--- title: Remembering the Good Old Days (in Ministry) description: One thing that kills a church's vision more than anything else is pining for days gone by. When we spend more time looking back at where we have been, as opposed to where God is calling us to next, we miss incredible opportunities to reach the world around us in ways we never imagined... image: https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/good-old-days.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/remembering-the-good-old-days-in-ministry#main-content) [![cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95.webp?width=342&height=95&name=cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95.webp "cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95")](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/) - [How We Help](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/what-we-do/) - [How We Help Candidates](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate/) - [How We Help Churches](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/church/) - [Our Team](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/team/) - [Our Mission & Strategy](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/what-we-do/) - [Churches](https://chemistrystaffing.com/church) - [Hire New Staff](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/2021-churches-new-staff-hiring/) - [Free 30-Minute Church Consult](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) - [Chemistry Solutions – You Don’t Have to Do Ministry Alone](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/solutions/) - [Final Fit Assessment](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/final-fit-assessment/) - [Senior Pastor Succession](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/succession/) - [Job Seekers](https://chemistrystaffing.com/candidate) - [Add My Resume / Profile](https://chemistry.fyi/kwq) - [Current Openings](https://chemistrystaffing.com/jobs) - [Free Resume Assessment](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/free-resume-self-assessment/) - [Step-by-Step Job Search](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/cjb) - [How Chemistry Can Help](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate/) - [Resources](http://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate/) - [Free Playbooks & Downloads](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/resources/) - [Chemistry Blog](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/) - [2024 Youth Pastor Compensation Survey](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/resources/2024-yp-compensation-survey/) - [Contact Us](http://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) - [Candidates](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate-contact-page/) - [Churches](http://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) - [Find a Job](https://chemistrystaffing.com/jobs) - [My Church is Hiring](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) [Leadership](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/tag/leadership) # Remembering the Good Old Days (in Ministry) One thing that kills a church's vision more than anything else is pining for days gone by. When we spend more time looking back at where we have been, as opposed to where God is calling us to next, we miss incredible opportunities to reach the world around us in ways we never imagined... ![good-old-days](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/good-old-days.jpg) # Remembering the Good Old Days (in Ministry) Earlier this week I found myself in a conversation with a ministry leader who was tasked with rethinking the ministry that they led. Coming into the position, they were asked to restore the ministry to its past glory and help it thrive... *like it used to.* Five years ago I sat in a lecture by Walter Brueggemann where he spoke of the danger that nostalgia has on the church and on our culture as a whole. He suggested that the "good ole days" were never as good as we remember them to be... and that perhaps our goal shouldn't be making things *just like they used to be.* More than a decade ago I sat in a meeting at a church I was involved in that was discussing their missions strategy. There had been a decline over the last several years that the church was having difficulty explaining. Missions giving and participation were both down, with no indication of a turn around in sight. The leadership suggested that we just needed to do more of what we had been doing, in order to reverse the trend. After all, "they wrote books about us, twenty years ago..." All we needed to do was more of the same, a little bit better, and things would be *just like they used to be.* **I am convinced that the one thing that kills a church's vision more than anything else is pining for days gone by.** When we spend more time looking back at where we have been, as opposed to where God is calling us to next, we miss incredible opportunities to reach the world around us in ways we never imagined. The truth is, **things are not going to be the way they used to be** (and honestly, we probably remember them differently than they really happened). The choice **we are faced with is to embrace the future that God is calling us to**... *or lament the fact that the past has passed.* One of my favorite parts of serving churches through Chemistry is helping them lean into the opportunities that God has for them in the days to come. Whether it is through finding their next staff member or helping them develop a strategic plan, it is exciting to me to see the church embrace who God is calling them to be now and five years from now... and then see the fruit that God produces through them.  I'd love to help your church think through where God is calling it to. Interested?  [![Searching for a new staff member?  We may be able to help!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5045578/32b19c35-60a2-4a06-8b0e-581a903003fd.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5045578/32b19c35-60a2-4a06-8b0e-581a903003fd)   ![matt](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/matt.png?width=124&name=matt.png)   [![Searching for a new staff member? We can help...](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5045578/763be5be-c079-486e-aab5-462a55c7b00e.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5045578/763be5be-c079-486e-aab5-462a55c7b00e) ### [![Matt Steen](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/IMG_4588.jpg) Matt Steen](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/author/matt-steen) Matt has served the local church for over two decades as a youth pastor, church planter, and executive pastor. Originally from Baltimore, Matt currently lives in Orlando, with his wife Theresa, and has a B.S. in Youth Ministry from Nyack College and an M.Div. and MBA from Baylor University. Certified as an Urban Church Planter Coach by Redeemer City to City and as a StratOp facilitator by the Paterson Center, Matt has made a career of helping churches thrive through intentionality, clarity, and creating healthy cultures. He is convinced that a healthy church is led by a healthy team with great chemistry, and loves partnering with Chemistry’s churches to do great things for the Kingdom. [![Facebook Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/facebook.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/snoop4jc) [![Twitter Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/twitter.svg)](https://twitter.com/matt_steen) [![Linkedin Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/linkedin.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewsteen/) ## Latest Resources Browse Articles ![What's Actually Killing Your Church? The Surprising 250-Year Diagnosis](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/blog-images/featured/featured_158.png) #### What's Actually Killing Your Church? The Surprising 250-Year Diagnosis Church decline isn't what you think. Discover what's really threatening the church today vs. 1776 and the 1900s—and why low numbers aren't ... ![What's Actually Killing Your Church? The Surprising 250-Year Diagnosis](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/883a0d42581424e9bbe7c77dccfeed6b) ###### Todd Rhoades July 07, 2026 ![Stop Apologizing for Small Groups: Why Your ](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/blog-images/featured/featured_126.png) #### Stop Apologizing for Small Groups: Why Your "Failed" Bible Study is Actually a Discipleship Goldmine When attendance drops in your small group discipleship ministry, don't panic. Discover why smaller groups create deeper disciples and stron... ![Stop Apologizing for Small Groups: Why Your ](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/883a0d42581424e9bbe7c77dccfeed6b) ###### Todd Rhoades July 06, 2026 ![Stop Screening Out Your Best Candidates: Why Competency Matters More Than Seminary Degrees](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/blog-images/featured/featured_142.png) #### Stop Screening Out Your Best Candidates: Why Competency Matters More Than Seminary Degrees Church hiring practices may be filtering out incredible candidates. Learn why competency should trump credentials in your ministry staff se... ![Stop Screening Out Your Best Candidates: Why Competency Matters More Than Seminary Degrees](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/883a0d42581424e9bbe7c77dccfeed6b) ###### Todd Rhoades July 06, 2026 [![Elements Logo](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/logos/logo.svg "Elements Logo")](http://chemistrystaffing.com) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consecteturor adipiscing elit. Tincidunt donec vulputate ipsum erat urna auctor. Eget phasellus ideirs. ###### Menu [Home 1](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/home/1) [Home 2](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/home/2) [Home 3](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/home/3) [About 1](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/about/1) [About 2](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/about/2) [Contact 1](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/contact/1) [Contact 2](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/contact/2) [View More](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/) ###### Company [Team v1](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/team/1) [Team v2](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/team/2) [Team Member](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/team-member) [Pricing 1](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/pricing/1) [Pricing 2](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/pricing/2) [View More](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/) ###### Resources [Blog v1 cms](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/blog) [Blog v2 cms](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/blog) [Blog Post 1 cms](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/blog/elements-blog-2-0-0-1-1) [Blog Post 2 cms](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/blog/elements-blog-2-0-0-1-1) [Case Studies](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/case-studies) [Case Study](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/case-study) [View More](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/) ###### Landing Pages [Form v1](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/form-landing-page/1) [Form v2](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/form-landing-page/2) [Simple Form](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/simple-form-landing-page) [Full Screen Video](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/full-screen-video-landing-page) [eBook v1](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/ebook-landing-page/1) [eBook v2](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/ebook-landing-page/2) [Webinar](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/webinar-landing-page) [Conference](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/conference-landing-page) [Schedule a Demo](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/schedule-a-demo-landing-page) [View More](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/) [![Visit facebook](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/facebook.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/) [![Visit twitter](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/twitter.svg)](https://twitter.com) [![Visit instagram](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/instagram.svg)](https://www.instagram.com/) [![Visit linkedin](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/linkedin.svg)](http://www.linkedin.com/) [![Visit youtube](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/youtube.svg)](https://youtube.com) [![Visit telegram](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/telegram.svg)](https://telegram.org) [![Visit whatsapp](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/whatsapp.svg)](https://whatsapp.com) Copyright 2026 | Chemistry Staffing