WHAT CAN WE DO?
I vividly remember one of my first Consistory meetings. I was about 26 years old and a newly installed Deacon. I didn’t have a clue what was expected of me, but I did know how to ask questions. So, I asked this one of the Pastor, “What can we do to support you in your ministry?”
The Pastor looked at me with a quizzical stare and then said, “Nobody’s ever asked me that question before.”
That answer was heartbreaking to me – and I never forgot that question . . . or the conversation that followed. It has become a favorite question of mine, behind the scenes, as I talk to pastors, church leaders and church members about becoming a church in the Alliance of Reformed Churches . . . “What can we do to support your church in its ministry in your community?”
So, with that in mind, here are some ways I’ve learned to support churches, pastors, church staff and volunteer church leaders:
Trust. I’m not a fan of micromanaging. Sure, there may be times to question decisions or direction, but micromanaging can be a sign of distrust, which often leads to leader burnout.
Encourage. Be a Barnabas! There’s an entire lesson on encouragement that can be found in Acts 11:22-24 “News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.”
Pray for Them. What better way to encourage them than to pray for them faithfully and diligently?
Serve within the Church. Those who serve the church, out front, need faithful people serving behind the scenes, to help fulfill God’s ministry. Are you serving and supporting the ministry?
Respect their Time. They are busy. You are busy. Your time together should be uplifting and encouraging of each other. So set aside the time but stick to limits to be respectful of everyone’s ministry opportunities and the ability to connect with others.
Care for their Family. Be supportive of their family and respectful of their family time. Remember that families of those who serve out front often sacrifice a lot.
Be Kind. Let’s face it . . . those who serve out front often hear and see some of the worst things imaginable. A kind word, a smile, a kind gesture is all appreciated. Kindness is encouraging. Lack of kindness is memorable, for all the wrong reasons.
Solve Problems. Is your pastor struggling to figure out how to “fix” something? Help them out – they will remember that you helped in a meaningful way.
Ask Questions. This helps leaders discern direction . . . so ask questions that may help him or her discern a path forward.
Filter. Be a filter of praise and criticism directed towards those who serve out front. You don’t need to share everything, but you do need to be able to filter appropriately. This gift helps you separate what’s important versus what may be an emotional reaction.
Deflect Credit / Direct Praise. Deflect credit where needed and direct praise when earned to those who’ve earned it (giving ultimate glory to God).
Overlook Minor Offenses. We all make mistakes. Address it and move forward together in ministry. Trust me, they won’t forget when you held them accountable but still stood by their side.
Lighten their Load. It’s easy to add to the plate. Are you helping to create more bandwidth or more work? Are you taking off the table or bringing to the table?
Share Good News. Share joys together – it’s contagious!
Be there when needed. Pastors deal with family crises as well. Be there for them. Do what they would do for you.
Learn and Keep Learning. Don’t just wait to be fed on a Sunday morning by the Pastor. Keep growing day by day; feast regularly on God’s Word at home.
Be Teachable. Are you willing to learn yourself?
Teach. Help teach the congregation. I love teaching . . . I often learn more when I’m teaching a class, but teaching is a great way to support the pastors and staff.
Be Faithful. Faithfully attend church, faithfully be involved, faithfully use your spiritual gifts.
Make Introductions. When presented the opportunity, introduce your pastor to people outside of the church.
Throw away the measuring stick. I’m sure we could tell countless stories about a church that struggled with a transition to a new pastor, with scuttlebutt along the lines of “Well, that’s not how Pastor _______ did it!” Instead, come alongside and support the new pastor in their ministry calling. It may be a new direction, so enjoy the ride.
Ask the Question again: “What can we do to support you in your ministry?”
I’m sure we could add many other items. These are just the ones that jumped out at me . . . what would you add? More importantly, which will you do this week?