The next fundamental failure of people who find themselves without a pastor is that they begin to make their search for their next pastor the greatest focus of their church. It is easy to see how this can happen, but you must understand that focusing on the search for a pastor will inevitably result in the reduction of work being done by the programs and people of the church. As a church focuses, it will also function. When a church’s focus is ministry, their programs and people will minister. When a church’s focus is their next pastor, their programs and people will be put on hold until that pastor is found.
As a staff member or lay leader, it is our responsibility to maintain and preserve the focus and passion of ministry for the church. From every angle and from every program, the church needs to hear that ministry will continue to be the focus. The most difficult aspect of such a statement is that we as leaders must be the first to minister in order that our message will be heard.
Ministry is about people. Make sure your focus is about people.
Good word Jeremy although initially this is a rallying cry, the longer the search goes the more this topic gets focus. I've found that churches can go at max about a year before the pressure builds to get someone. Have you found that to be true.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting these.
I would agree in theory. I'm sure you would agree that the specific time that is allowed to pass will fluctuate from one place to another, but when the church begins to cycle back through another summer or Christmas or Easter, they begin to notice the absence of the pastor to a greater degree.
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