Every runner knows that getting a great start out of the blocks is key to winning a race. The same goes for ministry. Whether you’re planting a church, launching a ministry or stepping into a pastoral role for the first time, getting a good start is important. 

But often we fall out of step once we’re out of the gates. New churches and ministries are usually smaller than more established organizations. The lack of resources and manpower can be a drain on mission and vision. Pastors and leaders who are just starting out may feel overwhelmed and ineffectual. But it doesn’t have to be.

The main difference between a church or ministry that is just starting out and one that has had time to grow, at least from the senior pastor’s perspective, is the workload. Senior pastors of more established churches can focus on one or two areas of emphasis, while pastors of new and growing churches have their hands in almost every ministry. It’s the difference between being a general and a generalist.

This is both a hindrance and asset in my opinion. you have the ability to meet more individual needs in your congregation. But at the same time, you may feel stretched thin or overwhelmed by a lack of capacity. And that’s the problem. Progress can seem impossible when you’re starting out because often times you’re going it alone.

But progress is possible. Effective ministry can and should happen in new churches. Over the next four weeks I want to share with you some ways to focus while in your current stage of growth in order to get effective and stay effective.

What Comes First?
The first area of effectiveness is just that – the first area. When you feel overloaded by the constraints and capacity of your week-to-week responsibilities, keep asking yourself that question: “What comes first?”

You may feel like you must do everything, but the truth is you can’t do everything. There’s only a set number of hours each day, and we all have a lid on the energy and talents we bring to each task. Prioritizing your workload can produce more effective results on down the line. 

When you feel overloaded by the constraints and capacity of your week-to-week responsibilities, keep asking yourself that question: “What comes first?”

Is This Worth It?

The first column you should look at is the ROI: Return On Investment. That’s a way to gauge the outcome of the time, money and energy spent on any given task. Ask yourself, “Is this really worth it?” You may not be able to quantify every expenditure, but you can evaluate its effectiveness on the backend. 

When you evaluate your ROI, you also have to factor in what you’ll miss out on. You may have the passion and energy to devote 20 or more hours of sermon research each week, but at what cost? What other tasks will be neglected and what other ministries will get ignored?

Determining the ROI of your workload also involves understanding what stage of ministry you’re in. Maybe you’re not ready to devote more resources to your children’s ministry because you haven’t grown in that demographic yet. Or maybe you should focus more on community involvement as the number of visitors increases. Knowing where you’re at on the growth curve can be a great barometer for determining what’s worth investing in first.

Things to Know
There are other things you should know before deciding what comes first. Here’s a quick rundown of four of them. 

1. Know the scope of Your Vision.

Where do you want to be in 6 months or a year from now? How do you see your church affecting the community you live in? What would be your area of focus if money and resources were no object? These types of questions will help define your vision. And knowing the scope of your vision helps you see what steps are crucial to get there.

2. Know the Scale of Your Volunteers.

When determining what comes first, you need to know how your volunteers will handle that decision. You may have some great leaders. But are they ready to launch small groups yet? Or maybe you have some fantastic children’s workers. But do you have enough to handle a Vacation Bible School? You may have a very gifted administrator in your congregation. But are they good enough to handle all the needs of your church? If not, your first move may be to look outside your organization for stability.

3. Know the Success of Your Peers.

Effective leadership is often a balancing act of expectations. Who are you looking at for motivation and inspiration? Find pastors and churches in similar phases of ministry as you and who have been effective at what they do. Then go to school on their first steps. That way you avoid comparing apples to oranges.

4. Know the Source of Your Energy.

Ultimately, the first step is always the one that takes you closer to God. He is the ultimate source of all our energy in ministry and life (Colossians 1:9). God has placed you perfectly where he wants you. He knows your capacity, your abilities and the willingness of those around you. He who has called us will equip us as we become humble and obedient to him.

Effective ministry in newer churches is all about leaning into God for help. As we continue looking at how that’s done, don’t forget who that’s being done for. You may feel lonely at times, but God is always there.