When to Leave - Have You Stopped Dreaming?

Losing your ability to dream may signify a need for change in your ministry. Understanding the reasons behind this stagnation and implementing steps to reignite your vision can pave the way for renewed passion and direction. 

• Exploring the significance of dreaming in ministry 
• Identifying four reasons why leaders may stop dreaming 
• Understanding feelings of overwhelm and their impact 
• Recognizing when you've reached your limit in a role 
• Tackling fear of failure and belief in change 
• Suggested steps to reconnect with your vision 
• Reflecting on what energizes you and taking breaks 
• Brainstorming dreams without limitations 
• Seeking mentorship for renewed clarity 
• Action steps for scheduling uninterrupted dreaming time

Have questions or comments?  Send to podcast@chemistrystaffing.com

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Transcript

Speaker 1 0:07

Hi there , welcome to the Healthy Church Staff Podcast . My name is Todd Rhodes . I'm one of the co-founders over at chemistrystaffingcom and I'm your host here on the Healthy Church Staff Podcast . We're here every Monday through Friday for about five to I don't know seven , sometimes eight or ten minutes of , hopefully , some encouragement and some motivation and just some insight into what it takes to be a healthy church staff member . So I'm so glad you're here and I tell you what today , if you're feeling stuck or uninspired or maybe just feel like you're going through the motions in ministry , you're really going to hopefully enjoy today's episode . Because today we're asking a big question and it's all part of our series inspired by Wade Hodges' book when to Leave , how to Know when it's Time to Move On Before you Stay Way Too Long . And here's the question , the big question for today have you stopped dreaming ? Have you stopped dreaming ? We're going to explore why losing your ability to dream might be a signal that God is getting you ready for some type of a change . So stick around . By the end of the episode , hopefully , you'll have some tools to rekindle your vision or at least clarify or bring a little bit of clarity about what's next . Okay , here we go . Ministry should be fueled by vision , a general bit of clarity about what's next . Okay , here we go . Ministry should be fueled by vision , a general sense of excitement about what God is doing in your life and in your ministry and how he's using you .

Speaker 1 1:33

But sometimes , over time , even the most passionate leaders can lose their spark and if dreaming about the future feels like a chore , it might be a time to take a little bit of a closer look at why you're feeling that way . And Wade points out in his book and if you stick around until the end of the podcast , I'll tell you how to get a free copy of Wade's book on us at Chemistry Staffing . But Wade points out in his book that when we stop dreaming , oftentimes there's about four reasons that he's come up with that that's the case . So if you've stopped dreaming , maybe it's one of these reasons . Number one maybe you're just overwhelmed by the present and I get it , man Day-to-day demands of ministry , especially coming off the holiday season , the demands of ministry are heavy and sometimes you just can't think beyond next Sunday and you might be a little bit too drained or too busy to dream .

Speaker 1 2:36

Okay , so that's number one . Maybe you're just overwhelmed , maybe ? Number two maybe you've just reached your limit and sometimes we've accomplished what we were meant to do in a specific role . I hear that all the time when we talk to candidates . It's I love where I'm at , but I just feel like I've done , I've accomplished what God has wanted me to do here and I'm ready for a new challenge . So maybe you've reached your limit . Maybe staying longer where you are just feels like you're treading water , like you're running in place . So like you're treading water , like you're running in place . So maybe you're overwhelmed , maybe you've reached your limit .

Speaker 1 3:08

Maybe you're afraid of failure . Sometimes , when you dream , and especially when you dream big , that means taking some risks , and if fear is holding you back , you may need to . It may be worth examining why that is so you might just be afraid of failure . That might be why you're not dreaming right now . And then , finally , the last reason is fear .

Speaker 1 3:34

We've stopped believing that change is possible . Have you ever been there in ministry ? Maybe you're there right now , when you reach a point where you're at in your position , at your church , where you just feel like , hey , we've been stuck . I've tried , man , I've tried , but we've been stuck on the same patterns for too long and sometimes you just start to think what's the point ? I just can't , I can't do it here . I don't think that change is even possible here . If any of those rings true , losing your ability to dream doesn't mean that you fail . Let's get that straight . Okay , you're not a failure , but it is a signal that something needs some attention , and that could be rest , it could be renewal , it could be a new direction . So here's the bottom line for today when you lose your vision , you lose your direction . When you lose your vision , you lose your direction .

Speaker 1 4:26

If dreaming in ministry feels , or even in your personal life feels , just impossible right now , here are some steps you can take . First of all , reflect on what energizes you . What's changed ? You used to be energized in ministry . Why were you energized before and you're not energized now ? What parts of ministry bring you joy ? What's missing from your current role , from your current day-to-day ? That used to light you up and either it doesn't anymore or you've gotten away from that . So reflect on what energizes you and then maybe take a little bit of a break . Even a weekend away sometimes can reset and connect you with your why . And brainstorm , brainstorm without any limits . Grab a notebook . Write down all the things you wish you were able to do in your ministry , not just where you are , but in your ministry your career goals , your ministry goals . Don't filter or judge . Just try and dream big , and then maybe you just need to talk to a trusted mentor or a coach . Sometimes that outside perspective can help you reignite your passion or help you discern if it's even time to move on .

Speaker 1 5:35

So this week your action step is to schedule . I'd love you for some time and it's Monday , so you've got all week to schedule this . Try and schedule one hour of uninterrupted time to dream and find a quiet spot , preferably out of your office . Take some time to pray and ask God to renew your vision . Write down whatever comes to mind , no matter how big or how small . That could give you some answers and it could jumpstart your dreaming again .

Speaker 1 6:04

If you stop dreaming , I'd love to hear your story . Tell me what you're feeling , what you're experiencing . We could even maybe do a Zoom call and talk about it . That'd be fine . You can email me podcast at chemistrystaffingcom and I'd love to hear about where you are and what might be next for you . If you've not subscribed to the podcast , maybe this is your first time here , but you don't want to miss future episodes . Go ahead and subscribe , and I am one of the co-founders over at Chemistry Staffing . If there's any way that I can help you or your church with hiring new staff or realigning your staff or any kind of staff assessments , you can reach out to me anytime . Podcast at chemistrystaffingcom .

Speaker 1 6:46

Okay , I promised you , if you stayed around till the end and you did believe it or not , I would tell you how to grab a free copy of Wade Hodge's book . It's called when to Leave and you can get that right now for free , absolutely free , no strings attached . Chemistrystaffingcom . Slash when-to-leave . Chemistrystaffingcom slash when-to-leave . It's full of really practical insight . Wade shares his heart , he's been there and done that and I really think that it'll help you navigate your journey . Okie dokie , thank you Boy , I haven't said okie . Whoever says okie dokie , I never say that . Thanks for joining me today . Remember , dreaming is an essential part of leadership and if you've lost that spark , don't ignore that . Take time to reflect and refocus and discover your vision , because your ministry and your church and your future depend on it . All right , take care , I'll see you tomorrow right here on the Healthy Church Staff Podcast . You .