Which Change should I make?

Pastor John Marshall has this practical advice for pastors:

When I moved to FBC I begin to make a list of every suggestion, every change that every person wanted. I compiled that list and still keep it. That list runs the full range of what every church wants to change to become more "effective" to remaining the same because they are already "effective". It is a very diverse list but I used that list to remind myself that it isn't the voice of the people that I am going to spend my time listening to but the one voice, my God, who called me to be a pastor. I didn't act on any of those changes but I begin to be faithful in being who God wanted me to be as a pastor.

The results: After four years, I pulled that list out and realized that almost every item has been dealt with one way or another. So many of the concerns took care of themselves and many items of change just happened. There were times when I had to go through the front door to make some adjustments. Other times I had to sit down and talk with a group of key leaders to make some changes but in every situation I saw God going out and fighting my battles. So many times we think that we are the lone warrior fighting for a noble cause but in the end we are able to fight greater foes and see mighty victories when we spend time on our knees in prayer, letting God fight our battles, and listening to one voice...God's!

John Marshall has served in churches in the midwest, as well as serving as a church planter for 8 years in Brazil with the International Mission Board. He currently pastors First Baptist Church of Casper Wyoming.