Made for More Podcast Episode 10 – Ron Edmondson

Exponential Podcast

Ron Edmondson: Made for More Podcast

Interview with Ron Edmondson

Ron Edmondson joins us for the next episode of the Made for More Podcast. Ron shares what he has learned about finding clarity in his calling as he made the decision to move from the business world into full-time ministry where he has spent the last 15 years leading churches. Ron will also be joining us as a speaker at Exponential 2019.

Ron is passionate about both planting churches and helping established churches thrive. In addition to his role as pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church, he coaches and consults with church and ministry leaders. In the podcast excerpt below, Ron talks about some of his observations working with church leaders and why he believes calling is so critical to thriving (and avoiding burnout) in ministry.

“In my work with pastors, I see many of them failing to think about or honestly answer the question, ‘Who am I created to be?’ A lot of the time, I see pastors trying to be everything to everyone, and so they try to invent themselves into something they’re not. But that’s not who God has called them to be. I always tell young leaders I’m coaching, ‘If you’re not careful in knowing who God has created you to be, ministry will eat your lunch.’ It’s a recipe for disaster. You’ll burn out. You’ll be overwhelmed with the demands of ministry rather than delegating and raising up new leaders and letting the body be the body.

“I counsel leaders to ask themselves these questions and evaluate which answer is more like their current situation: ‘Do you have to work to get excited about the vision, or is it consuming you? Do you get up in the morning and have to make yourself go to the office, or can you not wait to get there? When you think of work, do you feel overwhelmed, frustrated or angry, or do you get excited about the potential?’ Asking ourselves questions like these allows God to speak into where we are with our temperament, disposition, heart and spirit. I’ve seen so many pastors that are totally ineffective because they should’ve left years ago and instead hung on out of a false sense of loyalty or fear of what’s next, or waiting for retirement or the paycheck. That’s not fair to them, the church they serve, or the Kingdom.”

Check out Ron Edmondson’s web site www.ronedmondson.com.

Ron Edmondson is a pastor, teacher and church leadership consultant and currently the CE0 of Leadership Network. Leadership Network has a huge footprint in helping church achieve Kingdom growth. Prior to this, Ron pastored for 16 years, leading in two church plants and two revitalizations. Ron believes the church should be a positive influencer for change in a community.

Ron spent over 20 years in the business world. Beginning to work at the age of 12, Ron worked in the grocery business through high school, spent 10 years in retail management, and then became self-employed until entering the ministry 15 years ago. In business, Ron owned an insurance agency, which was one of the fastest growing in the state, and a small manufacturing facility employing over 35 people. Additionally, Ron served as an elected city councilperson and vice-mayor and on dozens of national, state, and local non-profit boards.

Ron has an undergraduate from Austin Peay State University, and two master’s degrees — one, a seminary degree, from Luther Rice and one in organizational leadership from Eastern University. He is currently pursuing his doctorate from Midwestern Seminary.

Ron is the author of The Mythical Leader — 7 Myths of Leadership and blogs at ronedmondson.com. You can find him online on Twitter and Facebook. Ron’s greatest moments are found spending time with his wife and two grown sons, a daughter-in-law, and his new granddaughter.

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