1. DON’T LET MINISTRY BECOME YOUR IDENTITY
Most pastors unconsciously tie their worth to the pulpit, attendance, or how powerful a service felt. But when your identity is swallowed by ministry, failure, low numbers, or dry seasons feel like personal death.
Anchor your identity in Christ first (as a child of God, not as “Pastor.” This keeps you grounded when ministry seasons shift.
2. LEARN TO REST WITHOUT FEELING GUILTY
Rest is not laziness; it is warfare against burnout. Many ministers think taking a day off is weakness, but Jesus Himself withdrew often.
If you don’t schedule rest, your body will force it through sickness, exhaustion, or emotional breakdown. Rest is stewardship of the vessel God uses.
3. YOUR PRIVATE OBEDIENCE PREACHES LOUDER THAN YOUR SERMONS
People may forget your three-point sermon, but they will never forget how they feel around your character.
What you refuse to compromise on in private (money, sexual purity, honesty) builds an unseen authority that no stage performance can give you.
Guard the “backstage life” as much as you prepare the “stage life.”
4. DON’T CONFUSE MOMENTUM WITH GROWTH
A crowd is not always evidence of deep growth. Sometimes noise, novelty, or hype fills the room (but real growth shows in transformed lives, not packed chairs.
Ask yourself: are people becoming disciples, or just event attendees?
Momentum attracts men, but growth sustains them.
5. PREPARE FOR SUCCESSION EARLY
Many ministers wait until they are weak, old, or dying before thinking of who will continue the work. This often kills churches after the founder.
Start investing in the next generation now: mentor, empower, and release. The ministry is bigger than you, and the legacy should not die with your voice.
By Yaa Ayeh