As a minister, I'll echo that sentiment. The before (GTD) and after (GTD) of committee meetings alone is something worth marvelling at. :)

There are a lot of us trying to implement GTD, as busy pastors/ministers. Thanks for your insights.

David Allen,
Would you mind telling us about what you believe?

I think many are curious.

As an often overwhelmed pastor I've stumbled across GTD several times and decided it's time to take the time to learn to use my time better.
From Psalm 90:12 "So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You [God] a heart of wisdom." (NASB)

David, I pastor a congregation in Central London and have been using GTD for the past 4 years. I have found the whole approach and ethos so liberating and my mind has been freed for creativity and prayer. I have passed GTD onto many of my clergy friends who are crippled by an overwhelming amount of stuff coming their way and to the students and young professionals in our congregation, who are drowning in an information age and trying to make the space to actually 'have a life'.

I stumbled across GTD by accident about 3 weeks ago. As a pastor, I've seen such a positive change in work and home it's hard to constrain my enthusiasm. Every pastor should read this book to get many things done and yet be able to focus on relationships with people and God like they should. Thanks David!

Add me to GTD bandwagon. I a in the middle of the book and the middle of the transformation. It has been immensley helpful. I also added the GTD to outlook and I can't live without it now.

David, I am a young high school pastor in Illinois. I just started working full time as a youth pastor, and soon found myself in over my head with students, parents, appointments, ideas, and church events to remember. I'm so thankful I stumbled on GTD when I did, because it has a huge impact on how much time I can spend with students that I work with, rather than in the office on paperwork. Not only that, but it frees up my heart and mind from a lot of worry that weakens my spiritual life. If I want to minister to high school students, I need to be spiritually healthy. GTD has helped me focus on the important things, not just the stuff that gets me to the important things.

I found GTD during my time as a minister to college students. What a great help it was to me in all of the tasks & people that clamored for my attention! I'm now in the business of starting new businesses and continue to find your insights immensely helpful. Thanks!

I'm a prison chaplain, as well as a blogger, a Christian businessman (thus my blog's title), a columnist in my local paper, father, husband, etc. and I'm amazed at how well GTD has helped me. My office used to be a disaster and I could never keep track of all of my obligations.

Today I just got back after being out of town for a day. It took me five minutes to get everything back in order. Before GTD it was a full day of playing catch-up. Everything's where it's supposed to be and I can continue on. I can see why GTD would be so helpful to a military chaplain with their constant travel (often on a moment's notice). The ability to setup shop in just a few minutes is a huge asset.

My lead minister put GTD in the hands of our ministry staff a few weeks ago. I'm an associate minister. In discussion of chapter two this week, I pointed out that the most incredible outcome of GTD for me is that it frees us to be present when we're present--we can once again live in the moments of life, with family, church members, and neighbors. Christ brings freedom but the cares of the world tangle us up again. GTD is a beautiful tool for disentangling ourselves once again, doing the important tasks, and being the presence of Christ where we are.

Thank you, David Allen.

As a minister currently working on a PhD I have found GTD a wonderful way to manage my research, freelance writing and other obligations. I discovered GTD it as I was trying to adjust from the ministry to my new academic setting. What I especially think is helpful is the idea of different contexts, ministry shifts contexts so frequently: office, social functions, judicatories, visits, administration, study, etc...
I also find the bottom up approach more conducive to my understanding of the Christian Faith.

David,

As a church planter/pastor I personally want to thank you for the impact this little book has had on my ministry. I found out about GTD through the web and purchased both audio and print versions of GTD and RFA. Since I've implemented the GTD principles into my daily planner, my workload has seemingly dropped while many more "INBOX" items get DONE! I've purchased extra copies of your book to give to pastor friends here in Denver and am going to recommend having our National Denomination book you for our annual convention so you could give a GTD seminar for our pastors.

Church planters have many tasks and no time clock to punch. GTD keeps me focused, improves my clarity of thinking through certain ideas, and in general has given me time for my family.

Thanks!
Scott Cheatham
Denver, Colorado

I too am a minister and the GTD has helped me beyond words. One of my goals is to save up for a coaching session. I have some holes in my process that I am not sure how to make happen, but have loved improvement it has made in my life.
I have had three weeks of 80 plus hours and major events that happened back to back. Without God and GTD process I would have never made it.

I too am a pastor that has been moving toward implementing GTD not only into my personal life but the fabric of "running" the ministry. Is there any way that we could start a discussion group to share our GTD insights and experiences with each other?
David

For the posters interested in discussion on GTD and it's use for the Clergy, I'd be interested in such a discussion too. Stop by my blog (Link here) and email me. I'll get back with you!

I fall into the geek camp that has taken up GTD big time but I also lead a church and have found it wonderful way to organise myself better..

Thanks for a great tool. I've been using GTD for over a year now and I can't imagine trying to navigate my stuff without it. I've shared it with my staff and I want to share it with the folks in my congregation. It's been a huge blessing.

I totally agree with what you're saying. I wish more people felt this way and took the time to express themselves.
Keep up the great work.
Tom Goodman
http://www.whotelscheap.com

Count me for about 10 GTD-ers at Mars Hill Church in Seattle. I stumbled onto the book in the Microsoft library when I worked there about 3 years ago. Changed my life. As a pastor in a large and rapidly growing church, I recommend GTD strongly and coach anyone on staff who'll let me :-) Several of us use the GTD Outlook add-in. I just switched to ResultsManager from gyronix.com over the past month.

Count me for about 10 GTD-ers at Mars Hill Church in Seattle. I stumbled onto the book in the Microsoft library when I worked there about 3 years ago. Changed my life. As a pastor in a large and rapidly growing church, I recommend GTD strongly and coach anyone on staff who'll let me :-) Several of us use the GTD Outlook add-in. I just switched to ResultsManager from gyronix.com over the past month.

One thing I really like about the Outlook add in is that it stores action items by context - categories like @computer, @work, etc. Since prayer is an action item, I've added a category @prayer. Like Mr. Allen says, you can't keep two things in your head at the same time without creating stress, and it's probably not a good idea to be stressed out when it comes to prayer!