Al Stewart shares 28 of the craziest, most counterintuitive lessons he has learnt from his time in ministry.There are gems of wisdom for all stages of ministry life. You won’t hear this stuff in a textbook!Al Stewart has worked with FIEC, City Bible Forum, Geneva Push and Katoomba Christian Convention, as well as serving as a bishop and director within the Sydney Diocese of the Anglican Church.Toolbox: Scott Sanders and Al Stewart did two more great episodes before this one:<a href="https://reachaustralia.com.au/464-what-15-years-of-church-planting-taught-al-stewart/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Ep 464: What 15 years of church planting taught Al Stewart</a><a href="https://reachaustralia.com.au/465-vital-things-a-senior-minister-needs-to-know/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Ep 465: Vital things a senior minister needs to know</a>Al Stewart’s 28 ministry lessonsHere is the full list from Al’s notes for this episode, grouped by theme for you to share and discuss with your team. As Al explains, these are practical observations from his years in ministry. Try taking one or two at a time in a staff meeting.Planning and time management<ol><li>If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing badly.</li><li>Spontaneity must be carefully planned.</li><li>Shooting a dead horse is the hardest thing to do.</li><li>The way to work hard is to think about your holidays first.</li><li>Have as few unused holidays as possible when the Lord returns.</li></ol>Church meetings<ol><li>Less is more.</li><li>If you want them to stay longer, finish earlier.</li></ol>Meetings in general<ol><li>The way to appear wise is to keep your mouth shut.</li><li>The most important thing in starting a meeting is the finishing time.</li><li>The most important part of a meeting happens a week before the meeting.</li></ol>Appointing and managing staff<ol><li>You work for the people who work for you.</li><li>More staff will cost you more time.</li><li>Test their eyes, don’t just count them.</li><li>You will never have enough leaders trained.</li></ol>Resilience<ol><li>The job of Jesus is already taken, and it’s not you.</li><li>We died with Christ, but you don’t have to die at your post.</li><li>Disappointing people: the bad news is it’s inevitable you will disappoint some people; the good news is we often get to choose who.</li><li>Preach the gospel, die and be forgotten.</li></ol>Dealing with problem people<ol><li>“I shouldn’t really tell you this, but …”</li><li>Sheep bite</li><li>No good deed goes unpunished.</li><li>An angry face needs face to face.</li><li>A pastor should have one deaf ear, one blind eye.</li><li>The best way to stop fires is by strategically lighting them.</li></ol>Communication<ol><li>The best way to keep a secret is to put it in the weekly newsletter.</li><li>If you can’t say it as a tattoo, you haven’t got clarity.</li><li>Confidential conversations are the best way to spread a message through the congregation.</li><li>Inefficient communication can be most efficient.</li></ol>On lesson 27, Al adds an important qualification in the conversation: don’t share anything that must be kept confidential.Credits: This episode was brought to you by <a href="https://mts.com.au" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">MTS</a>The One Thing is brought to you by <a href="https://raus.link/RAWeb" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠</a>To pray for Reach Australia, join our <a href="https://raus.link/RAWhatsAPP" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠</a>For ideas or questions please email <a href="mailto:resources@reachaustralia.com.au" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠</a><a href="https://reachaustralia.com.au/partner-resource-library/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Support Reach Australia's online library</a>

Al Stewart shares 28 of the craziest, most counterintuitive lessons he has learnt from his time in ministry. There are gems of wisdom for all stages of ministry life. You won’t hear this stuff in a textbook! Al Stewart has worked with FIEC, City Bible Forum, Geneva Push and Katoomba Christian Convention, as well as serving as a bishop and director within the Sydney Diocese of the Anglican Church. Toolbox: Scott Sanders and Al Stewart did two more great episodes before this one: Ep 464: What 15 years of church planting taught Al Stewart Ep 465: Vital things a senior minister needs to know Al Stewart’s 28 ministry lessons Here is the full list from Al’s notes for this episode, grouped by theme for you to share and discuss with your team. As Al explains, these are practical observations from his years in ministry. Try taking one or two at a time in a staff meeting. Planning and time managementIf it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing badly.Spontaneity must be carefully planned.Shooting a dead horse is the hardest thing to do.The way to work hard is to think about your holidays first.Have as few unused holidays as possible when the Lord returns.Church meetingsLess is more.If you want them to stay longer, finish earlier.Meetings in generalThe way to appear wise is to keep your mouth shut.The most important thing in starting a meeting is the finishing time.The most important part of a meeting happens a week before the meeting.Appointing and managing staffYou work for the people who work for you.More staff will cost you more time.Test their eyes, don’t just count them.You will never have enough leaders trained.ResilienceThe job of Jesus is already taken, and it’s not you.We died with Christ, but you don’t have to die at your post.Disappointing people: the bad news is it’s inevitable you will disappoint some people; the good news is we often get to choose who.Preach the gospel, die and be forgotten.Dealing with problem people“I shouldn’t really tell you this, but …”Sheep biteNo good deed goes unpunished.An angry face needs face to face.A pastor should have one deaf ear, one blind eye.The best way to stop fires is by strategically lighting them.CommunicationThe best way to keep a secret is to put it in the weekly newsletter.If you can’t say it as a tattoo, you haven’t got clarity.Confidential conversations are the best way to spread a message through the congregation.Inefficient communication can be most efficient.On lesson 27, Al adds an important qualification in the conversation: don’t share anything that must be kept confidential. Credits: This episode was brought to you by MTS The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠ To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠ For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠ Support Reach Australia's online library

Al Stewart shares 28 of the craziest, most counterintuitive lessons he has learnt from his time in ministry.There are gems of wisdom for all stages of ministry life. You won’t hear this stuff in a textbook!Al Stewart has worked with FIEC, City Bible Forum, Geneva Push and Katoomba Christian Convention, as well as serving as a bishop and director within the Sydney Diocese of the Anglican Church.Toolbox:&nbsp;Scott Sanders and Al Stewart did two more great episodes before this one:<a href="https://reachaustralia.com.au/464-what-15-years-of-church-planting-taught-al-stewart/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ep 464: What 15 years of church planting taught Al Stewart</a><a href="https://reachaustralia.com.au/465-vital-things-a-senior-minister-needs-to-know/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ep 465: Vital things a senior minister needs to know</a>Al Stewart’s 28 ministry lessonsHere is the full list from Al’s notes for this episode, grouped by theme for you to share and discuss with your team. As Al explains, these are practical observations from his years in ministry. Try taking one or two at a time in a staff meeting.Planning and time management<ol><li>If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing badly.</li><li>Spontaneity must be carefully planned.</li><li>Shooting a dead horse is the hardest thing to do.</li><li>The way to work hard is to think about your holidays first.</li><li>Have as few unused holidays as possible when the Lord returns.</li></ol>Church meetings<ol><li>Less is more.</li><li>If you want them to stay longer, finish earlier.</li></ol>Meetings in general<ol><li>The way to appear wise is to keep your mouth shut.</li><li>The most important thing in starting a meeting is the finishing time.</li><li>The most important part of a meeting happens a week before the meeting.</li></ol>Appointing and managing staff<ol><li>You work for the people who work for you.</li><li>More staff will cost you more time.</li><li>Test their eyes, don’t just count them.</li><li>You will never have enough leaders trained.</li></ol>Resilience<ol><li>The job of Jesus is already taken, and it’s not you.</li><li>We died with Christ, but you don’t have to die at your post.</li><li>Disappointing people: the bad news is it’s inevitable you will disappoint some people; the good news is we often get to choose who.</li><li>Preach the gospel, die and be forgotten.</li></ol>Dealing with problem people<ol><li>“I shouldn’t really tell you this, but …”</li><li>Sheep bite</li><li>No good deed goes unpunished.</li><li>An angry face needs face to face.</li><li>A pastor should have one deaf ear, one blind eye.</li><li>The best way to stop fires is by strategically lighting them.</li></ol>Communication<ol><li>The best way to keep a secret is to put it in the weekly newsletter.</li><li>If you can’t say it as a tattoo, you haven’t got clarity.</li><li>Confidential conversations are the best way to spread a message through the congregation.</li><li>Inefficient communication can be most efficient.</li></ol>On lesson 27, Al adds an important qualification in the conversation: don’t share anything that must be kept confidential.Credits:&nbsp;This episode was brought to you by <a href="https://mts.com.au" rel="noopener noreferrer">MTS</a>The One Thing is brought to you by <a href="https://raus.link/RAWeb" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠</a>To pray for Reach Australia, join our <a href="https://raus.link/RAWhatsAPP" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠</a>For ideas or questions please email <a href="mailto:resources@reachaustralia.com.au" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠</a><a href="https://reachaustralia.com.au/partner-resource-library/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Support Reach Australia's online library</a>

466 Counterintuitive ministry lessons - surely this can't be right (Al Stewart)

Vine Church uses name tags, Hunter Bible Church does not. In this episode Toby Neal (Vine Church) and Dave Moore (Hunter Bible Church) face off in a debate about whether name tags are helpful in church. 
 
Arguments for:
<ul>
 <li>Community: They can help people connect as addressing people by name helps with relational interactions</li>
 <li>Follow up: Having a check in process helps to get new people's contact details and helps with the followup process after Sunday</li>
 <li>Pastoral care: Name tags can be used to see attendance and help reach out to people if they aren’t turning up to church </li>
</ul>
Arguments against:
<ul>
 <li>It adds a step of complexity to people coming into church</li>
 <li>If you train a good welcoming team, you don’t need name tags</li>
 <li>It can make church feel like a corporate event when it should be a relational environment</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
 </ul>
</ul>
 
TOOL BOX:
<a href="https://reachaustralia.com.au/the-one-thing-episode-177-better-welcoming-part-1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">177: Better Welcoming 1</a>
<a href="https://reachaustralia.com.au/the-one-thing-episode-178-better-welcoming-part-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">178: Better Welcoming 2</a>
<a href="https://reachaustralia.com.au/gospel-growth-and-christian-community-ebook/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gospel Growth and Community ebook</a>

Vine Church uses name tags, Hunter Bible Church does not. In this episode Toby Neal (Vine Church) and Dave Moore (Hunter Bible Church) face off in a debate about whether name tags are helpful in church. Arguments for: Community: They can help people connect as addressing people by name helps with relational interactions Follow up: Having a check in process helps to get new people's contact details and helps with the followup process after Sunday Pastoral care: Name tags can be used to see attendance and help reach out to people if they aren’t turning up to church Arguments against: It adds a step of complexity to people coming into church If you train a good welcoming team, you don’t need name tags It can make church feel like a corporate event when it should be a relational environment TOOL BOX: 177: Better Welcoming 1 178: Better Welcoming 2 Gospel Growth and Community ebook

Vine Church uses name tags, Hunter Bible Church does not.&nbsp;In this episode Toby Neal (Vine Church) and Dave Moore (Hunter Bible Church) face off in a debate about whether name tags are helpful in church.&nbsp;
 
Arguments for:
<ul>
 <li>Community: They can&nbsp;help people connect as addressing people by name helps with relational interactions</li>
 <li>Follow up: Having a check in process helps to get new people's contact details and helps with the followup process after Sunday</li>
 <li>Pastoral care: Name tags can be used to&nbsp;see attendance and help&nbsp;reach out to people if they aren’t turning up to church </li>
</ul>
Arguments against:
<ul>
 <li>It adds a step of complexity to people coming into church</li>
 <li>If you train a good welcoming team, you don’t need name tags</li>
 <li>It can make church feel like a corporate event when it should be a relational environment</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
 </ul>
</ul>
 
TOOL BOX:
<a href="https://reachaustralia.com.au/the-one-thing-episode-177-better-welcoming-part-1/" rel="noopener noreferrer">177: Better Welcoming 1</a>
<a href="https://reachaustralia.com.au/the-one-thing-episode-178-better-welcoming-part-2/" rel="noopener noreferrer">178: Better Welcoming 2</a>
<a href="https://reachaustralia.com.au/gospel-growth-and-christian-community-ebook/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gospel Growth and Community ebook</a>

343: The Great Name Tag Debate

Are you joining a new ministry team? Is someone joining your team?

280: Joining A New Team

Where should you focus your energy in term 1 as you serve in ministry?

Episode 279 – What’s Most Important In Term 1?

Episode 278 – What Should I Read Over Summer?

Episode 277 – What Is A Focus Pastor?

Greg Cooper (Melbourne) and Curtis Smith (Sydney). 
 
Curtis' Suggestions 
1. Oh come all ye faithful 
2. Joy to the world 
3. Away in a manger 
4. Oh come oh come Emmanuel 
5. Hark the herald angels sing 
6. O little town of Bethlehem 
7. Who is he in yonder stall 
8. Silent night 
9. The first noel 
10. O holy night

Greg Cooper (Melbourne) and Curtis Smith (Sydney). Curtis' Suggestions 1. Oh come all ye faithful 2. Joy to the world 3. Away in a manger 4. Oh come oh come Emmanuel 5. Hark the herald angels sing 6. O little town of Bethlehem 7. Who is he in yonder stall 8. Silent night 9. The first noel 10. O holy night

Greg Cooper (Melbourne) and Curtis Smith (Sydney). 
 
Curtis' Suggestions 
1. Oh come all ye faithful 
2. Joy to the world 
3. Away in a manger 
4. Oh come oh come Emmanuel 
5. Hark the herald angels sing 
6. O little town of Bethlehem 
7. Who is he in yonder stall 
8. Silent night 
9. The first noel 
10. O holy night

Episode 276 – What Songs Should We Sing For Christmas? (Greg Cooper and Curtis Smith)

Des Smith started a church in Adelaide in 2022.

Episode 275 – 9 Months Ago I Planted A Church in Adelaide (Part 2)

Episode 274 – 9 Months Ago I Planted A Church in Adelaide (Part 1)

What value does an executive pastor bring to a church?

Episode 273 – Do You Need An Executive Pastor?

What's the balance between livestream experience and volunteer burden?

Episode 272 – Livestreaming Experience vs Volunteer Burden (And other tech issues)

A threefold framework for church social media.

Episode 271 – Church Marketing (Especially Social Media)

One solid, practical tip for gospel-centred ministry every week.

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One solid, practical tip for gospel-centred ministry every week. Reach Australia is a network of churches - working together to seeing thousands of healthy, evangelistic, multiplying churches across Australia.

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