Here are 5 things that your pastor needs from YOU!
PRAYER
If you aren’t already, please make sure you are praying for your pastor regularly.
The work of the Lord can never be done on man’s strength and ability alone. We must be seeking heaven (Matthew 6:33) and asking God to work in our churches and in the lives of our pastors.
Billy Sunday, an influential American evangelist of the early 20th century, once said, “If you are strangers to prayer, you are strangers to power.”
Therefore, if you want to see God’s power at work in your church, pray for your pastor as he leads you.
I believe this statement with all my heart, “When we pray specifically, God answers specifically.”
Pray specifically. Pray often. Include your pastor and his family in your prayers.
PATIENCE
Not sure that your pastor has truly gotten direction from the Lord?
Repeat step one: pray.
As you continue to pray, have patience. God answers prayer in His timing, not ours.
Plus, what do you have to lose by asking God to show you if your pastor is heading in the right direction? Or to show you where you might be wrong?
When in doubt, pray.
When unsure, have patience.
God can work in your waiting.
PARTICIPATION
Your pastor regularly prays, studies and seeks God’s wisdom and clarity regarding the direction He would have for your church. There is nothing like your pastor leading in the direction God has given him, only to turn around and see few, if any, people following.
Also, you do realize that each of us is called to some form of ministry? (2 Corinthians 5:20). One of your pastor’s jobs is to “equip you for the work of ministry.” (Ephesians 4:12).
God’s work is not just to be done by paid staff, but by each and every believer.
Robby Gallaty, in his book Growing Up: Making Disciples Who Make Disciples, said, “The gospel came to you because it was heading to someone else. God never intended for your salvation to be an end, but a beginning. God saved you to be a conduit through whom His glorious, life-changing gospel would flow to others.”
You, my friend, are a conduit. It doesn’t say your pastor, but you. Don’t know what to share? Share your story.
Are you allowing the Lord to use you for His glory? Are you an open and willing vessel?
God desires for you to be His hands and feet. That requires your participation.
PRAISE
I was hesitant to use this particular word, but I think it fits. When I was working on this article, my wife suggested the word “positivity”.
While we usually think of praise in a church setting as something strictly reserved for God, praise simply means “the expression of approval or admiration.” Praising your pastor’s hard work is just good leadership care!
Plus, pastors need encouragement, too.
The main idea is this: When was the last time that you encouraged your pastor? You could share how his sermon helped you take a next step. That you are appreciative of his guidance for you and your family. That you’re thankful the Lord sent him to minister at your church, etc.
Most pastors only hear complaints from their people, and sometimes it is over the silliest of things. Don’t be one of “those” people. Be an encourager.
I encourage you to find a way, from time to time, to genuinely thank your pastor for all he does.
PERSISTENCE
This is sorely lacking in the world today, not just in the church. We live in a drive-thru, instant-have-it-your-way society.
If the preacher doesn’t say or do what we want him to, we will just get a new one. Wrong.
If he is preaching and teaching false doctrine, well then, of course, he should be removed as the pastor, but most of the time that is not the case.
As a representative from our state convention recently shared, “There are over 150 churches in our state looking for pastors; there is a pastoral shortage. … If you don’t love and encourage your pastor, there’s another church down the road that will.” Amen.
Did you know that it generally takes a pastor 5-7 years to build the relationships and respect needed to truly make changes in a church?
Also, the average tenure of a pastor is between 3-4 years in most cases, with some being less than 3. That’s sad.
The issue? Lack of persistence.
There are exceptions in each city; some pastors stay in one place for 20-plus years.
If they do, why? It was because they were persistent, but also because their congregation was patient; they participated and offered praise for their pastor and those leading them, and they were persistent in their giving, attendance and service to God’s church.
Be persistent.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
In closing, ask yourself this:
- Have I been praying for my pastor enough?
- Have I been patient with him? Have I participated alongside him in the work of the Lord?
- Have I shared praises and thanked him for the sacrifices that he and his family make?
- Have I been persistent in my attendance, giving and support of the man God has called to lead our church?
What else can you offer your pastor?
What are other things your pastor needs from you? What have you given your pastor that is not listed above?
A man for whom Christ died …
… who seeks to be a Barnabas (encourager) to those God places in his path.
-Pastor Chris