In my last post, I mentioned that I’m spending this summer interviewing Senior Pastors who have led their churches through the 1600 attendance barrier.
I thought you might like to see the questions I’m going to ask each of them.
Knowing what you know about me, and the church I serve, how would you answer the following questions…
1. If I died tomorrow and you became the Senior Pastor at the church I serve, what would you do first to lead the congregation to break through the 1600 barrier? What would you do second? Third? Fourth? Fifth?
2. What were the things you discovered about yourself as you led through the barrier I’m stuck at now?
3. If you were me, what would be the next staff position that you would hire first? Second? Third? Fourth?
4. How did your leadership and teaching have to evolve to lead through this barrier?
5. Looking back and analyzing everything you did as you moved past where my congregation is now, what do you think created the greatest spiritual and numerical growth? Would you repeat those actions, activities, and ministries?
6. I tell Senior Pastors that I coach that there are five things that never leave a Senior Pastor’s plate: leadership, preaching, evangelism, generosity, and personal growth. How did you address each of those when your church was my size?
7. What were your biggest mistakes leading through this stage of growth?
8. What people, books, or resources gave you the conceptual roadmap you needed to lead from where you were to where you needed to go?
9. Were you physically, spiritually, and relationally healthy during this time? What weekly rhythms and practices did you have in place (or wish you had in place) that kept you refreshed?
10. Was the price you paid to lead through the stage of growth I’m facing right now worth it?
FYI – Perry Noble has an excellent article entitled, Five Rules I Follow When Meeting With Mentors. I’d read that before you set up your next meeting with a mentor. Great advice.
What other questions would you want answered from Senior Pastors who’ve been where you are?
