8 Essential Tips to Excel in Your First Church Job

So you’re new to ministry. Congratulations on your new first church job! I really hope it goes well for you.

But having worked in ministry for many years, I’ve seen countless young people step into their first church job, only to struggle. The issue often isn’t a lack of passion or bible knowledge, but rather the absence of some basic professional skills.

Let me share a few pointers I’ve picked up over the years. These are not necessarily theological insights (hopefully you’ve got that covered), but rather practical things that will help you thrive in your early years of ministry.

1. Keep a To-Do List

This may sound basic, but it’s essential. Don’t rely on your memory to keep track of everything. No matter how sharp you think your mind is, you’ll forget if you don’t write it down.

Use whatever method works best for you—a planner, an app, or my Pastor Planner. The key is to create a running to-do list. 

Whenever something new comes up, capture it immediately. You’ll constantly think of new tasks in ministry during meetings, in passing conversations, or even late at night when brilliance strikes. Write it down!

Organization and reliability are crucial to building trust and credibility, especially in your early years in ministry. People are watching to see if you can handle responsibility. Staying on top of tasks proves that you can.

Every day, review your list, prioritize your tasks, and tackle the most important ones first. If you have recurring responsibilities like weekly reports or preparing something by a specific day, schedule those too. Use repeating reminders in an app or mark them on your calendar so nothing gets missed.

2. Use a Calendar and Be on Time

When you were younger and life was simpler, you might have been able to memorize your schedule, but ministry and professional life require more. You need a calendar. And you need to live by it.

A calendar is just a to-do list where there’s a time and a place. If you need to be somewhere at a specific time, put it on your calendar.

Schedule every meeting, event, and deadline. Review your calendar daily and live by it. Disorganization and tardiness will damage your credibility. If you’re always late, people will see it as disrespectful. They might even start adjusting meetings around your lack of reliability (planning you’ll be late). It hurts your reputation. 

Being on time (ideally 5-10 minutes early) shows respect, reliability, and a level of professionalism that too many young people are lacking. On the other hand, being habitually late brands you as unreliable, disorganized, unprepared, or unfocused.

After all, Jesus said, “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’” (Mt 5:37). So if you say you’ll be there, be there! Arriving early and ready shows people they can count on you. And the only way to consistently do that is by keeping a calendar.

Don’t underestimate this tool. It’s a simple discipline, but it sets the tone for your entire ministry.

3. Champion Your Ministry

You’ve got to be the primary promoter of your ministry. If you don’t share what’s happening, where God is moving, what’s going well, and the impact being made, no one else will. Unfortunately, other people are often too busy and focused on their own responsibilities, so it’s up to you to keep your ministry visible.

Celebrate wins and communicate consistently. If you don’t, people won’t know what’s happening, and that can go poorly for you. 

For example, if you’re in youth ministry and spending most of your time connecting with students, attending their activities, or meeting with leaders, that’s great. But if you’re not visible around the office and don’t share updates, people may assume you’re not working. Don’t let silence harm your ministry.

Keep your supervisor informed. A quick message like, “I met with a student this morning—great conversation!” goes a long way. Post photos on social media to highlight what God is doing and celebrate your people. This is also a great way to help everyone in the church see what God is doing. 

Done with the right heart, this isn’t self-promotion; it’s testifying to God’s work.

Parents and church members love seeing visible ministry in action. It builds trust and excitement. The more people see your passion and work, the more likely they are to support and join your mission.

So champion your ministry. Overcommunicate. When people see your work, they’ll rally behind you.

4. Mind Your Perception

What God thinks about you is what matters most, however it is still important to think about how you present yourself to others. You are an ambassador for Christ (2 Cor 5:20). You represent your church and ministry in everything you do. So it’s important to present yourself well.

This doesn’t mean chasing fashion trends or spending too much on overpriced sneakers. It simply means being intentional with your appearance and behavior. 

Showing up looking sloppy or disorganized can unintentionally communicate laziness or unprofessionalism. On the other hand, dressing appropriately and being put together reflects a basic level of care, credibility, and trustworthiness.

Perception goes beyond clothing. It’s also about your actions—at church and in your community. Are you fully engaged during worship or distracted on your phone? Are you conducting yourself in public in a way you’d be proud of if a church elder saw you? 

Whether you’re on the clock or not, people are watching. They’re forming opinions about you, your church, and your God. So represent him well.

You don’t need to obsess over appearances, but don’t ignore them either. Present yourself in a way that honors God and reflects your role with integrity. Perception isn’t all that matters, but it does matter. So carry yourself in a way that builds trust, respect, and most importantly, points people to Christ.

5. Choose Your Battles Wisely

If you’re new to ministry, especially when you’re young and starting your first church job, make your default answer “yes,” unless you have a strong, well-thought reason to say “no.” That doesn’t mean becoming a people pleaser, but it does mean being a team player with a positive, teachable attitude.

Early on, constantly pushing back or insisting on doing things your way will frustrate your team and create unnecessary tension. Instead, show that you’re eager to serve, even in areas outside your job description. Be someone people enjoy working with.

There will be times to say “no,” especially if something is immoral or unbiblical. But if it’s simply a matter of preference, and your supervisor asks you to do something reasonable, do it with enthusiasm. A willing spirit goes a long way in building trust and a winning culture.

When you disagree, offer feedback respectfully. Ask, “Have you considered this approach?” You should share your ideas. But if leadership decides to go a different direction, support the decision and execute it with a good attitude.

The goal isn’t to blindly agree with everything, but to be wise about when and how you push back. Choose your battles wisely. There are too many battles in churches that people fight that simply aren’t worth dying for. 

Be known for your positive energy, humility, and collaborative spirit, not for resistance. 

Choosing your battles wisely will help you gain influence and thrive in your ministry role.

6. Be a Humble, Hard Worker

When you start a ministry position, remember that getting the job is only the first step. You have not arrived. There’s always more to learn. So stay humble and remain hungry to serve, learn, and work hard.

Ministry isn’t a job for a paycheck. If that’s what you think, (1) you’ll be very disappointed, and (2) quit now. 

Ministry is a calling to serve the Lord. Give your best effort, even if it means extra hours and inconvenient work. Stay grounded and work hard with a spirit of humility. 

I would much rather have someone on staff who I need to tell “Woah” than “Go.” It’s better to have someone you have to slow down than someone who has to be constantly motivated. Be someone who gives extra effort without needing to be prodded.

Jesus is our prime example. He humbly left heaven to serve. And he worked tirelessly, often to a point of exhaustion. He was both humble and hardworking, and we’re called to follow his example.

Humility also means a willingness to learn. Don’t assume you know everything. Keep reading, attending conferences, and learning from others. Ministry will humble you if you don’t let pride get in the way. The more you grow in your role, the more you’ll realize how much you have to learn.

Work hard, stay humble, and remain faithful to serving Christ, and you’ll thrive in ministry.

7. Respect the Leaders God Has Placed Over You

Respecting the leaders above you can be challenging, especially if you’re new and don’t agree with their decisions. Remember: Your leaders are imperfect humans, just like you. They’re sinners who have experienced their own struggles and challenges in ministry. 

There will be times when you feel frustrated or question your leader’s choices, but harboring bitterness or disrespect will damage your ministry.

As long as their decisions aren’t immoral or antibiblical, honor and serve your leaders (Heb 13:7). God has placed them in authority over you in this season for a reason, even if you don’t like it. 

Honoring your leaders builds credibility and opens the door for you to help influence their decisions. When you approach them respectfully, they’re more likely to listen.

Ministry leaders often carry scars from years of experience and wisdom that you may not fully understand because you haven’t experienced it yet. Those scars carry valuable lessons. 

Respecting your leaders and learning from their scars will help you grow. Hopefully, as you gain experience and rise in the ranks of leadership, others will respect you in the same way—even when they disagree with your decisions, which they will!

8. Sweat the Small Stuff

While people often say, “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” in ministry, the small stuff matters. It’s easy to overlook little details like organization or cleanliness, but these details reflect the quality and care you put into your work for the Lord. 

What’s the difference between a steak at a local diner and one at a Michelin-star restaurant? It’s all about the details. The high-end steak is hand-selected, fresh, never frozen, seasoned with precision, and cooked to perfection every time. The diner steak is frozen, inconsistently cooked, and needs a rescue crew of salt and steak sauce to attempt to salvage it. 

Like any profession done well, ministry should reflect a high level of care and excellence.

Details like being on time to meetings, quickly responding to emails and calls, and remembering people’s names show that you care. 

Staying organized, following up with people, and keeping commitments all matter, even in the smallest ways. For example, if you’re leading a ministry, arrive early to ensure everything is set up, clean, and ready for guests. These small actions convey respect, professionalism, and excellence, which elevate the experience for everyone involved.

Teaching the Bible with consistent depth and power requires extra effort in the little details of preparation: prayer, study, writing, and practicing the art of communication. 

When you focus on even the smallest details, you build trust and create a ministry that stands out. It shows that you care about the people you serve and the quality of your work for God. 

Don’t overlook small things. They can make a big difference.

Consider these eight tips to hit the ground running in your first church job. But what else needs to be said? Let us know in the comments.