On April Fools’ Day 2025, I celebrated 28 years in full-time ministry. Looking back over those years, I’ve often thought about writing a book to reflect on the journey—and maybe someday I will. I’m not sure anyone would want to read it besides my mom (lol), but I’ve learned a lot along the way. Some lessons came from listening to those who went before me and invested in my life. Others? Well, they came from the school of hard knocks.

So keep an eye out someday for my book—I’ve already got the title: From the Crack House to Calumet. So far, that’s all I’ve written. (lol)

Recently, I read a Facebook post by Rev. Shane L. Bishop, Pastor of Christ Church in Fairview Heights, Illinois. He shared 28 things he’s learned in ministry, and I found myself nodding in agreement. Not just agreeing—but remembering stories and experiences of my own that taught me many of the same lessons.

I hope you can take something from our similar experiences—or at least smile as you think about how you learned a few of these lessons yourself.

Here’s his list of 28 things he’s learned along the way:

“I wrap up my twenty-eighth year as the Sr. Pastor of Christ Church (Fairview Heights, Illinois)
on the final day of June. It has been a good run by any measure. Here are twenty-eight things I
have learned:

1. Remember your call. When things get tough, remember why you got into this.
2. Keep your marriage strong. If that is bad, everything is bad.
3. Stay in the Word. Reading the Bible from cover to cover every other year or so is a great
   discipline.
4. Keep learning. Read. Attend conferences. Get a coach. Keep getting better.
5. Never forget you are in the people business. You can’t just sit in your office all the time. You
   have to add value to the lives of others.
6. Don’t take things personally. Choosing not to get your feelings hurt is essential.
7. Hold it steady. Remember that God has you, your ministry and your family.
8. Realize you can’t cheat the hours necessary for excellent work. Work smart. Work hard.
9. If God does bless your ministry, don’t get all full of yourself. The second you get thinking you
   are all that and a bag of communion wafers, you are finished.
10. Keep it real. Just be an authentic human being who loves Jesus that God called to lead.
    People can not only handle that, they will embrace it.
11. Don’t ignore problems. Address them quickly.
12. Tithe. And give offerings on top of that.
13. Remember that if God called you, you can’t quit. He can release you but you can’t quit.
14. Admit your mistakes. You will make them. Offer forgiveness. Accept forgiveness.
15. Remember your detractors are not your enemies; they are your brothers and sisters in
    Christ.
16. Decide what a principled “win” looks like and accumulate as many as possible.
17. Take responsibility for everything. If it is your fault, you can fix it.
18. Take your vacations and your days off. Every single one of them.
19. Maintain boundaries. No one will thank you for it. Maintain them anyway.
20. Play for the long game. Failure to make tough decisions in the present will limit your future.
21. Don’t worry about being popular (that is officially impossible. Worry about being faithful to
    God.
22. Decide how you are going to use Social Media and don’t deviate from your game plan. You
    can get off Social Media when you retire.
23. Control your impulses. Think before you speak, post or Tweet. If you question whether your
    should post something, you shouldn’t.
24. Make decisions from your core values. That way, win or lose, you will still know who you
    are.
25. Publicly appreciate people. Encourage. Celebrate.
26. Take time to “look at the “back of your baseball card” and thank God for your journey.
27. Think legacy. Focus as much on your lasting impact as you do on present impact.
28. Enjoy your life. No one is going to do it for you.”

Add-On:  Lesson 29

I know there are many more things but I do think this is a pretty good list. The one thing I think I would for sure add to this list is:

29. The Gospel is the main thing so work hard to keep the main thing the main thing.

Hopefully this is a blessing to you and helps you as you journey through life facing all that the
world wil throw at you. Our job at the BSCM is to help our churches take their next step to
accelerate Gospel movement and if we can ever help you, we are here to lock arms and join
with you in this great task.