Slow Climb Not The Quick Jump

This is the season of brand new things and brand new people. The Season of “Hiring and Firing” is over, and now you are in your new role! The new ministry year is here, and you WANT to Make Changes…. STOP AND SLOW DOWN!! 

There are two ways to change: the quick jump and the slow climb.

The quick jump is thrilling. It’s the bold decision to leap off a low cliff into the water below. There’s instant movement, immediate results, and a splash big enough to draw attention. It feels like progress—and in many ways, it is. But the jump is short. It’s over in seconds. And while it might make headlines, it rarely leads to lasting transformation.

Then there’s the slow climb.

It’s the daily, deliberate decision to take one step higher up the mountain. It’s not glamorous. It’s not always Instagram-worthy. It requires endurance, discipline, and vision. But unlike the jump, the climb leads somewhere far more impactful: the summit. From there, the view is different. The air is thinner. The sense of accomplishment is deeper—not just because of how high you’ve gone, but because of what it took to get there.

In ministry, leadership, and personal growth, we often crave the jump. We want the change now. We want the new strategy, the packed room, the instant fruit. But lasting change—the kind that reshapes culture, character, and community—rarely comes in a flash. It’s forged in the slow grind.

Think of Jesus’ ministry. He didn’t stage a mass revolution overnight. He walked with people. He taught slowly, told stories, asked questions, and lived among his followers. He didn’t leap off a cliff. He climbed the mountain—often literally—and invited others to climb with Him.

When we rush change, we risk missing the depth that comes from the journey. Quick fixes can create momentum, but if that momentum isn’t grounded in trust, values, and careful development, it burns out just as quickly.

So, how do we embrace the slow climb?

• Cast a long-term vision. Know where you’re going and communicate it often. Clarity gives the climb purpose.

• Celebrate small steps. Every step forward is progress. Don’t wait for the summit to acknowledge growth.

• Build with people, not just plans. Change that sticks is always relational. Invest deeply in those you’re leading.

• Stay faithful in obscurity. Much of the climb happens when no one is watching. Keep showing up anyway.

You don’t need to impress anyone with a leap. You’re called to lead a journey.

The jump might get applause, but the climb changes lives.

And when you reach the top—when the culture shifts, the fruit comes, and the impact multiplies—you’ll know: it was worth every step.

OTHER HINTS AND HELPS IF YOU ARE NEW:
– New Church Archeologist and Architect 
– Ministry Sociologist and  Historian