As an Education Minister now for going on 7 years, I haven't yet been able to find a good conference just for ministers who serve in Education roles. I have to go to different conferences specifically for preachers and youth ministers and apply those things to my teaching every week. I'm finally back to teaching an adult class every week, and I also work with the kids here at Graymere on the other side of the spectrum.
I went in to Better: Southeast knowing that I would need to filter some things for myself. Some things that were directed at preaching every week would need to be applied to me teaching every week. And it was a valuable exercise. While I do not have the rigor of preaching every Sunday, and the things that go along with being a preacher every Sunday, I am a teacher every Sunday and minister to the people in this congregation.
Suffice to say, it was a great experience to be at Better, both from the fellowship standpoint but also from the practical standpoint. I was able to take away quite a bit not just about preaching and teaching, but ministry as a whole.
Dale and Jeff Jenkins were able to line up some very adept speakers for this conference, and the content was dynamic. Here's just a few notes from a selection of the speakers. Not a comprehensive list of the entire conference, but here's what I found helpful as an Education Minister.
Jeff Jenkins opened with ten things we should do to plan our preaching. Jeff said that he has a yearly plan of what he's going to preach every calendar year, planned out for twelve months. My takeaway: As a class teacher and minister on staff, I have flexibility where some others would not. I came away from this talk inspired to plan a 12-month "Personal Teaching Calendar." I have never had difficulty in finding things to teach, only picking what I should teach next. This will help me be better organized and plan for 2022 - something I haven't been able, like so many others, to plan in a couple of years.
Doug Burleson talked about Being an Effective Textual Preacher, which may have been the most informative and practical session of the entire conference for me personally. My takeaway: It translated well to a full-time Bible teacher, and it further reinforced my recent thinking on not just being better prepared when I teach, but being accurate and representing the text better when I teach. Meaning does not change in Scripture, but application will vary.
Dr. Bruce McClarty, former president at Harding University, taught us on remaining true to the Word of God. I have heard Dr. McClarty very few times, but this lesson did not disappoint. My takeaway: A quote from Bruce said it best:
"We won't be perfect, but we must be genuine. We need to share a piece of our God-touched soul every week."
Chuck Monan was a treat to hear. I had never heard him speak before, and he spoke to us about Preacher Failings. He had six simple things that he illustrated wonderfully and sometimes humorously: 1) Don't bore people to distraction, 2) Don't wear people out with Greek, 3) Don't mangle pronunciations, 4) Don't be hypocritical, 5) Don't neglect doctrine, and 6) Don't be afraid. I found it entertaining as it was powerful and practical to hear.
Lastly, Craig Evans talked about starting a new work. Craig has started several new works in his ministry career, most notably his last at Mt. Juliet Church of Christ here in Tennessee. But Craig quickly moved from the topic to a more broad discussion of things that every minister should do (in my opinion), when starting a new work or even ones established in ministries. He said a lot, but here's a mostly complete list:
- Before you start, do your research!!
- Call the previous minister! (25+ years)
- Try out sermon: preach like YOU
- Get WRITTEN EXPECTATIONS - job desc, financial, time off, etc.
- Am I going to be a hireling or one of the sheep?
"If you don't heal what hurt you, you'll bleed on people who didn't cut you"
First, work on your relationship with God
- Make WISDOM your constant prayer request
- Spend time with people - from the smallest child to the oldest member
- Ask: what is our vision? (Elders, Deacons, Staff)
- Spending time with leadership/staff outside of meetings
- Let people know you care: hospitals and funerals
- Listen more than you talk
- Pray for people when you listen (How can I pray for you this week?)
- Pray for people in their presence
- Our job is to be focused on souls
- "Connection before correction" - friends speak in love
- Be slow to make changes at a new work (wrecking ball, not a builder)
- You cannot be a minister at two churches at the same time
- Focus on your family
- Set healthy boundaries (hours worked)
- Get physically healthy (shows self-discipline)
- Ask: Am I missing something? (Find someone to help you, a mentor)
- You need a core group of friends
- Pace yourself as you start (one new sermon a week, one old sermon per week)
- Help people to love God's Word more
- Don't know what to preach? Preach about Jesus! (Sermon on the Mount)
Overall, I was refreshed and renewed coming away from Better. If I could say one thing, it would be to encourage every minister in every role (pulpit, education, youth, etc.) to find a conference like this to attend. Personally, I needed this. I needed to be a part of a conference I didn't have to help plan (we have two here at Graymere I help plan), and I needed some energy back in my batteries, so to speak.
Many thanks to Jeff and Dale Jenkins for their hard work putting this on, and for Heritage Christian in Florence for hosting.
