Financial expert, Dave Ramsey, once asked a billionaire for some advice. Ramsey was a millionaire, but he wanted to learn how to become a billionaire. The man responded “Dave, have you ever read the story the Tortoise and the Hare? I’ve read that story to my grandkids dozens of times and every time I read it, THE TORTOISE ALWAYS WINS!”
Now, we all know the feel good story of the lowly outmatched tortoise beating the swift hare. But have you seen a real life race between a tortoise and a rabbit? I was shocked the first time I saw this video.
Why was I shocked? Because the tortoise actually wins! And the race plays out exactly like the story. I also thought it was so interesting to see the abilities of the two animals, side-by-side, in real time. The rabbit so effortlessly move forward to take the lead in the beginning. It bounds forward in less than 2 seconds and is already half-way to the finish. The tortoise on the other hand, looks like it’s going in slow-motion. He literally looks like someone slowed down the video.
But then just like the story, the rabbit stops. For some reason, instead of continuing, he freezes. There’s even a lady trying to get the rabbit’s attention and calling him to come to her. But the rabbit still doesn’t move. And for some reason, the turtle keeps going (in slow-motion) and wins the race.
This September will by 10 year anniversary in pastoral ministry at Unity Baptist Church (www.unitybaptistnash.com). I heard a statistic that said that 50% of pastors do not make it past 5 years in ministry. That seems to be true in my own experience. When I went to seminary, 5 of us went together as friends. Ten years later, I’m the only one still in ministry as a career from that group. Outside that group, I see many pastors continuing in ministry for 20 plus years. But many of them have jumped around from church to church and city to city. Sometimes it was by choice. But more often than not, there were just too many factors outside of their control that forced them to change churches. I’ve also seen many other Korean-American pastors who were godlier than me, smarter than me, better preachers than me, and more talented than me, leave the ministry before I have.
I don’t think I’m more special than others for lasting to this point. I think there have been too many factors outside my control as to why I’m still here. Although I don’t believe in luck, in many ways, I do feel “lucky” to still be in ministry and at the same church even. I believe it was God’s providence and grace which enables to me to still be here 10 years later and at the same church. And by God’s grace I hope to retire here.
I believe the story of the Tortoise and the Hare holds true for life, but also for ministry. We need to have a Tortoise like mindset if we are to win in ministry also. Here are some thoughts.
- Long-term consistency is a superpower. Consistency is dull. Consistency is boring. There is nothing flashy about doing the same thing over and over again. But that’s how you build. Whether it be a church, a business, or yourself, nothing great was ever built without consistency sustained over the long-run. What’s the opposite of consistency? Distraction. When I look at the video of the tortoise and the hare, the rabbit seems to have gotten distracted by something. It had all the ability in the world to easily win the race, but it did not have the consistency to finish and win. But in order for consistency to have its full effect, it must be sustained over the long-term. What is long-term? 10 years. I think for ministry (and life) if we are to build anything substantial, we must think in 10 years plus increments. In my church, we have a lot of college students and young adults. I see them come in and out of our church (and city) like a revolving door. One year here, two years there, and five years seems like an eternity. They get bored of Nashville, and want to try another city, so that in a few years they can try another city. My plea to them, is stay. Sure, staying in Nashville would be nice for us, but even for their own sake. I try to tell them, if you leave here, then try to stay 10 years at the next place you go. Otherwise all that you invest in relationship, church, work, it all goes down the drain and you start from scratch in the new city you go to.
- Make changes slowly. There’s a saying that I like when it comes to making changes in an organization: “If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together.” When I first started as a pastor, I would get excited about making certain changes. I would go hear the latest strategies at a church conference and come back fired up to change everything! lol. What I started to realize though, was that just because I was the pastor and excited about an idea didn’t mean everyone else was. I slowly learned that I needed everyone’s support in order to be able to make those changes. Many conversations and meetings and prayer needed to happen. If I wanted to make lasting changes, I had to slow down and make sure I was not leaving anyone behind. I had to bring them along with me through many conversations, prayers, and plans. I had to build trust among the people.
- Persevere thru Criticism, Discouragement, and Negative People. Stuart Briscoe once said, if you want to be a pastor, you need “the heart of a child, the mind of a scholar, adn the hide of a rhinoceros.” That last part is about not giving up. We need thick skin to be able to last in ministry. There have been a couple of times during my ministry that I was so discouraged, that I questioned if this church was right for me. I questioned if ministry was right for me. Maybe I’m not the right guy? But even thru hurtful comments, God sustained me. I clung to the cross for my worth, and not people’s approval. Over the years my skin has gotten a little thicker. And by God’s grace I’m still here. Discouragement: When you have low attendance on something it can be discouraging. Sometimes in ministry we need to persevere even when few people show up to the prayer meeting or Bible study we are leading. When I was trying to start a new regular Bible study that was essential for our church, Some days no one would show up for a Bible study class, but I would teach it to an empty room. If a Bible study class or church program was important I would have it even if no one showed up. Negative People: Other times we have to persevere not from singular incidents but from people who are overly negative or contrarian. Whatever you do, they just find what’s wrong with it. For me, I’ve found that for some critics, you cannot change them. But you can outlast them. I’ve tried to reason with and win certain people. But in the end the solution was they moved on. Some to a new city, and some to a new church within the city. Both times, it was a blessing in disguise as the negativity left with them.
Final Thoughts:
All of these principles remind me of several Scripture passages, but one in particular: Hebrews 12:1–3.
Hebrews 12:1–3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
The turtle is slow but the turtle is consistent. The turtle is unimpressive but the turtle focuses on the long — term. The turtle is small but the turtle has a hard shell for defense. The turtle life wins.
