This is the second post in a three-part series. Click here for the first post, Great Small Church Leadership Teams Aren’t Hired, They’re Built. The third and final post, outlining some of the advantages and challenges of training and hiring from inside the church, will come on Monday, August 25.
The #1 calling of a pastor is not to do the work of the ministry. And it’s not to fill people’s heads with bible information.
According to no less an authority than the Apostle Paul, it is “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” (Ephesians 4:12).
Believers want to be discipled – despite what it may look like at times. They always have, they always will. This generation is no exception.
When we put those truths together, it adds up to good news for Small Churches. Let’s find willing hearts. Train disciples. And build teams.
No, not every person we disciple will develop into a church leader. Not all of them are supposed to. Many of them won’t even stay in our church, but will be called to minister at other churches or (even better) in their neighborhoods. But some will be called to lead in their local church. And they can make great church leadership teams.
That’s what we’ve done in our Small Church. We don’t hire from the outside. We train from the inside. We fell into it because we couldn’t afford to pay “professionals”, but now we’d do it even if we could afford it.
No, it isn’t easy. I’ve been pastoring my current church for almost 22 years and it’s only been in the last 10 years or so that we feel like we’re doing it well. My hope is that you can learn from our mistakes, so it won’t take you nearly as long to do this well. Read more
See also
What’s the Solution to Your Leadership Problem? [Video]
Photo: Trinity Episcopal Church, Fulton, Kentucky
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