Six Risks I Took As a Pastor (Including Some That Failed Miserably)

Episode #526
April 9, 2019
Rainer on Leadership Podcast Logo

Taking risks is part of leadership. Today we discuss a few risks taken during my ministry and how some worked and how some didn’t.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

  • Even if an idea is good, if it’s an unfamiliar idea to a church it may not gain support because “we’ve never done it that way before.”
  • When the newness of something wears off, the challenge of “making it work” begins.
  • Don’t just fill staff vacancies like they’ve always been filled. Staff to the current and future needs of the church when an opening comes.
  • Sometimes risks are steps of faith. Sometimes they are acts of stupidity.

The six risks we discuss are:

  1. Hiring a staff pastor without the funds
  2. Attempting to buy an entire church facility from another church.
  3. Going multi-site before multi-site was cool.
  4. Having a combination meal and worship service.
  5. Hiring a staff member with dual responsibilities of groups and evangelism.
  6. Getting a new Christian to lead the welcome ministry.

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast

Rainer on Leadership is a member of the LifeWay Leadership Podcast Network


Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped thousands of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.

For more information, visit WeStaffTheChurch.com.


Today’s episode is sponsored by Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Be sure to check out Midwestern’s Doctorate of Ministry Degree. The D.Min. is an advanced degree preparing students for leadership in local churches and denominational service. It is also fully attainable in hybrid format which means you don’t have to move to pursue the degree.

Find out more at mbts.edu/dmin.


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