When asked to assist Christian ministries in decline or struggling to stay afloat, one of the first things I look at is the age of board members and staff. If all board members are over 65 and the youngest staff member is 50, it grays the organization. I say this as one who is gray and Medicare eligible.

I have learned that all speeches, long or short, should be written out. This includes when you speak in church to promote a Sunday school class or small group or to share a testimony about how the Lord impacted your life.

How do you balance a call to minister if it is not financially responsible to let go of a full-time job?  Often people contact me who are considering full-time ministry or who have shifted to full-time ministry, but are financially struggling. They don’t understand why their call to ministry didn’t equal permission to give full-time focus to it. When working through the process I talk about what the call to ministry means, and how a workplace calling may or may not be the same. This is a crucial difference to understand.

I have advised many pastors to develop a personal website. Many are reluctant to take this step because they believe this separates the pastor from the church.  A pastor may give 40 to 100 sermons a year if they preach an evening service. That’s a lot of content over ten, twenty, or thirty years.

Public speaking is an important opportunity for many to demonstrate leadership, professional credentials, and connect with potential clients or customers. Not every speaking invitation is a good opportunity. I evaluate each opportunity to determine what the Lord would have me do. James wrote, “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” (James 4:14-15, NIV) The key is to determine the Lord’s will.