is needed with 110% passion and soul.
As for those who would say that it sounds like I serve Greg and not God – fooey! As an assisting Pastor one of the main ways I serve God is by serving my senior Pastor.
Thanks for the post Tony and for having the guts to say this Perry.
Shawn
I am definitely not in my “dream job.” I pastor a church that has been dying for years (I’ve only been there for 2), and that won’t make the turnaround to health and growth. I hate it. I feel like I am wasting my life. My wife and son hate it. However, I wrestle with what to do because we feel like God called us here.
I ask this in sincerity – not sarcasm – what would you say to that? Anyone? Should I resign with no leads to another ministry? Should I stick it out?
Zappos.com, the successful online shoe company, offers their new employees $2,000 to quite within the first month of employment. They hope to weed out new people who are not fully committed. It seems to be working for them. This sounds like the same strategy.
Wow, can’t believe I just read all those 59 or so of those comments.
Here’s my thought on this (not that mine’s worth a whole lot since I’m a college student and “dream jobs” are still something to daydream about): When there is a place like NewSpring, there are going to be all kinds of people who want to work there just because they want to work there. They may or may not have something to contribute, but that is beside the point: They are PASSIONATE about their church. Here’s the problem, we can then end up with people who love the place of employment but are not well-equipped to serve it. We find ourselves with people who are not passionate about the particular job they are doing, only the environment they get to be a part of. Then, their particular job suffers. And when any member of a body suffers, the whole body suffers. I think Perry’s challenge was to make sure that everyone on staff both knows they are called to be doing what they’re doing and are loving doing it–I don’t think he was commenting on how much staff members love the church or love Jesus or are committed to the cause or finding His plan for their lives. Dead weight holds back the kingdom of God, and sometimes people will cling to a job their not good at or dislike in a place they love because they fear what to do next.
Again, my experience with this is limited, so take it for what it’s worth :)
For what it’s worth – we’ve got a staff of about 30 at our church and Keith, our Sr. Pastor, says the same thing – if you’re not passionate about what you’re doing – get out.
As a former Sr. Pastor myself, I realized this and left the ministry for 7 yrs, learned a completely new skill set and am now back on staff in a church doing what I’m love and am passionate about. So – I say walk away – God’s big enough that His church will still go on!
The core of the matter is that per Perry’s Sunday Night Reflections, 151 people received Christ at NewSpring Church today. So – if the leadership of NewSpring says that they only want passionate people who have clear direction about understanding what God wants them to do – then so be it.
The reality is that at NS, lost people are finding and entering into a relationship with God. If it takes being bold, ruffling the feathers of the High Church, and pruning some branches that aren’t bearing the right fruit in order to reach the lost – then so be it!
Tony,
You wrote, “…apparently we have a very different standard for those we employ in our ministry. ”
I am struggling with this statement almost more than your original post. I am sure you did not mean this with arrogance, but this is how it came off.
The standards may be different, but it may not make them better. There are some of us who passionately serve in churches that are smaller than the number of people on your staff.
As far as the original post, I have these thoughts. Helping people grow into whom God is calling them to be and loving God more every day and the journey is as important, if not more important as the end result. This includes staff.
From your post (and I apologize if I am missing something from this account as I obviously was not there) it seems like your pastor was expecting that the staff members had reached the pinnacle of faith and passion, when really it should a constant growing. I hope that I am more on fire tomorrow for my God and the people I serve than I am today. I hope that always keeps growing.
And thank you for causing people to think, discuss and challenge themselves.
It’s amazing and depressing at the same time to read some of these comments. Not because of the individual people, but amazing because it shows how the Devil has creped into our lives and redirected even our passion and love. Lord, I pray one day I will be offered my “Dream Job” and WHEN I am offered it, I will boldly stand up and take every single punch satan throws at me to try knock me down… and then with your strength Lord, stand back up again. Bring it…
I got the privilege to be able to be in this staff meeting, and let me just say that God showed up during this meeting. This was not just a way to try and get people to quit, or become exclusive, God was completely present. There are a couple of keys to what Perry brought that I think are key to understanding this.
- We Cannot WORSHIP the environment – When you are at a place like NewSpring where it is “fun” to work we begin focusing on the environment we are in and start to lose focus on God. We cannot be focused on the the other people in our services wanting them to help out the environment. WE have to SOLD OUT and showing that to everyone else. If God has not put a passion in you to serve where you are serving you shouldn’t be in that place of ministry because you are setting the example.
- UnThankfulness for all that God has done will cause us to miss out/Attitude is Gratitude. When you feel entitled you stop working for it and that is no place to be if you are in a leadership position at a church.
- I also completely believe that God places us in certain jobs for seasons that we are to be completely sold out to.
-Even though I am merely an intern I feel like I should be held to this standard as well. If I am not giving 110% passion level to reaching youth (my area) then I need to give my position to someone else NOW.
I love the truth and honesty behind our church and I hope Perry continues to raise the bar of excellence in order for this to be a church that reaches 100,000’s of lost people.
I love the discussion going on here. I do think it is a rare person who could even articulate what their dream job is in one sentence though. And dream job has a finality and “end game” language that is hard to be honest about I think. There has also been a lot if language that is the specific staff persons issue if NewSpring isn’t their dream job – but there are as many implications for New Spring inthat challenge. Are they a place worth investing your dreams in? (From what I know of NewSpring, Perry and Tony it certainly is – but this is a good question for any leader reading this and thinking of firing off on their Monday morning staff meeting. Don’t ask it if your not worth their dreams.)
Wow!! Way to get things stirred up :)
I understand the message you are trying to convey to your staff. But for those of us who aren’t working at Newspring, I think it is perfectly fine and scriptural to make a living doing something you are not passionate or committed to.
Do you thing Paul was 100% committed to making tents? Do you think being a cup bearer was Nehemiah’s dream job? In fact, most biblical figures had jobs like tax collectors, slaves, shepards, potters, fishermen, and carpenters. I don’t think these were “dream jobs” for any of them.
To tell someone that they should quit their job today if they aren’t passionate or committed to it isn’t really biblical.
Having said this, it is biblical to encourage everyone to be 100% commited and passionate to what God has called them to do. If your job is getting in the way of that…you are right, you should resign.
Do you think it is possible that sometimes God calls us to do things that aren’t always our “dream job”?
To those that may disagree with this post! (Particularly one individual who seems to be having a difficult time with this post and Newspring and Perry Noble) :)
PLEASE, Go stand beneath the cross and look up as the Son of God is paying the price for your sin and my sin. Feel every gut wrenching drop of blood drip on your face as you look up and see the beaten and bruised God-man dieing for the sins of the world! Look at the nails driven in His hands and feet …and ask yourself….
Is JESUS CHRIST more concerned about someone who is “struggling” and staying in the ministry JUST to make ends meet or is He thinking about someone that needs to find scripture to back up every blog post or maybe He’s concerned with the individual that is just going through the motions or maybe He’s thinking about the “hard worker”, OR is He more concerned about someone being PASSIONATE about their “dream job” and winning lost souls (the very thing that sent Him to the cross) that are destined for Hell?
Honestly, what would you reply? That’s exactly what I interpret Newspring and Perry Noble and Tony Morgan and the other 100 or so staff members and the other like minded church’s around the world to believe! They want to see people accept Christ at ALL cost! This includes telling people that “if you’re not working your dream job, resign today.” Souls are at stake, NOT feelings, NOT mortgage payments, NOT church philosophy, NOT the size of your church, NOT religion, NOT some pastor, BUT SOULS are at stake, the ONLY thing that last for ETERNITY!
I hope this gives you some encouragement as it did me, and as was Perry’s intentions on making that statement (I assume), to go out and be PASSIONATE about whatever it is that you do and WIN some for the KINGDOM!
Brad said effing.
awesome
WOW! I love it. I think we over look this too often. I tell people this is the kind of life we have to live and the type of churches we have to build. If there is no passion behind what we do, then what’s the point. We have turned God into a source for income and identity. We have walked away from identifying the passions He places in our lives, then living those out. This is why the church has found itself living and settling for mediocrity. We cannot have this, it has to go. Otherwise, we join the ranks fo those who are no longer, and possibly never were, effective at helping people fall passionately un love with Jesus.
I can’t wait for your next post.
I love what I get to do everyday. Is it a dream job? Who the heck knows? (I mean, what if my dreams change?)
If we’re going to get all Biblical here, let’s go ahead and admit it: work is toil. But I know I love what I do, the team I do that with, and the mission driving the day-to-day. That’s just about the best toil I can imagine right now.
Great post. Great conversation.
I feel like I am where I am supposed to be right now. I love most parts of it. When I came here, it was my dream job. 3 months later the pastor (who told me he had no plans of leaving when I was interviewing) resigned. Since then there have been some discouraging days/weeks. I love the life change that is taking place, don’t get me wrong. I feel like the youth/young adult ministry is growing. We are in a smaller than small town (one caution light.) Since my family moved here the youth ministry has grown from averaging 35 to just under 70 last week. But there are some things happening that makes me wonder, is this my dream job? I read everything I can find about Newspring because your passion and the way you operate is something I covet (I know that is a sin, but @ least I didn’t say effing. Don’t judge me.)
So maybe you guys can answer some questions- and only newspringers answer please(No offense to non-springers, I just don’t care what crazy guy who lives in a cabin and pastors a church that is full of unhappy Christians who came to his church because they resonate with the problems he has with churches and pastors who are growing the kingdom and making a difference.)
1. My ministry is thriving, growing, God is blessing it and He is the only reason for any success it is having. So how am I supposed to handle the fact the ministry is growing faster than I can train volunteers and my budget is exactly where it was when I started, which means I am away from home alot and it is starting to impact my family life and marriage in a negative way?
2. How do you handle it when “tenured” staff are more interested in people pleasing than reaching people? I’ve heard comments like “I don’t know if we can grow anymore, etc.” What if it is my dream job, but I am next to somebody who is riding it out to retirement and just seems lazy?. The church looks at this person for 75% of her direction because they have been here for along time. How do I keep this from draining passion and focus?
3. How do I find a mentor who thinks and operates similarily to me. I have emailed people asking for some mentoring/advice/guidance through email and only gotten a kind note from their assistant (don’t worry Perry, it was a very nice note and I could just barely tell it was a copy/paste job.- I know you’re too busy-I’m laughing as I type this.) My point is that I am in rural Central Kentucky, and it is tough trying to think with a “whatever it takes to reach people” attitude when it seems like most experienced pastors have a “whatever it takes to make people happy and tithe” mentality. Frankly, I don’t want to learn from that guy, and I for sure don’t wan to hear him preach every Sunday…
I do love my job, but sometimes the frustrations can be so overwhelming.
Newspring- thanks for what you are doing. Keep it up my friends. You are influencing more than just those attending your services. Thank you.
It’s awesome to serve at newspring. I’m sure most people have not experienced a job where the primary vision carrier in the organization has a white hot burning passion for anything. We got one fired up about Jesus! I think it would be fair and perhaps an understatement to say that P thinks Jesus is important. I know lots of pastors fired up about Jesus but I’ve never met one as fired up about Jesus AND NewSpring. What kind of leader would he be if he didn’t cast that passionate vision to his staff? Basically, he asked the staff if we had passion for Jesus and NewSpring. It’s the kool aid question. We need people on our team who have turned up the dixie cup. If you don’t want to or your not sure, go figure out where God wants you to be. We’ll send you with blessings and your hands full. In context of the message I understood completely what he meant. He wants our team to be fully engaged. There’s a lot at stake. By the way, grape kool aid is favorite.
Tony,
I am on staff at a church, and I must say it absolutely my dream job. I am grateful to God for the position I have, the team God has allowed me to serve with, my Lead Pastor and the people I serve and do community with. I am beyond blessed. I love doing what I get to do and love doing at the church He has called me to.
Thanks for the post and the challenge.
Chris Jarrell
Also, being at meeting on Thursday, like TJ said, in that atmosphere the Holy Spirit totally reigned. There was no question. There was also no question that Perry along with the church was ready to take any hit this could make on our staffing. One thing that comforts me, and any other NewSpringer, is that we know 100% that Perry along with the other men making this decision bathed it in prayer. It was nothing vain and that was evident on Thursday.
I do not think that we are all lucky enough to have a dream job when we step out of college and work in it until we retire. Also, I don’t believe Perry meant that. He was saying that if in this moment, you are not completely sold out to your job here, if this isn’t your dream for now QUIT. NewSpring does not need 100 depressed staff members walking around hating their job when people are dying and going to hell everyday. Perry and the staff of NewSpring understand ups and downs of a job. It is a job not heaven! Nevertheless everyday cannot be down because it is exhausting for everyone.
Lastly, speaking to one of the people to resign on Thursday- she emphasized that she was never been so overcome with joy in the spirit and gladness in her heart for what God’s next season was for her. This was never a negative thing for our church. It was a communication that needed to be made clear.
Gosh dang…i love this. NewSpring is legit. Cannot wait til I go visit again.
The thing that Perry said that really messed me up was (in regard to being on staff) when he asked if I was seeking God’s Holiness, or personal comfort?
I can’t ever see a time where milking the Bride of Christ for a paycheck would bring glory to Jesus.
Lot’s of self-evaluation that day. I’m on board.
[...] Tony Morgan has an amazing post that is raising a lot of debate! Check it out at: Resign Today! [...]
To those who ask if NewSpring treats their staff well, the answer is yes! I may only be a volunteer but I can tell the difference between a group of people who are jacked up about what they are doing and a group of people who are there because of the paycheck. The enthusiasm about what God is doing at NewSpring is so contagious that you can’t help but want to be 110% on board. At the beginning of August, without warning, I was laid off from my job at 3:30 p.m. on a Thursday. I was devastated wondering how I was going to survive with a part time Waffle House job to fall back on. Within the first 30 minutes God’s grace started to cover me and in that time I realized that now I have the opportunity to VOLUNTEER in the office at NewSpring. That totally jacked me up. I have been doing this every week since I was laid off and love it. Just the opportunity to be used by God in any means, even if it is just answering the phones during the lunch hour is awesome.
I believe one of the main points that Perry was trying to get across is that every now and then we need to check with God to make sure that we haven’t stopped listening to Him and His call as to where He wants us. Sometimes things will dramatically change. For me, after 2 1/2 amazing years in SC, I’m getting called back to Iowa. It took drastic steps on God’s part to get me to start to realize this or maybe to just prepare me for it. As Perry said in a message a few weeks back, we are imperfect people, working in an imperfect world, so it is essentially impossible to have a perfect work day. But through all of the trials that may come with any job, because they will, that can be a great character builder. We need to make sure that we aren’t like the brother of the prodigal son that is too busy working to see what it is the Father wants. Just my 2 cents.
I am a college student and this post absolutely fired me up to the ministry. Initially as a computer science/youth ministry major, I struggled with settling for a job that would only build upon my bank account. As I’ve progressed through college, I’ve been challenged as to whether or not I could be passionate in the line of work I was focusing on… and I just don’t see how I could. I fought with God on being in the ministry a lot. Now I have a new fire for the ministry! As a smallgroup leader at NewSpring, Nothing fires me up more than sharing the Gospel with people, and knowing that I’m surrounded by so many men and women devoted to going out and reaching the lost!
I never thought I would be where I am today, so passionate about the ministry. This post has given me so much encouragement, and has seriously challenged me to always keep focus on the purpose of the Church and a passion for reaching the lost in this world! We can’t afford to have anyone less than passionate.
Though I am a volunteer at NewSpring Church, I feel that if I am not passionate about coming in and witnessing to the youth, not just on Wednesdays but every day, I am not where I need to be.
Thanks to all you members, volunteers, and staff at NewSpring Church and for everything you are doing. You guys really do make a difference.
Wow. No way am I going to set here and read all of those comments. I gotta say though, this is so simple. If your on staff somewhere and it’s not your dream job or sweet spot, then that’s not what God designed you for and therefore you are not following God’s plan.
2nd. I read someone saying that newspring was arrogant and not showing love to their staffers. SERIOUSLY? Come on. They are providing 3 months severance so that they can move on what they are feeling and not being frozen by fear of providing for family, etc.
Way to go NewSpring! Wish more churches were following Jesus’ voice like you all do!
I think that Perry’s message sounds fantastic, I have worked on church staff for 14 years now and I believe I have the best job in the world.
I take this approach, people work hard and sacrifice through tithes and offerings so that I can do what i do for God full time, if i ever forget the privilege that is I SHOULD RESIGN…
I think of Matthew 20 where the vineyard owner went and hired people throughout the day and then paid them all the same, the guys who were hired first forgot the elation they first felt when they were hired and it became about them, their rights and privileges…
I wonder if the land owner selected the same people first on the second day? if your boss had a clean slate and was choosing who he would hire today, would you be on the list? If not what has changed? What have you lost and what have you gained that you shouldn’t have?
GREAT CHALLENGE!!!
great post and interesting comments.
i think people can do just about anything in the short term (work at home depot) in order to get to where God wants them to be (plant a church). in that sense, one things is facilitating the dream job.
it takes passion in ministry (among other things) to make it long term. there will be times that you doubt your calling (elijah hiding out in a cave) but if this is the norm, them you’re in the wrong field.
In resonse to the comments about the spouses feel about this challange Perry has given: I would never encourage my husband to stay in a job that didn’t feel like God wanted his to be in. How could I? I am shocked that this concept in offfensive to some. Jesus had passion for what was doing, shouldn’t we? Why would I want my husabnd doing something “lukewarm?”
When we took this job at NewSpring we made some sacrifices. We would not have made this decision had we not known that it was what God wanted. We have seen great blessing as a result. I have read comments about people who are just fine doing their “okay” job. Where in the Bible are these concepts coming from? Lukewarm, dispassionate, mediocrity… These are not traits that God expects from us as Christians.
All this to say, I would always support my husband to do what he is led to do and have the job God has given him passion for.
Maybe this attitude should not just be about where we work but about how we live.
Great post and great discussion!
I understand the passion. Unfortunately, some Dream Jobs are not the kind of job one can do immediately. Sometimes you have to go through a succession of jobs to become qualified for your Dream Job. Or, sometimes getting your Dream JOb requries someone else to hire you for that job, something you may have almost no control over.
While Perry’s rule sounds like it might be good for (NS) at least in the short term, I think it would fill the staff with people who focus solely in the NOW. Again, this might be a good thing. But there sure are alot of people whose personality type is NOT that type. NS might not be for them, but if Perry’s rule for NS were to become a general rule for everyone, I think it would leave many (if not most) in despair.
[...] actions by how much they makes me think- and I am brimming with excitement today to have read this blog post. I can’t get it off my mind. People’s lives will undoubtedly be turned upside down, [...]
I guess Im somewhere in the middle. Im one of those people working a tedious job, waiting for a ministry job to open up for me. Both my husband and I know we are called, created, designed, and most effective when working for and with a church or ministry. Right now our life feels quite empty because we’re not doing what we should be doing, but not of our own choosing, we just have yet to have a door opened to us.
This is a great post, and a wonderful attitude for a pastor and staff to have.
Let me start off by saying that I am on staff at NewSpring and I had the privilege of being in this staff meeting.
Dream job ? cake walk, anything worth having is worth working hard for.
Dream job is not a destination.
God can use you for His glory no matter what job you are doing, IF only you let Him.
Dream job = being in God’s will.
God’s will ? is not always easy. We need to be way more concerned with God’s holiness instead of our happiness.
God’s will = the best place to be.
In my life God has taken me from getting my undergraduate degree to cooking in a restaurant to graduate school. Six months before graduation I felt God calling me into ministry at NewSpring, but there were no openings at NewSpring. I was offered a job related to what I was going to school for. It was a very cool job, they asked me to name my salary and there wasn’t a whole lot that wouldn’t make it a “dream job”, except the fact that it was not what God was telling me to do. On the other hand nothing had opened up at NewSpring, so I began to doubt my calling and accepted the job I had been offered on a Friday at 4:55PM. By Monday morning I had realized that I needed to be patient and wait on God’s timing, I resigned from the job that I had just accepted. The company called and asked me what they had to do to get me to take the job and I told them there was nothing they could do, it just wasn’t what I am supposed to do. Within a couple of weeks a job opened up at NewSpring and I was hired with a salary a third of the amount I had just been offered at the other job. Working at NewSpring was my dream job, and it still is. There is nothing that can satisfy you like being in God’s will.
Personally I don’t want to be working with anybody who is lukewarm (Revelation 3:16) about doing ministry. Being lukewarm is one of the most detrimental things possible to a ministry. Satan will use that lukewarm person to cool down the passion level of every other staff member. If someone knows that the ministry they are in is not where God wants them to be, then in obedience to God, they should resign. I hold myself to that same standard and if I ever feel that NewSpring is not where God wants me to be, I will resign.
The statement about resigning was an accountability check to our staff. In anything we do in life, after a while it becomes a routine that we do out of memory, and we do not even realize we are doing something until someone asks why we do it. As the leader of our church Perry is called to hold us as a staff accountable because he will be accountable to God for leading us. That is what he was doing- making sure that we are where God wants us to be and if not helping us to follow His will. That is why I respect Perry and the rest of the leadership of NewSpring- they hope and pray for God’s will to be done not man’s, no matter what that means.
Love it. My husband and I were called to leave OKC to move to London about 16 months ago – sold everything, living on savings, then raising funds to continue. We’re still feeling our way – positive that we’re in God’s will despite the many uncertainties. It’s a gift for you to offer the 3 month’s package to your staff who opt to leave and I’d be surprised if it didn’t take many of them much longer to discover God’s plan. But giving them a clear chance to go on faith with a little support is wonderful!! They might’ve missed out on so much more had you not offered.
[...] check this post out on Tony’s blog and weigh in [...]
To the person who said I was questioning Perry and NewSpring which means I should stop reading and give my life to Jesus, you crack me up. I don’t even want to presuppose that you are saying that if I dare to question NewSpring or Perry or Tony that I don’t really love Jesus. Is that true?
I’ve only asked some clarifying questions. For some reason I thought critical thinking is something all believers should do… is that somehow a sin in your eyes?
For some reason it seemed logical to question something that sounded so extreme.
Here’s the thing gang. If you’re in the honeymoon period of a job, church job, Wal*Mart, or Starbucks, or a librarian… of course it’s your dream job. But there are going to be times in every job… especially a dream job… when you question whether or not you should be doing it. Take it from someone who is working at his second or third “dream job.” How can someone young even know what a dream job is?!!!
I’d hate for any “leader” to take those moments of self-reflection and doubt and reward them with a 3 month severance check, thus impeding what the Holy Spirit was doing in a persons life. Then degrade them by saying, “you can get a job flipping burgers.” To the contrary, my experience as a leader would say that self-doubt about ones calling is the key to discovering that you really are at a “dream job” and that you really are ready to give blood, sweat, and tears.
Now, judging by the shear volume of comments from NewSpring staffers and volunteers I’m going to guess that someone feels they are being attacked!
Since when is questioning, attacking? Since when is being like a Berean, who carefully weighs what is being said a bad thing?
Tony, you left comments open for dialogue right? Are you going to reply to people who aren’t your friends?
Again, my point here is that in America many churches idolize everything NewSpring says and does. (In a very unhealthy way! Your leaders are aware of it… they have a greater responsibility as a result of it.) So, I want to help get the truth out there about what this policy really is so that some leader doesn’t just take the surface of this and start offering severance packages to people… thus destroying what God is doing in their community.
All I’ve asked for is a clarification. And in response people question my faith. Sensitive, are we?
Get the jest of your post but I do have concerns.
1. Ministry isn’t easy.
2. There will be days you will have that will make you think it isn’t the dream job.
3. There is always needing for encouragement.
4. Different personalities, skills, and well learning process.
5. Life long learning and discipleship …. umm does it have to be the Dream job and they working into it, or do they have to put on a Happy Face all the time?
6. Umm is this what the Bible pictures it? Seems to me Jesus spent time with his disciples not about the dream job; but about that discipleship and following Him had a Cost.
7. I suspect if you think everything will be honkie dorie in ministry all the time in ministry – please resign today. There will be issues to deal with that will bring joy, other tears, but in all grace, mercy.
Maybe I’m misunderstanding this.
I don’t have a J.O.B. at NewSpring. I crusade as part of the staff at NewSpring.
It is AB-SO-LUTE-LY what I have been called to do, and I can not imagine doing anything different.
We get to be a part of a life-changing work, and it is incredible that I get to do this for a living!
Here is why conversation is so important.
It is in reading the comments, and not so much the original post that I have begun to get more of a sense of what really was being said.
To Will
“Dream job is not a destination.
God can use you for His glory no matter what job you are doing, IF only you let Him.
Dream job = being in God’s will.”
This was the most clear way of saying what I think must have been presented. It is amazing how semantics and tone are hard to read in the written word.
I think it is important to keep us all accountable to walking in God’s will.
let me say, first.
i admire that the culture of Newspring is one that moves forward. i am continually amazed at your blogs and tweets about salvation and the incredible move of God. i don’t think that this resign today concept works unless you have that culture. i’ve read Seth Godin’s “the dip”. i wanted to quit my job for a few months before i did and was too scared and God had to move me on. i so want to work in the ministry He has for me.
i guess i’m a little disappointed in the fact that 1. you contradicted yourself in your answer to me, and 2. you didn’t answer my question. what if tomorrow, Tony and Perry had to go work at FBC Podunk, Arkansas? what if you didn’t have like minded thinkers around you? what if God took everything away from you like he did David? would you still have the same heart and attitude. just questions. i mean it must be fueling to have everyone get on here and say “heck yeah” tell those people to hit the road. live your passion. but my question still remains….what if?
that said thanks for continually preaching the name of Jesus.
Blessings
Chuck
Ok, so I’m only an intern at NewSpring,
and I know wiser people than myself have already posted their opinion,
but I will bite.
People have called into question the way NewSpring staff is treated, and frankly I am sorry for anyone who thinks there is a problem there. From day 1 of my unpaid internship, I was treated with respect and dignity despite being the lowest member of the team. I was never treated like I was not good enough, or didn’t have enough passion, I was encouraged and given chances to push myself and learn.
I am proud to be a member of a team that WILL NOT COMPROMISE. The day that changes, I will find another place to serve my God. But until then, the very way NewSpring treats its staff, interns, and volunteers is what lets me know that the are sold out to God.
Last night, I was privileged to be part of the most amazing worship I’ve ever witnessed. And it had nothing to do with the building, the lighting, the musicians, and everything to do with the staff’s willingness to set themselves aside and let God move.
So yeah, I look up to Perry, the same as I look up to Tony, Shane, Lee, and all of the other leadership. But I don’t idolize them, I am proud to work under people who know how to teach and lead in a Godly manner.
Thank you Tony, you are inspiring, wise, and an amazing strategist, and I know you will hold true despite criticism.
chuck, let me try to quickly address some of your questions…
> are you doing what God has called you to do? that’s the big issue. for me that’s serving at newspring & providing for my family. that’s not a contradiction. what’s your next step to follow God’s will? do that.
> i wouldn’t go to FBC Podunk. God hasn’t called me to that ministry.
> if i didn’t have like-minded thinkers around me, i’d help them find a place in a different organization. (fyi… “like-minded” doesn’t mean “i agree with and support eveything tony says.”)
> if God took everything away, i’d still have my faith and my calling.
fyi… i think some commenters here think when you’re in God’s will (or your “dream job”) that you are always happy. that could be for some people, but i’ve never experienced that. calling and passion are refined through adversity.
tony
Travis- it’s this that scares me. “I am proud to be a member of a team that WILL NOT COMPROMISE. The day that changes, I will find another place to serve my God.”
As a staff member of a church, I’d like to know that your commitment isn’t this surface level. Will you be there the day after they compromise? Will you be there after they leave? Will you be there when it all hits the fan? Or will you beat feet out of there?
See, that’s the difference between between being focused on the staff and being focused on the people who live in your community. They are wanting to know if you’ll be there no matter what… and you’re communicating that you’ll be there as long as the staff doesn’t fail you.
Really, I am trying to help here!
[...] 10, 2008 · No Comments After reading this post last night, it got me to thinking about what my dream job would look like. [...]
Wouldn’t it have been better to say”Resign today if you are not doing God’s will”? The term “dream job” doesn’t really work as well. I know this is what you meant, but it is easy to misinterpret. I hope people don’t take what was said in the message out of context. There are alot of jobs that are not “dream jobs”, but someone has to do them. The person who cleans toilets at NewSpring…isn’t doing his dream job (I hope)! He’s doing God’s will. I think there is a difference.
johnathan, i disagree with you. if people aren’t following God’s will in their “dream job” at newspring, we’d prefer for them to work someplace else.
again, i think that’s one of the reasons why this conversation is making it clear that the newspring culture is very different from other organizations. we want people serving where they are fully committed to the mission of newspring and they’re confident they’re serving in a role that best fits their wiring and passions.
and, yes, i’ve known people that believe God has called them to serve by maintaining excellence in God’s house. in fact, we have several working on our team.
i guess this really is a novel concept. to be honest, i’m a bit shocked. if this is the reaction of people working in the church, i wonder what people in the marketplace are experiencing…
tony
this seems kind of over, but i feel like your dream changes as you grow if you are a realistic person.
i have changed jobs in the same church 3 times in the last 3 years, and each time i thought the new i was starting i would love forever.
that doesn’t mean in 5 years i may not desire something else, but for right now i couldn’t be more thrilled with what i am doing.
L
Luke- I think that is a major point here. The notion of a dream job is an American one and not really a biblical one. Look at Moses, I get the idea that he was willing to quit more than a few times.
IMO, this is about longevity at a ministry position. Lower level staff, young staff, those fresh in ministry need to know that the place loves them beyond the position they hold.
I’m looking forward to the video of this staff meeting being posted. ;)
Tony,
again, great for you! my calling is to lead worship, i know that very clearly. maybe God has me in a season where He is preparing me for something. what if your “faith and your calling” didn’t provide a job for you. What then? are you willing to go work a passionless job to take care of your family? it’s great to write this stuff when you are on the top. i thought it was great when i left my job, but now there is a lot of weight on me and i don’t like it. i’m being squeezed and who i really am is coming out. have you been there? if all you have ever known is success and people can come get a job right out of college at NewSpring while others have to “pay their dues”? tell me more of your story so i can understand because all i’m seeing is smugness and arrogance from a ministry that up until yesterday i really thought a lot of.
I worked in the marketplace for many years and am now in ministry. I have my dream job. I feel very blessed, because I know that most people in the marketplace don’t have their dream job.
Part of their problem is how they define their dream job. They view it as “I get to do what I want to do in the way I want to do it.” It is a very self centered approach.
I think a ministry needs people on staff that are locked into the vision of the ministry and fully support it. If they can’t support it or be passionate about the vision, they should not be there.
However, that doesn’t mean that if they are in sync with the vision that they are necessarily in their dream job. Sometimes life is hard, we need refining, etc. Sometimes we don’t get to do what we would prefer. This is life. God’s will for your life may be to “hang in there” when it is tough. It refines and molds us.
I get that…I understand that NewSpring wants their staff to make sure the doing God’s will. I think all of your staff should be committed to making Jesus famous one life at a time. It’s a great (and God sent ) mission.
My point is that God’s will and “dream jobs” aren’t always the same paths. I said this in another comment…most biblical figures had jobs like tax collectors, slaves, shepards, potters, fishermen, and carpenters. I don’t think these were “dream jobs” for any of them. But they all did them because is was God’s will (it wasn’t about them and their dream…it was about God)
It is important to see the difference. I see why this is so important at Newspring. I am not questioning what Perry said in the staff meeting. But you challenged people who do not work at NewSpring to resign from their jobs, if it wasn’t their dream job. How is working a “dream job” biblical?
I hope you see where I am coming from. If not, we can agree to disagree…which is ok. Newspring has done some amazing things. I am glad you do what you do.
There is definitely a difference between that of “Dream Job” and doing “God’s Will”
How about Dream Calling??
Jesus was a carpenter for 30 years. I’m sure that being a carpenter was not His dream job. His dream was to bring us to God. I’m sure that Jesus worked harder than anyone else in the carpentry business and placed 100% of His effort behind it, but that was not His dream job.
God asked Hosea to marry a prostitute. I’m sure that Hosea had a million other things he would have rather done than marry a prostitute. So Hosea after questioning God marries the prostitute. The prostitute then begins prostituting again after they are married. God tells Hosea to go and buy her out of prostitution and forgive her. Hosea after some hesitation does what God asks. Through this God teaches Hosea that this is exactly what Israel had done to Him. God brought them out of their idolatry and married them at Mt. Siani. Once they were married Israel began to worship other gods and turned his back on Him. But God was going to show mercy on them and buy them back (Jesus) and once again be married to them.
There are many other examples of God giving people jobs that certainly at times they did not consider it to be a dream job. Some example are: Abraham (offering your son not a dream job), Moses (leading a group of complaining people who consistently wanted to worship the gods of Egypt, not a dream job), Joseph (being a slave is not a dream job even if you are the head slave), David (being a shepherd is definitely not a dream job), Jonah (we all know that one), Nehemiah (poison tester not a dream job). These are just a few. Most of the people in the Bible were asked by God to do something at some point that they didn’t consider to be a dream job.
The Christian walk is not about “your” dream job. It is about one thing. Death. Die to your own wants, desires and dreams. Once you do that, which is a hard process, you will become alive unto His wants and desires for your life. And yes they may not be glamorous and they may at times be very hard (Paul being shipwrecked and bit by a snake), but that is part of counting the cost. Salvation is free, but to walk in the will of God is going to cost you something, your death. Not necessarily your physical death, although that certainly could be apart of it (research all of the Christians dying around the world today, the numbers are astounding), but the death to your inward self.
It is unfortunate that churches do not teach the dying to yourself anymore, but that is the central theme of the Bible. Even Jesus had to die to his inwards wants. He asked God, “please if at all possible let this pass cup from me”. Jesus knew how painful the cross was going to be. But what did He say “Nevertheless not my will but yours”. And what is said later by Paul, “That the joy set before Him, He endured the cross”. Whose joy? His Father’s joy. He knew how much joy it would bring his Father.
Please folks, do not go out and quit your job because it’s not your dream job. If you are where God wants you then you must stay. Pray ask God for his direction. Do not move until He moves you or tells you to move. Once He does then do it. If you are not in God’s will and you know what God has told you to do then do it (see Jonah). But telling people to quit their job because it’s not what they consider to be a dream job is the height of irresponsibility on part of leadership.
I just have to chime in here. First off I LOVE the ministry of Newspring church and it is the people that God has called into that ministry that makes it what it is today. They are willing to go above and beyond to do as God wants and that is to make the name of Jesus famous. I just wish all churches could have that same passion and vision.
As someone who resigned the church I was working at because my calling changed and I was not able to pursue that at that church. I am now the owner of a graphic design studio that services churches and non-profit organizations and I belive that is my calling. I am able to help more than just one church make the name of Jesus famous and that is what it is all about, seeing people come to Jesus. But as someone who resigned “the church” I can totally appriciate this statement and some of you may need to look at it as it may not be you it may be the church you are at (as it was in my case) go somewhere that you can pursue your passions and your calling, be comfortable in knowing your passion and your calling. You don’t have to agree with this statement to respect what God is doing at Newspring. So thanks to every staff member at Newspring for doing what God called you to do, even down to the people that clean the toilets.
Remember the Alamo? When Col. Travis drew a line in the sand? Staff meeting was like that.
I confess to not having read every posted comment, but in the many I read, the central issue appears to be “for what value, practice, impact or principal would I consider resigning in order that I might pursue a role, vocation or life which fulfills that value, practice, impact, or principal?”.
That is a hugely debatable topic, hence the volume of comments. But I think all the debates can be settled with one easy to say, but difficult to do, practice. I was first challenged with this practice from the NewSpring stage, but have since heard variations from several teachers I respect.
Paraphrased it goes something like “I have to let my dreams die in order to live the dream God has for my life”.
That means letting go of my dreams for material rewards, earthly security, social status, and power but instead treasuring the relationship God wants with me.
It also means relinquishing all attempts to realize my dreams through personal performance, control and manipulation but instead trusting God’s love for me.
It invites the open mouthed stares, skeptical nods, and outright disapproval of many. These are not the criteria human nature would put at the top of a list titled “Dream Job”
It means that if I am not living God’s dream for my life, I am falling short of the relationship God intended with me. Why would I not want to resign from a role that deprives me of all that God wants to share with me?
It means that God’s dream for my life IS my dream job.
This is what all strong leaders need. A boss that tells it like it is no matter how uncomfortable it makes everyone feel. Thanks Perry for having the huevos to say something that is so ‘in your face’ that it pumps all of the leaders up!
Wow, I’m really late to the game. I agree with one caveat. It’s probably been said but I didn’t read all the comments. If an organization has great leaders, some of them will undoubtedly have the desire to be “the” leader. There’s nothing wrong with that as long as it’s not fueled by the wrong things (pride, etc). So, you could have people on your team whose dream job is to plant a church one day, but while they’re on your team they could be doing their dream job at that point in their life. That’s the key, because as long as they are kingdom minded and committed to the mission AND believe that’s the best job they could have at that stage in their life, they’re invaluable to the team. If you count them out, you leave out a ton of visionary leaders.
[...] Resign Today – By Tony Morgan Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Where are the women bloggers??? Right here!!!Top Ten Recent Posts from my Reader…Leaders [...]
Hi Tony
I want to agree with you.
But what do you do with Jonah?
Mark
Tony – to your comment, “if this is the reaction of people working in the church, i wonder what people in the marketplace are experiencing…”
I volunteer at a church in Cleveland, OH, but I work full time as an engineering manager. I really have some mixed feelings on this topic. There have indeed been occasions where I’ve heard a senior manager make a statement like, “if you don’t like your job, then quit and do something else!” to a large group of people. My experience in the marketplace is that when you hear a challenge like this, it is quite often a thinly veiled attempt to get one or two sub-par employees to quit.
I like my job, and I happen to think that it’s where I should be. Truth be told, I resented the senior manager for making a statement like that. It’s my opinion that it would have been more effective for him to have had the fortitude to deal with a couple people directly instead of making a rather cavalier statement like that and hope that the right employees got the message.
I have no way of knowing the situation at NewSpring, or even the full context of the challenge issued by your senior pastor. I can only assume that if he was 100% certain that everyone on staff at NewSpring was there because God was leading them to be, he never would have put forth such a challenge. Nevertheless, there is certainly a fine line between being prodding the people who need it, and insulting the ones who don’t.
Very thought-provoking post!
I think that it’s important to say that Perry is the Godliest man I know. I have been on staff at NewSpring for over two years. Having known Perry that long I am fully convinced that the challenge he issued was prayed over, discussed and prayed over again before he presented it to the staff.
That said I’m going to address a few of the comments…
To the person who said this challenge isn’t Biblical check out John 6:66-67 where “many of the disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” And Jesus asked the rest of the disciples “You do not want to leave too, do you?” How is Perry’s challenge to the staff that God has given him to oversee/lead any different than what Jesus did? This staff meeting was a time of self-examination.
To the person concerned with whether God is going to provide for your family. Seriously, we are talking about the God of the universe. Do you really think that He can’t provide for you? Come on, you are His child! You wouldn’t neglect your own kid would you? If you are not doing what God called you to do then get out now! He’ll take care of you and your family.
I would also venture to guess that those upset about Brad saying “effing” are the same folks singing praise songs on Sunday mornings and masturbating to porn on Sunday nights.
Stop getting mad at other Christians, read Matthew 7:3-5 and then realize that our battle is not with each other! Let it go.
Finally, lets be clear on one thing. John 16:33 says that “In this world we will face trouble.” Perry, Tony nor anyone else is saying that when you face hard times in your life or your job you should quit. Neither are they saying that your job is going to be easy. But, we all must examine ourselves to make sure that we are doing what God wants us to do. Perry will have to stand before God and answer for the way he led the staff at NewSpring. I don’t have to bear that burden, Tony doesn’t have to bear that burden and neither do any of you. I can assure you that Perry wants nothing more than to do what God wants him to do and only what brings glory to Jesus. Jesus never asked for a “lukewarm” commitment. Perry was/is just following the model that Jesus set.
I’ve just read most of the comments (skimmed all of them), and I find it fascinating how so many people are missing your point, Tony. I also find it fascinating how several people claim to have followed your blog/ministry for so long yet are NOW thinking you’re arrogant and smug.
Nate
I think that it’s important to say that long comments don’t get read in this twitterized world. If you really have something worth saying, make it short or no one reads it.
That’s what I’m learning from this discussion.
Wow!! This has been the most interesting discussion I’ve been involved with in a while.
A few more thoughts:
1) I questioned whether Tony’s challenge was biblical. A person’s “dream job” may have nothing to do with God’s will. Telling someone to resign from their job today, if they are not passionate about it..is not biblical. Read some of the examples from the comments people have made…Nehemiah’s “job” was to test the king’s wine to see if it was poison. Not your ideal dream job and I’m sure it wasn’t his. Did he resign or quit. Nope. If he took Tony’s advise…he would have resigned. Get it?
2) God is the God of the universe. But this doesn’t give us an excuse to sit back and wait for a hand out from him. If He doesn’t provide for you or your family, He is doing it for a reason. You may not know it now…but you’ll find out one day.
3) It’s not fair to accuse someone of of a sin (masturbating and watching porn) because they are being critical or even confrontational.
4) The Bible is clear that we will all have to answer to God. Perry and other pastors aren’t the only ones who will answer to God. It’s dangerous to believe that as long as you are following and not leading that God will not hold you accountable.
5) I wish the Newspring staff would be more open to criticism. I think they would feel differently if someone like Andy Stanley, Ed Young, or Seth Godin would have sent them the same message. It is okay to listen to and sometimes accept criticism, no matter who it comes from.
6) If anyone decides that maybe they are wrong about this issue (including myself)…please do not let pride get in the way of admitting you are wrong. I promise if God speaks to me and tells me otherwise…I’ll admit it.
This is a great discussion.
It is about giving 100% where you are.
God may ask someone to work at Newspring and it may not be there dream job. But, they must submit to His will and while they are there give 100% to it. Its not any individuals choice it is God’s. Jonah didnt want to go to Ninevah. God made sure he got there though. Someone may not want to be Newspring but God may place them there.
Also, attaining a dream job is done in steps. I work in the corporate world. Lets say my dream job is CEO, do I just quit right now because I’m not a CEO. No one is going to let me be a CEO until I learn and grow in the position I am in now. The thing is we are to give 100% where we are right now, regardless if we like where God put us or not. There may be someone at Newspring whose dream job is Senior Pastor. Should they quit right now? Wouldn’t God train them right where they are so he can use them to grow into the area He has called them to. For instance, God used the time that David was a shepherd to prepare him for Goliath. He used Goliath to prepare him for the many battles he would face. And so on.
That was the point of my previous post. God gives us jobs sometimes we do not like, but nevertheless we must give 100% and work out the selfishness within us. And yes you may be paying someone to work out their selfishness. It is God’s money and if thats what He wants to happen, it will be. It is not up to us. The quicker we understand that the better off we will all be.
God may be building someone at that church and move them to another. It is about kingdom building. Not Newspring building. A persons dream job may be in another church, but God wants them to learn something at Newspring.
OK, I keep wanting to let go of this thread but it is too much fun…
I’m noticing a pattern. People will post serious questions and a series of NewSpring staffers and/or fans will not respond with much more than fanboy, “I LOVE NEWSPRING!” answers. But the questions that have been asked since the beginning remain unanswered.
The person who questioned people’s faith. The person who accused people of looking at porn, etc. I’ll just assume those weren’t staffers, right?
As for being a long time reader… just because I don’t comment every day doesn’t mean I don’t read. Been reading since the Granger days!
I love this blog. I love this post. I love NewSpring and how God is using Perry and Tony, and…
I’m wondering if ANYONE is going to respond to respond to Art’s comments above. I believe he was calling out for a little help, and instead of bashing Tony (or even praising the post),will anyone respond to our brother who is obviously hurting right now?
I would, but his question is bigger than me. I’m still new at this.
T-Mo you really struck a nerve w/ this post— i really hope this talk goes online (so folks can hear the tone and complete context)— I know Perry said He was thinking about it….
So HOW BOUT IT READERS… WHO WANTS TO HEAR THE TALK????
When I quoted Perry’s statement (“If you’re not working your dream job, resign today.”) to my 13-year old daughter, she quipped back,
“And do what? Go home and dream some more?”
“i think some commenters here think when you’re in God’s will (or your “dream job”) that you are always happy. that could be for some people, but i’ve never experienced that. calling and passion are refined through adversity.”
This is DEFINITELY the case for me. The greatest quote I’ve heard in awhile. Thanks.
Thank you to Jonathan. i thought your answers were very thoughtful. I appreciate the fact that NewSpring staff and fans love their pastor. Everything i have read of Perry’s is God soaked. i love his tweets about what he is reading and wrestling with. as i read these posts, i see lots of people who “were there” feed more insight to what went on, but that was not the gist of the original post. Tony has tried to make some more inroad to what was intended, but again, not what was in the original post. and like adam said any legitimate concern or question is met with a self-righteous disdain and pride that oozes from the answer. what would the 151 people who came to Christ this weekend at NewSpring think of the way questions have been answered on here. if this fits your culture, great. then say, this is NewSpring’s culture. but don’t force it on the rest of us, and to Matt, if you think that I don’t wholeheartedly believe that the God of the Universe can’t provide for my family, then you haven’t lived with us for the past three months, and I hope you never have to live a testing of faith like this. it’s really easy to say, when you are not going through it. how about praying for me and my family. i know that i pray for NewSpring even if I disagree with this post and alot of the response. again, praise God for the people who are coming to Christ every week. please see them as disciples and not converts.
Love the post . . . Love the staff . . . And yes, to those of you who are tired of hearing this, love newspring . . . Not sure where the embittered darts are coming from unless there are peeps commenting who are indeed missing out on their dream job . . . I think you can refer to Chip’s comment further up and see first-hand one of the most humble yet poignant descriptions of a dream job from someone who is living his dream job (as a volunteer) . . . Oh and I can guarantee you he doesn’t have “fun” doing all the tasks he happens to get his hands into on a given day . . . But he’s living smack dab in the middle of what Jesus wants him to do and for that he experiences a JOY and FULFILLMENT that he never would doing anything else – i.e. “Dream Job”
Anyone else want to line up and not answer a question? This is starting to sound like a national convention of a political party. I got it, you love NewSpring. God bless America!
I don’t see anyone bitter towards the staff or “embittered darts” being hurled towards Anderson, SC. What I see is over and over again people from outside your faith community saying “We don’t get it.”
Please, before people start getting fired for this… are there going to be any answers?
chuck, i’m sorry to hear of the challenges you’ve experienced.
adam, i’m not sure what questions haven’t been answered here. seems like the crowd has done a pretty good job of jumping into the conversation and addressing everything that has been asked and more.
tony
Tony- is this about loyalty to Perry and the vision of the church?
Is there more to this strategy than what you’ve documented here?
Matt Bailey, what is it you do for Newspring? And for the record, we have a service Sunday morning and “Sunday night”. Thanks for “venturing” though (Matt 7:1-3)
adam, yes we only want to pay people to work at newspring who are loyal to the leadership and to the vision we believe God has called us to as a church. there are, of course, other critical factors we consider when hiring staff, but those are certainly considerations. we wouldn’t want anyone being paid to serve in a staff role that was disloyal or uncommitted to the vision of the church.
i’m not sure how to answer your strategy question, though it seems like we’ve covered this topic ad nauseam.
bottom line, i think some folks are a little uncomfortable with the high standards and high commitment we expect from our staff. that’s ok. doesn’t mean you’re a bad person, just means you’re probably not a good fit for our team.
we can still be friends…
tony
Tony,
I understand Perry’s message to the NS staff…but do you really think everyone who doesn’t work at NS should quit their job today if it isn’t their dreamjob (regardless of their circumstances or God’s will)? I am sorry to beat a dead horse, but I think a few folks are having a hard time understanding this concept. It is a novel idea, but is it pratical and biblical? Or just your advice?
Brad – Yes I would love to hear Perry’s whole message.
The Resign In 24 Challenge!
Bold.
Clear.
Compelling AND Encouraging.
Encouragement is one of three things:
1. A pat on the back.
2. A shot in the arm.
3. A kick in the pants.
Perry faithfully challenged and submitted to the Holy Spirit to do the ENCOURAGING…in an individuated way for every person.
Thanks for the posts and thank God for freedom of speech. What a country! More important, what a KINGDOM!
Serving God with you all from a different lighthouse in a different location, but glad we’re all shining the Light.
Tony,
I talked about this in my previous post but I didn’t ask a question. If somebody’s dream job was to be a lead pastor, but they have been a volunteer at NewSpring for 5 years and want to work on staff in…..say Student Ministry…would you hire them knowing you would be developing them to move on?
Assume they are 100% committed to the mission, vision, etc and they meet all the other requirements. In other words, would NewSpring only hire people who never desire to be in a position with more responsibility than where they should begin?
I’m pretty sure I know the answer, but I figured I’d ask anyway.
[...] Tony Morgan’s post about resigning your job (posted earlier on this blog) caused quite a stir. Simplistically, I think “passion for your job” is awesome, but not always a reality. The post honestly sounds a bit arrogant and more church serving than God serving. If you missed it, check it out here. [...]
tony- thanks for answering the question. And yes, we’re still blog friends.
I think it’s safe to say I won’t be applying for a position at NS any time soon, for a lot of reasons! Mainly being that I already have my dream job. ;)
Man what a conversation! I am new to commenting but have followed for awhile.
I love how some people justified the post to fit their understanding of life. I am at a positionthat i love. It is my dream job. I back the church and my senior pastor without question. But just because it is my dream job does not mean life does not happen, and I get frustrated. I believe in America we believe Dream Job=no problems Wrong It is my dream job because I am called.
Chuck I am praying for you. I know how you feel. When I was looking for my first postition we had nothing and I felt like a failure. I lived off peanut butter, tune, and carrots (WIC items) with my pregant wife. But through that testing God has grown me much more then i could have ever believed. God will provide for you, and you will be stronger because of this time.
Adam, I believe in america we have made ministry a “MEAT MARKET” where pastors shop themselves for the next big thing. I do believe the key is loyalty. Two visions in a church leads to Division. The key is loyality to the man of God and the Vision God has given him. My Vision is to fulfill his Vision for the church.
And most of this comes to the point who provides for us God or others.
Thank you Tony for this post it provoked me to flesh out what i believe. I can be bitter or petty or filled with grace and passionate about what i do. There are no problems just opportunities for me to live passionately.
Another Note: I know you won’t remember but i returned to pc. You laughed at me and my apple’s at Innoviate 06. :-)
[...] Resign Today! Great advice for the workforce. If you're not happy with the job, resign and find your match. Don't work for the paycheck. Life is too short to do that. (tags: leadership workforce) [...]
Tony,
After I thought about some things I wrote, I need to ask your forgiveness for calling you arrogant. I don’t know you and have no right to make that call from some comment exchanges. I’m also sorry if I offended anyone else! Thanks for your last comment! Know that I am praying for your ministry at Newspring! My passion got the best of me!!
jonathan, first of all i recommend you go back and look at my post on how i got from here to there. every step on that path, i believe i was doing what i was supposed to be doing. when i wasn’t, i took another step.
secondly, if, as i explained it, you are not doing what God created you to do, you can’t be passionate about it and you can’t support the mission of your organization, i think you should move on. you’re doing a disservice to yourself and to your organization.
now, keep in mind, you have another choice. rather than a change of position, you could get a change of perspective. maybe you already are in your “dream job” but you’re letting your dreams get in the way of God’s dreams. you’ll have to wrestle with that.
nick, i think that addresses your question as well.
sorry folks. i have a day job and a family to tend to. i can’t respond to everything here. but that’s why it’s good that this is a community conversation.
tony
Tony,
I am sorry, but I think telling someone to move on and resign immediately without a plan of where you are going and how to provide is not prudent. Yes, God will take care of us. And He also gave us common sense. To up and quit without somewhere to go, or a door God has opened, is irresponsible and foolish. I am sorry, I am not trying to be rude. Perhaps thats not what your are saying and I am missinterpreting. But it sounds like if you don’t think you are where you are suppose to be quit today. Maybe you are saying pray, get direction, and then act once God has opened a path. Unless He has told you to just quit and trust Him thats a different matter.
But, I am concerened for people who might read this post go quit there job in this job market without a plan, or have a door that God has openeed for them somewhere else. You must remember that there may be those who are baby Christians who may read your blog and go quit there job today without these considerations.
Tony & Los,
I want to apologize to you and other readers for the “tone” and sarcasm in my comment about Tony’s title. While I do personally have questions about the use of titles like this in the church it was wrong of me to communicate my thoughts the way I did.
I worked as an associate pastor in a large church for 12 years and saw so much in the way of titles, position, and “leadership” over simply being a follower of Jesus… and the “Resign Today!” post reminded me of some of the pain experienced by so many in that kind of environment.
Years later I have worked through a lot of the frustrations from that experience, but every once in awhile it rears it’s ugly head again. After working closely with friends in the developing world I also find myself having to regularly work through frustration with church environments that seem to be focusing much more on being relevant to American culture than being followers of Jesus.
And I applied that label to you based on superficial information and not knowing anything about your heart or your life.
For that I apologize.
Who knows? Maybe I am just envious that you have found a rhythm where you can fully be a follower of Christ while also fully engaging in the American culture so you are able to “become all things to all people so that by all possible means [you] might save some”. If that is the case… keep passionately pursuing that!
Deep in my heart I respect what both of you are doing for the Kingdom.
Tony,
I was contemplating your post and all the comments and your replies again, and I have a few thoughts.
First of all, there is something good, wondeful, holy and true in what you guys are saying – calling people to consider moving out of “career mediocrity” and towards doing something they were indeed called to do. I can applaud you for this virtuous intention and motivation in the midst of what you are doing!
But simply because there is something good, holy, and true in what you are doing does not mean that there aren’t some warnings that you might need to pay attention to in all that people are saying here. As I read your replies, I am not sure that you are honestly weighing the concerns of your larger family in Christ (those outside your church) and honestly asking yourself if some of those concerns might be warranted. You may be, and if this is the case, I apologize for my misgivings on this.
Within a particular organization or body of believers we tend to reinforce certain elements of “group culture” among each other, and this can be good or bad. Thus it sometimes IS very important to not demean those who raise issue with ideas that those closest to you may be applauding, in order to be objective in your assessments. More specifically, it is good for those who are NOT completely “loyal to your organization” to be able to present perspectives that are devoid of that loyalty, because sometimes a generalized “Kingdom of God” loyalty may pick up on a broader picture issue that a narrower focus may miss. Are you aware of the sociological issue termed “Group Think?” http://www.abacon.com/commstudies/groups/groupthink.html
To call people to a very high level of performance and attitude is a good thing – but it also can become destructive, cultic, and unhealthy in excess. I would urge you to not easily dismiss the concerns of those on this board – they may not be seeing the jewel and beauty in what you are doing, which is definitely a reason to think that they just aren’t “NewSpring material” – but on the other hand, can you appreciate that there may be something, some underlying tone, that people sense might have the potential to cause unhealthy dynamics within your organization?
It is good for you to plow along with your ethos in hand, but only if you as an individual and you as an organization are also honestly weighing the concerns of your detractors. As much as there is a jewel of wisdom and beauty in what you are doing, there is also a jewel of truth in what they are warning you about.
It is hard to simultaneously defend a position while giving careful reflective thought towards the opposite position – but I think doing so will ensure that the path of your organization does not veer into the realm of doing damage instead of giving life. I am not saying or accusing your organization of being damaging – only saying that if there exists an inability to seriously and reflectively consider alternative points of view on matters like these, there is a potentially destructive pattern taking shape within your organization.
[...] I then read a post on Sunday from Tony Morgan at New Spring Church. He said that they had an all staff meeting where they said, “If you [...]
I have a bit of an issue with what Zac said here:
“But that should simply be a challenge to motivate us to discover what’s next. It should be a relatively short period of time of questioning and doubt.”
But many people go through LONG periods of dark and doubt, so to say it SHOULD be relatively short is based on nothing biblical and risks hurting those who have gone or are going through long dark nights of the soul. The Israelites were in the desert for 40 years, Moses never got to see the Promised Land. There is no guarantee that God will rescue a person from their dark and doubt quickly. And if anyone thinks that a person can just pull themselves up by their bootstraps out of their weakness, doubt and sin – well you and I have very different understandings of the Gospel!
Rereading the post and comments has shown me that in a sense I do agree with everything that Tony said originally IN THE CONTEXT OF NEWSPRING. I think the problem I have is that it seems to be trying to make a one-size-fits-all for church and ministry staff. If the policy works well for NewSpring, then more power to you and praise God for a Spirit-filled ministry!
But I also know that my own church is very small – only 200 people, with a staff of 5 and a session (elders and deacons) of 7. And lest you think that just because we are small, the Spirit must not be moving as powerfully, that is just not necessarily true! Mega-churches are not the end all, be all, and I intentionally choose and prefer a small church. God is doing wonderful things at my church – maybe not flashy or impressive, but the nitty-gritty work of living and loving in a community of believers is going on. I have been in churches that grew by leaps and bounds, and for a while that was very exciting! But after a while, I personally needed grown-up food, and the church was still only offering milk because of the focus on bringing in new believers. I know this is a problem for many growing churches. And so I had to move somewhere more mature, where getting deeper into relationship with God and Neighbor was possible. I have found that works better in smaller contexts. This may not be true of NewSpring, you may do a great job at feeding and ministering to the more mature members of your congregation – I am just making the point (which you probably know) that churches have different characteristics, purposes, personalities if you will.
I would describe my church as a “healing church” in the sense that people are free and able to come and feel like they don’t have to hide their brokenness, they can be ministered to without feeling guilt or pressure. Our resources are limited, both with regard to finances and to people. We couldn’t afford to do the severance pay thing, and frankly, your policy may not even be in keeping with the spirit of our church, which is very much about coming along side people and loving them in their brokenness, doubt, lukewarmness, bitterness and sin. While I agree that the leadership should be fully committed to the mission of the church, I also realize that things on our staff probably look very different from the staff of NewSpring and that is absolutely fine.
If there was anyone left on the planet who did not already want to work at Newspring…well that’s over now after reading this. Where do I send my resume?
Great post Tony, Pastor P, and Newspring…
I did resign this summer for many of the reasons you listed. It was an incredibly humbling experience (humiliating at some levels). I am passionate about ministry, and very gifted in a few areas, but simply put, the ministry out grew my competency as a leader more quickly than I could grow. As the ministry grew rapidly (one of the fastest growing churches in the US), the stress of leading and the new complexities grew too. What started as a dream job could have soon turned into a nightmare.
On the outside, it looked liked incredible success. On the inside, I knew I was in over my head and my passion was waning. After much prayer, fasting, and counsel with my senior pastor, what our church needed me to do most was to get out of the way. I fired myself.
I had to admit that at this season of my journey I didn’t have what it takes to lead the church through her next season. My corporate brother-in-law was perplexed by my decision asking why not “fake it til you make it.” I simply told him that in my line of work, “I’m not screwing with people’s eternity.”
It’s not all about me and my “calling” (career). No one wins if we know we’re in a position that we shouldn’t be in. It damages your heart, your family, and the church you’re poorly serving. God honored my decision and I’m in a much more fitting situation. It was the hardest decision of my life going from what looked like the pinnacle of a ministry career (good salary, storied success, lots of power & influence, the envy of my pastor buddies) to where God can best use me and my family.
It was probably my greatest act of service and loyalty to the my senior pastor and the mission of the church. I highly recommend a leadership lesson from John Maxwell, “Second and Satisfied” that fits this conversation.
Oh yeah! One other thing I wanted to question was the wisdom of only holding out the three-month severance package for 24 hours. Sure, some people who KNOW they aren’t in the right place could make that decision quickly and easily. But is it wise to hold out such a generous offer for so short a time that it could possibly cause someone to make a snap decision that perhaps should include prayer and counsel for more than a day? Just a thought.
[...] sarcastic with the title but talk about a post that’s created quite a stirring . . . Read this post by Tony Morgan (Chief Strategist Director and big bundle of awesomeness at NewSpring Church) . . [...]
If Paul said, “I have learned in whatever state I am in, to be content”, I’m pretty sure we can work as unto the Lord, even if we aren’t in our “dream job”. Even Jesus said, “let this cup pass from me”.
“Resign Today” struck a chord with me because I had a lead pastor once tell the staff that you should quit if you weren’t willing to take a bullet for the (un-named) church. I know he did this to try to force a resignation of a certain staff member. What he did instead was cause a number of us, myself included, to begin to look elsewhere. I’ll take a bullet for the mission of Christ, but not for any particular pastor or organization.
I’ve reread the post several times, and I continue to think that:
a. Perry had some specific people in mind. He was challenging them to get on board with the mission or get out.
b. Leaders have to continually cast vision of why we do what we do.
My new senior pastor regularly invites our 140 staff members to work someplace else if they don’t believe in the mission of Central. And that doesn’t bother me at all.
[...] to Comments Tony Morgan, a City Administrator turned Mega-Church Strategist, recently published a post on his blog saying that if you are not passionate about your job–you should resign [...]
Great insights. I agree, however I must admit that in some situations I believe it is impossible. If my job offered me a 3 months severance package – which would help me with living expenses in the interim period, then yes. But if I am in a job where I am living paycheck to paycheck and below the poverty line it would be a bit more difficult. I think I can be looking for the “dream job” while working in the current place, but “resign today” is not wise for a person in certain economic states of being. So in theory this is good, but practicality matters too.
[...] talking about stuff. Earlier this afternoon, I interviewed Perry Noble. We discussed the recent “Resign Today” post on my blog. Then we hit other fun topics like the election results, hiring and [...]
I would NEVER “turn hamburgers” at my church–any church and never have. The day that happens, I won’t need a three month severance package. As long as I care as much as I do about what I do and the people here, I am all in. May not be my “dream” job, but there ya go.
The generous severance package should be an as-needed staple provided by the board for lead pastors as well. There are so many Pastors that have lost vision and just need to regroup or do something else they have vision for (even in the non-church jobs), but they are stuck. Good post Tony and Perry. Loved the next one as well with the one-on-one video convos.
I’m excited what God is doing at New Spring. Keep it up!
Andy,
I’m breaking your rules. I do not work at Newspring, but I went to Unleashed last year, and Newspring affected me. I left the job I was at. Ministry was growing. We went from 3 kids to 30 kids fast, and it was still growing. Kids were being saved, kids were growing, getting involved in ministry. Still, I worked tirelessly, and my wife was miserable. I had to leave for a healthier position at a different kind of church (similar to Newspring). I could either keep going for maybe five years, and lose my wife to the church, or I could go somewhere that respected our relationship and serve beside her for the rest of our lives. If I let her go, the type of church I was in would ship me off anyway. If your church won’t protect your marriage and family, then you’ve got to do it. God, wife, kids, church. God and church are not the same. Put your wife and kids before it.
[...] Brian asked in his post Your passion, which was basically a response to Tony Morgan’s post (Resign Today!) and John Piper’s recent book, Don’t Waste Your Life, do we use our passions for a [...]
I was recently downsized from a church position that I loved, did with all my heart and miss tremendously. Because they hired someone at 1/2 time to take my place my family left the church to let that person get involved. The church has lost over 200 people since Feb when they made the cut-backs (and I don’t think for one minute it is because I left) because they have cut back on children & youth ministry.
What stinks most is where we live there aren’t that many churches with large youth groups where they do focus on youth or children unless they are Southern Baptist (sorry, they aren’t good here – just big). So our family is at a quandry as to where we will worship.
We’ve been helping with a church plant, but the pastor is so laid back I don’t think the people get the vision.
I lost my dream job – but God gave me a job helping people. I’m doing it with all my heart and I just got a promotion. It’s not my dream job. I had my dream job. But ya know what, it’s His plan not mine. Whatever he wants me to do. I’ll do it.
For some this advice may be a divine wake-up call but for others this may well be insensitive rhetoric under the mask of spirituality. Two things: 1) We live in a fallen world where the fields are a difficult to work in. Every job will have something about it that’s difficult. 2) We too often mistake our interests for God’s passion.
Many people do their humble duty to provide for their families and live for God even in their humdrum jobs, while a others selfishly pursue their own interests only even its under the pretense they are doing it for God. Let’s face it; innocent babies die in this world while most people have to work in humdrum jobs to make ends meet (just look at the 1st comment).
Just a warning to those who jump the ship. Don’t be suprised if you find yourself in a very humdrum job (or no job) trying to make ends meet while seeking the dream. If it’s God’s dream it will work out. He will provide, but you may find out your action was more out of selfishness pursuing your interests rather than His. Not everybody can have cool jobs. It’s just the world we live in.
Careers are fine and some are unique callings, but the task of loving God and loving people and practicing his presence should be passionately carried out whatever our circumstance (1 Cor 7:17ff). We need more people willing to take risks where they are at rather than simply fleeing the reality they are in.
[...] this. then this. [...]
I’m late to the party, but wanted to throw in my 2 cents!
I just left a leadership position with a great church because I knew my time was up. After 3 1/2 years, the last thing I expected was that I would walk away, but that is precisely what I had to do for the benefit of the ministry and myself.
I did not leave because I had a better offer or opportunity somewhere else. I left because my time was up. In the interim, I am willing to work whatever and wherever to continue to provide for my young family and trust in God to create the path before me.
The greatest thing I can say is I was able to leave with all of my relationships intact and no brokenness or strife.
P.S. Hit me up if you are looking for a church strategist or consultant! You can email me or find me at Walmart! hahaha
love what Heather W. shared. God has given us all some deep thoughts to think through…..Newspringers or not. Those at NewSpring could benefit from thoughtfully hearing from us and we can learn from being challenged by them.
While we’re all busy examining this elephant from different angles, perhaps we’ve forgotten to wonder about the oddity of having an elephant in the living room to begin with? Or have we just become already acclimated and accustomed to the appearances of elephants in living rooms?
Translation:
All of this brings up the question of the phenomena of churches becoming “employers” and how that in and of itself is a Kingdom oddity of huge proportions – church leadership acting as CEO’s of nonprofit organizations complete with “hiring and firing” abilities, is a relatively novel development in the history of Christianity and is way outside of the Biblical framework – leaving us in all these uncharted waters that create such intriguing and telling discussions as the one we are now having here.
[...] Morgan says, “Resign Today!” Read the post that drew all sorts of interesting comments, and then watch his interview [...]
I appreciate the message, but at the same time, I have to assume that the church has a decent strategy for hiring awesome people. So if you’ve got awesome people, you want to hang on to them. If they’re position isn’t perfect, there should be a conversation about keeping awesome people around, but in a different role.
I don’t think just quitting is the best answer. It’s a good answer, but I wouldn’t want to lose an awesome young leader because they have outgrown their responsibilities, I’d want to change their responsibilities.
Awesome point Caleb!
isn’t it interesting to see how people interpret the Bible differently. caleb/amy, i couldn’t disagree with you more. you are certainly entitled to your opinion, though.
tony
Perry Noble once said “God help the pastor who only listens to people who believe just like him”. I completely agree with this.
But after a few comments made by some of the folks here, I begin to wonder how many people believe this. So far, some of the people that disagreed with a few Newsping staff and NS leadership have been accused of “masturbating to porn” and being “internet bloggers who sit in their underwear in their mother’s basement and manage their facebook accounts all day long – Perry Noble Blog 11/18/2008″.
On the flip side, many people (including myself) have been overly critical of this post and NS as a whole.
My point is that it is ok to disagree. But don’t be offensive, judgemental, and stereotypical.
If you’re not interested in the corporate tactics described and defended here, you may be interested in the Organic Church movement.
Frank Viola has done some excellent writing on the topic, and his latest book is very timely.
Reimagining Church
and, if you’re going to check out that link, you may also be interested in my take on viola’s last book, Pagan Christianity, where he rips apart just about everything happening in today’s churches. pretty much you can’t get any more night and day then frank and me. :-)
tony
I definitely will check that out.
[...] info By Tyler Categories: Uncategorized A few weeks ago I read a interesting post by Tony Morgan based on something his pastor (Perry Noble) said. The post got a modest 184 comments and [...]
What about the bills? I've done this. I know EXACTLY what I am supposed to do (Youth Ministry) and how I'm suppposed to do it (UNAPOLOGETIC TEACHING OF GOD'S WORD USING CULTURE AND MEDIA). I have no where to do this. The bills are unpaid. My truck is being repo'd.
It’s a while since this post was written, but I’ve only just caught up on it. Personally I think the idea is rubbish. It’s the sort of thing people talk about in an ideal world where jobs are two a penny, and people can hop from one thing to another without blinking an eyelid. For those of us who can’t always afford to follow our passion or our dream, this sort of thing just doesn’t wash. It just provides another guilt trip for people who are already doing their best.
Okay, what about faith? Surely God will provide?
Yes, he does, but not always in the job we’re passionate about and someone else is already doing. I don’t find Paul exhorting people to do this in the epistles. He’s more practical than that.
I find this post quite interesting… and am quite envious in a sense of this theory. I am serving in my first ministry position as a Children’s Pastor…but because the pay is not enough to support my family, I also have to work at nights cleaning medical buildings (I hate doing this, but feel God is providing now in this way). Do you have any wisdom to this, Tony? I know you are in incredibly busy man, but I honestly would love to quit my secular job and spend all of my time doing the ministry of the church. Honestly, I would.
[...] this post from Tony. Totally agree with him: life is way too [...]