Negotiating Transition

At some time or another, every minister will experience transition in his or her life or ministry. Sometimes the transition is simply making changes or adjustments to what God has called us to do. At other times, transition can mean a complete change of ministry direction or focus, moving from one phase of ministry to another. Either way, transition in ministry has its own unique challenges that must be identified and addressed if we are to successfully follow God’s plan for our lives.

Transition can be a potentially vulnerable time for a minister because he or she is faced with the prospect of change, which usually requires personal sacrifice and additional commitment. Change also carries with it the concept of the unknown. Even if the minister has received specific direction from the Lord, there is always an element of the unknown attached to that new direction. For example, during a change of ministry there are usually many minor details that are not clearly known. It is the details of the transition that can create mixed emotions and uncertainty.

Sometimes transition occurs because of circumstances that are beyond our control. At that point we must understand that God is never surprised by anything that takes place in our lives. God’s plan never changes for us, even if we experience minor setbacks.

Regardless of why we are in the midst of a transition, there are several things that can help us negotiate the challenges associated with change. Always remember the following:

• God has a master plan for your life
• Keep yourself spiritually healthy
• Prayer is not optional
• Stay Practical
• Don’t give in to Peer Pressure
• Focus on what you are called to do
• Know your own company
• Timing is everything

We will be expounding further on each of these topics in this area of our website.