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By Pastor Chuck Swindoll

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Expect Difficult People in Ministry

“You will encounter difficult people throughout your ministry. I was never told that at seminary. And if you allow it and if you don’t know how to handle them, they get the best of you, then you’re among the statistics. And you finally say, ‘Just isn’t worth it.’ And you can’t go to some country where they’re not present. You can’t go into any work where it isn’t true. You can’t be on any faculty where there aren’t other difficult faculty members. You can’t go to a school where there aren’t difficult students. And you can’t serve in a pastorate where there aren’t difficult members of the church.”

Choose Elders Wisely

“Be extremely cautious regarding those you endorse to fill leadership roles. Be very careful. Never choose anyone in a hurry or based only on personality or wealth or influence or several people’s recommendation. Be very careful. Just being faithful in attendance and fun to be around does not mean they’re qualified to serve as an elder. Look at those qualities in 1 Timothy 3. Read them over and over and over. Do your very best to be able to use that checklist as you select some. You want to have fewer that are better than many who are poor. Be careful.”

Navigating Times of Transition in Ministry

“When you’re led to leave a place of ministry, do not expect everyone to understand and affirm your decision. Those transition times can include some major surprises and real disappointments. People don’t quite know what to do when you leave and funny things happen. I just call it funny things though it isn’t funny, it’s strange. And you’ll see a side of them you never saw before. Some who were very close to you will distance themselves from you. Those who once affirmed you over the years will blame you for something you’re not responsible for. You just are following the Lord’s leading and leaving.”

Dealing with Vicious People

“You’re going to deal with people who despise you. Who disrespect you. Who doubt you. Who work against you. Who conspire. Those who will be envious of your success and those who will shove you down when you fail. They are not the majority but you will feel at times they are because they are so vicious.”

On Hiring and Firing

“When hiring or releasing someone from your ministry, do not manipulate the process. Here’s what I mean. Talk no one into joining the team, talk no one out of leaving. I’ve done both. I’ve regretted it every time.”

Additional Resources

First, sign up for our Chuck’s Insights on Ministry email where we bring you his best thoughts on preaching, leadership, and ministry each week. By signing up, you’ll instantly receive a one-page checklist with 20 preaching insights from Chuck. See this page’s sidebar.

Second, check out our new Preach The Word articles and video series on YouTube where we’re teaching Chuck’s best insights on this important calling.

Third, listen to Chuck’s messages to those in ministry through our Seminary Chapels page. For decades, he offered students at Dallas Theological Seminary his best thoughts on church leadership and ministry. Now, we have put them at your finger tips. Also, you can find them through this YouTube playlist we created for you.

Fourth, if you don’t own a copy of Chuck’s book on preaching, Saying It Well, we highly recommend you add it to your library. It’s his preaching memoir that is also like a practical preaching manual. You won’t be able to put it down.

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