People Spots Online
Produced by James W. Moss, Sr., and Church Consultants
Provided as a service by New Life Ministries

What Do I Do Next?

by James W Moss, Sr

My ministry as Associate Conference Minister for the Eastern Regional Conference of the Churches of God comes to a conclusion after 31 years on June 30. What do I do next? I’m writing about this so that it might be helpful to someone else who is facing that question. It is true that I’m retiring. That is quite appropriate. This does put a different spin on the issue. But I’m not ready for a rocking chair. I’m going to keep busy as long as my health holds and my mind stays clear.

I’ve been praying about this question. I’m still a servant of the Lord. Even though I have gray hair and a few extra pounds, I want to do what God wants me to do. It will seem funny on July 1, to not have a specific assignment. I’ve never been in that role before. I have had an assignment ever since I preached my first sermon at my first church on December 7, 1958.

What do I do next? I’m still praying about that. I don’t have a clear picture yet. I know God will answer my question. I have always felt that when a believer honestly seeks God’s will, he will make his will known. I will continue to do seminars, consult, and coach. I know God wants me to do that. Will that be enough to keep me busy? I don’t have the answer yet.

I know I’m going to take a couple of months to pray and think about the future. There are some things I need to do around the house. I also need to spend some time with some grandkids. I have worked hard for many years. Some time for me to recreate feels good. Someone said, “decide in haste and repent in leisure.”

My ultimate future is quite secure, because I have put my trust in the Lord. Believe me, I’m to the age that I have to think about that. My Dad and Mom, four siblings, and my wife have gone to be with the Lord. I plan to attend my 50^th High School reunion on September 6. A number of my classmates have passed on. Eternal issues are important. I am trusting in my precious Lord.

But, now I need to put my trust in him that whatever time I have left is okay too. He knows I want to serve him in whatever manner is possible. He will open doors and close doors for me as he has in the past. I just need to remember that when he opens a door, I need to walk through. When he closes a door, I need to accept that as his will.

I know that he will provide whatever I need. Not what I want, but what I need. Those are two different issues. The Bible does not promise that we will have what we want. It only promises that we will have what we need.

I will seek the counsel of godly, trusted advisors. There have been several people along the way, who have given me good advice in the past. I will seek them out and share with them my situation and ask for their counsel. God uses such people to convey his will.

Then I will face the hardest part. I will simply wait on an instruction from the Lord. I have the type of personality that makes it difficult to wait. But, wait I must until his will is evident.

I have shared this personal journey because I thought it might be helpful to someone else. Are you facing a transition period in your life? Pray, seek godly counsel, and then wait on the Lord for direction. He will give it to you.

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The following are seminars that I have developed and present:

People Spots: Places of Belonging. The key question is: Does Your Church Want to Grow? Deals specifically with 4 growth issues: space in the sanctuary, number of small groups, number of people required, and parking. The seminar deals with much more. Normally, a one day seminar, pieces can be broken out for shorter periods.

Does Your Church Really Care for People? This seminar deals with a ministry of affirmation, absentee care, welcoming atmosphere, and prospecting. Normally, this is a one day seminar, but there are shorter versions available.

Churches Have Personalities. Churches have distinctive personalities. There are 5 key factors that shape the behavior of a church. They are: spiritual maturity, size of worship, direction of the flow, culture of the community, and personality of the pastor. Weave these 5 together and behavior of a church can begin to be predicted. This is a one day seminar.

A Christian Perspective on Leadership Skills. A leader earns the right to lead. The seminar deals with qualities of a leader, reproducing the leader, people skills, prioritizing, dealing with criticism, visioning, building strategies, and a positive attitude. This is a one day seminar that can be done in shorter periods.

Planning for the Future. A process of planning for a local church that takes from 8 months to a year. It includes research, a large group meeting to set priorities, writing of a plan, and training for implementation.

Beginning a New Service: A Strategy of Evangelism. The four segments include a holistic look at your church, looking at the dynamics of a new service, the strategy of implementation, and who will attend. This is either a one day seminar or can be done in 4 two hour segments.

Adding New People Spots. This provides an understanding of small group behavior and how to begin new small groups. This is a 2 hour seminar.

Christian Stewardship and Debt Management. This takes a look at what the Bible has to say about money and how people have to manage debt to experience true freedom in life. This is a 2 hour seminar.

Looking for that Which Does Not Change. This explores the issues of change as well as changes happening in the church. This is a two hour seminar.

Coaching Techniques. Coaching is much more intentional than mentoring and of a much shorter duration. One day with shorter versions available.

Escaping the Survival Syndrome. This is a disease that attacks churches. It is terminal without intentional intervention. This is a one hour seminar.

Thinking of Building? This two hour session attempts to help a church wrestle with three basic issues of building. First, Does your church need to build? Second, What do you need to build? Third, Are you willing to ask for money? Make sure your ministry shapes your building. If not, your building will shape your ministry.

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Read about Jim's seminars and books.

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June 23, 2008. Volume 11, Issue 4. People Spots Online is prepared by James W. Moss, Sr., and Church Consultants. It is provided as a service by New Life Ministries, www.NewLifeMinistries-NLM.org. Articles may be duplicated and reproduced in any way with proper credit. A new article is produced about every two weeks. To be added to a list to receive these messages directly by e-mail, send a request to churchconsultants@yahoo.com.

What Do I Do Next?

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