Your church strives to demonstrate God’s love. You have willing volunteers, your influence is positive, you provide encouragement, community service and you may sit on property with significant value. History is on your side, experience is positive and your growth potential is awesome. Your church is also highly complex and diverse. When your systems are focused and finely tuned to God’s vision, you can grow for a lifetime.
However, there is a qualifier: the health of your church is dependent on the health of your Pastor and Ministry team. We need to do everything possible to ensure their peek effectiveness. Paul encourages us to “to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake” (1 Thessalonians 5:13).
How can you ensure your Ministry Staff enjoy a healthy long term relationship with your church?
- Don’t ask around and hire based on the lowest bid.
- Don’t hire somebody’s unemployed relative.
- Put your best work and energy towards hiring.
- Provide the best support and encouragement to your current staff.
- Recognize and celebrate October as Pastor Appreciation month
- Give a gift certificate from each church family.
- Give Sports tickets, car wash coupons, meals out without the kids.
- Start a thank you card writing campaign from members of the congregation.
- Support a weekend retreat gift.
As a Leadership Coach, one of my most important roles is to provide support and encouragement to the individuals who minister in our churches. It is just our way to remind each one that we love and care for each of them. However, the recruiting, organizational development, preaching, mentoring, writing, email and administrative work that I do, pale in comparison to our role to pray for each of our ministry staff and their families daily.
So, what can your church do to improve the long term health of your Pastoral staff? The ideas are limitless.
Leadership is challenging every church to recognize the value of Pastor Appreciation and to find a unique way to recognize and encourage their Ministry staff.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
Jethro Group