Give the Work Time to Mature

I’ve served as Senior Pastor at Candia Congregational Church since July 2017. Founded over 250 years ago, the church had spent the past four decades with renewed focus on loving God and people as Jesus commanded. When I arrived, the church had several thriving ministries, but as the big events grew, we started asking: “Are these good things we do truly the great things God is calling us toward? Or is it time for something new?” The unintended consequence of their success was that we were so exhausted from large events that we lacked time to form trusted, meaningful relationships with those distant from Jesus. Gospel witness thrives in daily, practical love, but we were so drained that we struggled to do that. Then COVID-19 hit, making large events impossible. We mourned their loss but also saw it as a moment to seek what God had next for us. Shortly before this time of transition, I was invited to join an Overseed cohort, which would soon prove invaluable in helping us discern that new path forward.

Overseed became essential in that season—not just as a place to learn, but as a source of season clarity and direction. It offered both spiritual encouragement and practical tools that helped me and our leadership better understand who God shaped Candia Congregational Church to be. One of the most helpful resources was the Natural Church Development assessment, which gave us an honest snapshot of our health: where we were strong, where we were vulnerable, and what needed attention if we were going to grow in a faithful and sustainable way. That kind of insight mattered as we navigated the disruption of COVID, adapted ministry in real time, and looked for new ways to love the people of Candia and the surrounding communities. It also helped us shift from simply “keeping things going” to creating space for individuals to discover their role in God’s Kingdom and step into new ministry and leadership opportunities with confidence.

Just as valuable as the materials was the peer support. Pastoring a historic mainline church in New England can be deeply rewarding, but it can also feel isolating. There are unique challenges here—cultural skepticism, aging church structures, limited resources, and the slow work of rebuilding trust and renewing mission. Overseed gave me a circle of pastors who understood that world without needing it explained. In that cohort, I wasn’t just learning ideas, I was being sharpened, encouraged, challenged, and prayed for by brothers who were carrying similar burdens. Their questions helped me think more clearly, their stories reminded me what faithfulness looks like over time, and their steady support helped me lead with more courage, humility, and hope.

One of the earliest pieces of wisdom I received came through the book Patient Catalyst by Jack Daniel, where he stresses that ministry, especially in New England, is a marathon, not a sprint. The average pastoral tenure in this region is often only three to six years, and it’s easy to spend that time chasing new ideas and launching new ministries before trust is built and roots are formed. My encouragement to pastors entering New England is to slow down: learn the people, learn the community, and give the work time to mature. In my experience, ministry here often begins to gain real momentum around year eight, as the long investment of loving people well and helping them discover their role in God’s Kingdom starts to bear lasting fruit.

And don’t try to do it alone, find a cohort of pastors who can strengthen you, sharpen you, and pray with you along the way. If you have the opportunity to join an Overseed group, take it. That kind of steady learning and peer support can make all the difference for faithful ministry over the long haul.