Perry was on his game again, and during this session, he challenged staff and specifically spent a lot of time addressing senior pastors, using Exodus 4 as his passage. 

Here are some of the notes I took:

#1  If you want to make it for the long haul, deal with your pride and insecurities.

“When we’re successful, sometimes we think it’s because of something we did.” 

“It’s not my job to keep everybody happy.  It’s not my job to take an opinion poll every time God speaks to my heart.”   

“If you’re called, you just don’t quit.”

#2  Use your staff

“There are a lot of staff members who think that their senior pastor exists for them to lean on, when in reality, the staff members exist for the senior pastor to lean on.”

“Senior pastors, treat your staff with respect.  Smile at them.  Give them a ‘side hug’ every once in a while.  Honor your staff in various ways.”  

“Staff, you’ve never felt the weight that a senior pastor feels.  You don’t know what he has to deal with on a daily basis.”

#3  Take God-directed risks 

“I didn’t say, ‘Take stupid risks!’  I said, ‘Take God-directed risks!’”

“We’re never going to get where God wants us to go by playing it safe.”

“Pick up the snake by the tail and watch what God can do.”

#4  Understand that at times it’s going to hurt

“Sometimes ministry affects us in personal ways that hurt”

“Ministry always hurts!”

#5  Follow “His” leadership

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