5 Ler * ‘OUR NEW PASTOR DREAM A DREAM. Celebrate with him the vision God is laying on -chis heart. God calls leaders. Don't impose on him the previous shepherd's vision for the seep, ly LET HIM BE HIMSELF. Bank on it, “He will be different from the previous pastor.” Appreciate his uniqueness and consider that God is using him to ledd you in a new way at this time in the journey of| {i COMMIT TO STAND WITH HIM THRU HARD TIMES. The honeymoon will eventually end. Bank on it; prepare for it; and make your commitment to him for the “long haul.” He will be attacked. = Putadefense around him, Don't let him take the hits. ‘HIM LEAD. With a humble spirit offer him your support, and let him know you intend to follow him. Ves IPPORT HIM EVEN WHEN HE CAN'T PUBLICLY EXPLAIN WHY ie UNPOPULAR DECISION. There is a lag time in trust. You so came to. trust his predecessor, you could trust him “without explanation.” Lend your new pastor some credits. Pastors frequently ‘cannot defend themselves in order to protect something or someone upon which he had to také action, ‘Sometimes there are dismissals from leadership and they don't want to impugn those persons, or there! may even be legal issues about which they cannot release information, so they take the hit themselves and absorb the criticism, fall you can do is “be quiet” and adopt the attitude, “We don’t haye all the facts,” then do that. Counseling the leader is not your responsibilty he is God's man and God will be his Counsel. VI. RELEASE HIM FROM BEING YOUR “BEST BUDDY.” Don't be jealous or snipe at him, ‘or having a few close friends. Jesus did: Mary, Martha and Lazarus fed His spirit; He had three close disciple friends as well: Peter, James and John, Your pastor needs friendships that feed his spirit to keep him healthy, as well. Pray that God will give him supportive and nurturing friendships. ..and he' will be a better minister with a spring in his step as he comes through the doors of the church. VILLET HIS WIFE BE HERSELF. A military commander's wife in one of our churches told a pastoral candidate's wife, “The best thing we as a church can do for you is to let you be yourself. You should work in the areas you love and we'll not impose upon you some hidden expectations.” She'll be happier ifshe oy be herself and so will her family and her husband...and the church will reap the benefit, VU yR_OPPOR’ ITIES TO EN( iE AND Al Look for opportuni-| tea elfeourager. Christians are people of hope and they look up when everyone else is looking, down. If your pastor has misfired, he knows it before you do. Instead of picking out the negative, look Jam for something good. Genuine, authentic encouragement will boost your pastor, and the church will reap the rewards, He'll stretch himself to live up to your belief in Y FOCUSED ON THE . Unless the pastor denies the reality of Jesus or salvation through His shed blodd; the virgin birth, the physical resurrection of Jesus, or that Jesus is coming back again, determine not to get caught up in an inner church conflict. Determine not t6 leave the church over inconsequentials. Stay focused on the big picture! Refuse to become diverted by petty non-essentials. X. STAND BY YOUR CHURCH! BY ALL MEANS DON’T LEAVE THE CHURCH DURING | THIS-TIME OF TRANSITION, Your church has stood with you, supported you, nurtured you, fed 4 you the Word and offered encouragement to you across the months and years — in times of| celebration, weddings, gradvations, and in times of sicknesses, grief, suffering, or loss of loved ones. Fo" Now is not the time to leave. Now is for you to love your church. If by my actions I say, “I am 'y the church,” and if I give, attend, support, Minister, teach and serve, then I am actively participating in helping the church to become what God has in mind for it terbe, Adapted from Dr. Jim Garlow who preached this on Oct. 8, 1995 when he was leaving his old church at Metro-plex Chapel and moving to Skyline Wesleyan church in San Diego, Ca.