If you want to start well in your church, you must be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19). This episode helps new pastors identify five voices to listen to discern God's vision for the church and effective strategies for carrying out that vision.

Those voices include:

1. Listen to the Lord.
2. Listen to other godly church leaders.
3. Listen to other pastors.
4. Listen to the congregation.
5. Listen to your wife and family.

Effective leaders are learners. This episode identifies seven essential details that pastors should learn about their church during their first year, which will help them lead well in subsequent years. Those details include:

1. Learn about your church's history.
2. Learn about your church's culture.
3. Learn about your church's community.
4. Learn about your church's governing documents.
5. Learn about your church's influencers.
6. Learn about your church's current reality.
7. Learn about the changes you'll want to make in the future.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Look Before You Lead by Aubrey Malphurs
• Reclaiming Glory by Mark Clifton
• NAMB Demographic Report Request (for SBC churches)
• Current Reality Assessment

The cliche that "people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care" certainly applies to pastoral ministry. They also won't follow your leadership until they know how much you care. Therefore, if you want to start well in your new ministry assignment, you must love your church well. This episode covers six practical ways you can do so.