Tag: ministry

How You Should Craft A Children’s Ministry Director Job Description

How You Should Craft A Children’s Ministry Director Job Description

How You Should Craft A Children’s Ministry Director Job Description!

Crafting a compelling Children’s Pastor job description requires careful consideration and a clear understanding of the specific needs and goals of your church. Therefore, here are the essential steps to create an effective job description:

Job Title and Overview

Begin with a clear and concise job title that reflects the role’s responsibilities. Provide a brief overview of the position in church ministry. You’ll want to highlight the importance of nurturing children’s spiritual growth, fostering a safe environment, and managing volunteer teams’ responsibilities. A Children’s Pastor in a church ministry typically works with children from infancy through fifth or sixth grade.

Responsibilities

Outline the primary responsibilities of the Children’s Minister. This may include working to prepare curriculum and age-appropriate bible learning activities, overseeing Sunday school programs, organizing special events, coordinating to recruit volunteers, and communicating with parents or guardians.

Qualifications and Experience

Specify the qualifications and experience required for the role. This might include a degree in divinity, theology, or child development. It may also include prior experience in children’s ministry or working with that age group. Also, mention any specific certifications or training desired.

Leadership and Teamwork

Emphasize the importance of leadership and teamwork skills. The ideal candidate should be able to inspire and motivate volunteers, work collaboratively with other church leaders and children’s pastors, and demonstrate strong organizational abilities.

Passion for Ministry and Children

Highlight the need for a deep passion for ministry and a genuine love for working with children in the fifth grade and under age group. The Children’s Pastor should be committed to nurturing the spiritual growth of young individuals and creating a positive and engaging atmosphere for them.

Communication Skills

Mention the significance of effective communication skills, both with children and their parents or guardians. The Children’s Ministry Director should be able to convey information, share the gospel, and address any concerns with clarity and sensitivity.

Creativity and Innovation

Encourage candidates to bring creativity and innovation to their ministry approach. The ability to incorporate fresh ideas and adapt to evolving needs will help the children’s ministry thrive.

Spiritual Life and Values

Express the desire for the Children’s Ministry Director to be a strong spiritual role model for the children. A commitment to living out Christian values and faith is crucial to effectively lead and guide the young members of the church.

Benefits and Compensation

Provide information about the compensation package, benefits, and any other relevant details regarding working hours, vacation time, and potential growth opportunities within the role.

Application Process

Clearly outline the application process, including where and how to apply, the deadline for submissions, and any additional documents required (e.g., resume, cover letter, references). More info on the application process can be found in a later section.

Contact Information

Offer a point of contact for inquiries or further information, such as the church office or an email address designated for job-related communication.

By following these steps and tailoring the job description to your church’s specific needs and values, you will be well on your way to finding a passionate and capable individual to serve as your Children’s Pastor.

Sample Job Description

[Church Name] is a growing faith-based community dedicated to serving God and His people. We are looking for a passionate and dedicated Children’s Ministry Director to join our church community. Responsibilities may include overseeing children’s ministry, managing volunteers, organizing special events, and more. Candidates should have a background in ministry or child development, be able to lead and communicate effectively, and have a deep personal faith.

Key Reponsibilities

Children’s Ministry Director Key Responsibilities

The Children’s Pastor plays a vital role in shaping the spiritual development of children within the church community. Their responsibilities encompass a wide range of tasks aimed at providing a nurturing, safe, and engaging environment for young individuals to grow in their faith.

Curriculum Development

Designing and implementing biblically sound curricula for the appropriate age level. Ensuring that bible lessons and activities are relevant, engaging, and aligned with the church’s values and teachings.

Leadership and Team Management

In the leadership role, they are responsible for recruiting, training, and equipping volunteer teams to assist in various aspects of the children’s ministry. Providing leadership, guidance, and support to volunteers to ensure effective teamwork.

Sunday School and Programs Coordination

Overseeing the Sunday school program on Sunday mornings and other children’s programs within the church. Working to plan and oversee special events, outreach events, and outings that foster spiritual growth and build a sense of community.

Pastoral Care for Children

Offering pastoral care and support to children and their families. Being available to listen to children’s concerns, praying with them, and providing guidance in their spiritual journey.

Child Safety and Protection

Implementing and enforcing child safety and protection policies to ensure a secure environment for all children participating in ministry activities.

Communication with Parents/Guardians

Regularly communicating with parents or guardians to keep them informed about upcoming events, curriculum, and their child’s progress and involvement in the ministry.

Outreach and Evangelism

Engaging with the local community to reach out to children and families outside the church, inviting them to participate in ministry activities and events.

Resource Management

Managing the budget and resources allocated to the children’s ministry. Ensuring effective use of resources to achieve ministry objectives.

Spiritual Role Model

Being a positive and Christ-like role model for the children and the ministry team, exemplifying a strong and authentic faith.

These key responsibilities provide a comprehensive outline of the Children’s Ministry Director’s role in nurturing the spiritual growth of children, fostering a love for God and His Word, and cultivating a welcoming and supportive community within the church.

Children’s Pastor Qualifications

Sample Qualifications

The role of a Children’s Minister is significant and requires specific qualifications to effectively minister to the youngest members of the church community. While the exact qualifications may vary depending on the church’s specific needs and requirements, here are some common qualifications that are often sought for a Children’s Pastor position:

A bachelor’s or master’s degree in theology, divinity, Christian education, or a related field provides a solid foundation in biblical knowledge and ministry principles.

Experience in Children’s Ministry

Prior experience working in children’s ministry or working with the Elementary age group is highly valuable. This experience demonstrates an understanding of the unique challenges and dynamics of ministering to children and their families.

Leadership Skills

Strong leadership abilities are essential for overseeing and managing a team of volunteers and staff involved in the children’s ministry. The Children’s Minister should be able to inspire, motivate, and guide the team effectively.

Passion for Children and Ministry

A genuine love for children and a strong passion for ministry are crucial for a Children’s Pastor. This passion drives their dedication to nurturing the spiritual growth of young individuals.

Effective Communication

Excellent communication skills, both with children and adults, are vital for a Children’s Pastor. They must be able to convey biblical teachings in a way that is relatable and understandable to children while also engaging with parents and guardians.

Creativity and Innovation

The ability to bring creativity and innovation to children’s ministry programs and activities helps keep children engaged and interested in learning about their faith.

Child Safety and Protection Training

Knowledge and adherence to child safety and protection policies are critical to creating a safe and secure environment for all children involved in ministry activities.

Team Player

A Children’s Pastor should be able to work collaboratively with other church leaders, staff members, and volunteers to integrate the children’s ministry into the overall vision and mission of the church.

Spiritual Maturity

A deep and growing personal relationship with God, coupled with a commitment to living out Christian values and principles, serves as a strong foundation for effective ministry.

Continued Learning

A commitment to ongoing personal and professional development, attending relevant conferences, workshops, and training, helps a Children’s Pastor stay updated on best practices in children’s ministry.

It’s important to note that while these qualifications are valuable, a heart for serving God and His children is the most significant attribute of a Children’s Pastor. Their genuine love and dedication to nurturing the faith of the youngest members of the church community make a profound impact on their spiritual growth and development.

Application Process

The application process for a Children’s Pastor position should be well-structured and straightforward to attract qualified candidates while efficiently gathering the necessary information for evaluation. Here is a typical application process:

Job Posting and Advertisement

Create a detailed job posting that includes the key responsibilities, qualifications, and information about the church and its children’s ministry. Advertise the position through various channels, such as the church website, social media platforms, denominational networks, and Christian job boards.

Application Submission

Clearly specify how candidates should apply for the position. Provide instructions for submitting their applications, which may include an online application form, email submission, or mailing the required documents.

Required Documents

Outline the documents candidates need to submit, such as a resume, cover letter, references, and any other relevant materials requested by the church.

Initial Screening

Review the received applications to ensure they meet the minimum qualifications and requirements. Shortlist candidates who best align with the position’s criteria for further evaluation.

Interviews

Conduct initial interviews with the shortlisted candidates. These interviews may be done in person, over the phone, or through video conferencing. Prepare a set of relevant questions to assess the candidates’ qualifications, ministry philosophy, and fit for the church’s culture.

Reference Checks

Contact the references provided by the final candidates to gather insights into their character, work ethic, and ministry effectiveness.

Candidate Assessment

Assess each candidate based on their qualifications, experience, alignment with the church’s values and vision, and feedback from interviews and reference checks.

Offer and Onboarding

Finally, extend an offer to the selected candidate and negotiate the terms of employment, including compensation, benefits, and start date. Once accepted, provide a smooth onboarding process, including introductions to staff and key volunteers.

Especially remember to maintain open communication throughout the application process and show appreciation for the candidates’ interest in serving the children’s ministry. This is because a transparent and well-organized application process will reflect positively on the church and attract dedicated and qualified individuals to lead the children’s ministry with excellence.

Sample Application Process

To apply, please submit the following:

  1. Your resume and/or CV, which should include your education, experience, and ministry background.
  2. Three to five references from previous/current staff such as pastors, elders, etc.
  3. A statement on your personal faith journey and theological beliefs.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Tailoring the Children’s Ministry Director Job Description for Your Church

Tailoring the Children’s Ministry Director job description to suit the specific needs and values of your church is essential for finding the perfect candidate. Firstly, begin by aligning the responsibilities with your church’s vision for children’s spiritual growth. Then, emphasize any unique programs or approaches your church employs.

Seek qualifications that complement your congregation’s culture and emphasize the importance of collaboration and team building. Highlight the church’s child safety and protection policies. Customize the job description, because you can then ensure that the Children’s Ministry Director embodies the heart and soul of your church, fostering a thriving and impactful ministry for the youngest members of your community.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hiring a Children’s Pastor

1. How can we ensure the Children’s Pastor is a good fit for our church culture?

During the interview process, assess the candidate’s compatibility with your church’s values, vision, and ministry approach. Make sure to also involve key stakeholders in the evaluation and seek candidates who share your church’s mission.

2. What role does the Children’s Pastor play in the larger church leadership team?

The Children’s Pastor should collaborate with other church leaders to integrate children’s ministry into the overall vision and activities of the church. Additionally, they may participate in planning meetings and contribute to the church’s growth.

3. How will the Children’s Pastor involve parents and guardians in the ministry?

The Children’s Pastor should have a plan to communicate regularly with parents, keep them informed about ministry activities, and involve them in their child’s spiritual journey.

Article written by: Shiloh Kaneshiro

Article taken from here.

MinistryJobs.com

Encouraging Church Leaders This Pastor Appreciation Month

How can you encourage your church leaders during this year’s Pastor Appreciation Month?

After all the changes and unpredictability brought about in 2020, churches were forced to pivot overnight and build completely new ministry strategies  to reach their communities. In the same way, church attendees were compelled to change the way they attend a worship service, engage with other members, and participate in Christian community. However, one thing that does not have to change is the way we show pastors our appreciation for all they do.

October is Pastor Appreciation Month

We are fast approaching October, which happens to be Pastor Appreciation Month. Similar to Clergy Appreciation Day, this celebration was established in 1992 with the mission of uplifting and encouraging pastors, missionaries, members of pastoral ministry, and religious workers. And, in 2020, they could probably use a little more encouragement than normal.

Why It’s Important to Encourage Pastors

At Summit Conference 2019 in Dallas, TX, Carey Nieuwhof polled a live audience of more than 1,300 church leaders. He asked, “Over the past year, how many times have you experienced burnout symptoms?”

A shocking 46% said they’ve experienced burnout once or twice in the past year. Another 38% said regularly (3-6 times) in the past year, and 9% said constantly. That’s 92% of church leaders who have experienced burnout in the past year. And this was last year, before any of us had heard of COVID-19. What would the survey results look like now, if we asked 1,300 church leaders the same question today? I can’t say for sure, but I’m guessing it would be closer to 100%.

Why? Pastors and church leaders went into ministry because of purpose and calling. They want to help people. They want to share the good news, make heaven more crowded, and make the world a better place. But today, the stresses and expectations of the role  mean pastors have far less time to pray and care for the spiritual needs of their congregation. Additionally, as a result of our politically charged and divided culture, pastors often feel pressured to speak about current events and issues dominating the news cycle.

A senior pastor recently said to me, “This is not the job I signed up for. I went into ministry because I wanted to share the same grace and forgiveness I found from God with others. But today, I am forced to talk on things I know very little about.. It’s challenging. For the first time in my 35 years of ministry, I have contemplated resigning more often than ever before.”

So, what can you do? Here are a few little suggestions that can make a big difference in the life of your lead pastor or church leader.

Non-Monetary Ways to Celebrate Pastor Appreciation Month

A handwritten thank you note

Though this may seem insignificant, oftentimes written words can be the most encouraging for a pastor to read. Pastors are continually fighting the mental battle that they are not doing a good job. A handwritten note is something they can continually go back to as a source of strength.

An encouraging text message or video from your smartphone

With the power of a smartphone, you can send encouragement through the click of a button. Craft a heartfelt message and send it via text to your lead pastor, expressing your appreciation for them. Make them laugh, or reflect on easier times, and they’ll remember why they do this for a living.

Or you can flip the video around to selfie mode and film yourself — and your family — saying nice things to your pastor. Because many churches are still not gathering in physical locations, they would love seeing your faces!

A social post

If you don’t have the ability to text them, post a message on social media using their handle. Maybe share your favorite bible verse, or tell them you’re thinking back to one of your favorite sermons. Oftentimes, this will go directly to their phone. And if it’s a public post, it may remind others who see it to do the same!

Monetary Forms of Encouragement

Generous Giving – Make an financial contribution to your church that’s a little more than usual

Churches sometimes offer a giving fund option in the month of October where people can express their generosity directly to that fund. This goes straight to your pastors and will be a great blessing to them heading into the holidays. If your church doesn’t have a Pastor Appreciation Month fund, maybe contact your church’s office and request the option to give directly to your pastor as a “special gift.”

Prepare a gift basket

If a financial contribution is not the route you want to go, preparing a gift basket with snacks and goodies is a great way to create something more personal without breaking the bank and still show your gratitude. You can even include a gift card to their favorite restaurant – a dinner date on you will always be greatly appreciated by your pastor.

Give a Book or Ebook

Along with a note of encouragement, your church leaders may also appreciate a new book or resource to help them plan for the upcoming year. Pushpay offers a ton of ebooks if you’re looking for a free option to send. As more and more people choose to watch a church online before they visit in-person, your church leaders may appreciate our free ebook, Don’t Lose Your Online Guests.

There are so many ways we can come alongside our church leaders to let them know we see them, we hear them, and we appreciate them. Remember, a simple word of encouragement goes a long way, especially during this unprecedented time.

The pastor or the church leader isn’t the only person maintaining the church. There are other members of church staff that need appreciation. The good thing is these suggestions will also help them feel more appreciated.

Tools to Help Pastors

Pastors often have a lot on their plate, especially in today’s world where more and more churches are trying to provide both an in-person and online experience for their people. How can your church engage with everyone and keep people from slipping through the cracks?

To help your church accomplish its mission, your pastors need robust but easy-to-use tools that will enable them to do their best work, whether in person or online. Here at Pushpay, we offer various tools that help churches encourage giving, nurture community, and share their message. 

Some of these tools include: 

  • Church Management Software to help church leaders know, grow, and keep their people.
  • Church Giving Tools that drive recurring giving and make administration simple. 
  • Donor Development tools that make it easy to connect with every member of the congregation
  • A Church App that allows church leaders to connect with their community any day of the week. 
  • We’d love to partner with your church family this Pastor Appreciation Month to help take a load off the shoulders of your church leaders. Schedule a demo to learn more about how our tools can help your church family.

Written by

Article taken from here.

How to Celebrate Pastor Appreciation Month: When, Why and How

This October, we’ll celebrate pastors and church leaders worldwide during Pastor Appreciation Month. This observance began as a way to show gratitude to those who have given their time and talents to selflessly serve in the ministry.

While there are many ways to show appreciation for your pastor, we’ve gathered some ideas to make this year’s celebration extra special. Whether you’re wondering about the history of pastor appreciation month, looking for Bible verses to share, or searching for creative gift ideas, read on for inspiration!

When is Pastor Appreciation Month and Day in 2022?

The entire month of October is designated as Pastor Appreciation Month. There’s also a day specially dedicated to honoring your pastors and clergy.

Pastor Appreciation Day falls on the second Sunday of October. In 2022, Pastor Appreciation Day day will be observed on October 9th.

Be sure to mark your calendar!

Our pastors are a source of strength, guidance, and support. They go above and beyond to care for our needs, both spiritual and emotional.

This month, and Pastor Appreciation Day in particular, provides an opportunity to let your pastor know how much you appreciate all they do for you and your community.

The History of Pastor or Clergy Appreciation Month

Pastor or Clergy Appreciation Month and Clergy Appreciation Day became an official observance in 1992. The organization Focus on the Family first initiated the drive to promote October as National Clergy Appreciation Month.

H.B. London was particularly instrumental in championing this initiative. He worked with Focus on the Family for about two decades and was passionate about building ministries and resources to serve pastors.

Hallmark started offering Clergy Appreciation cards in 2002. Along with other retailers, they continue to offer a variety of cards and gifts to help people express their gratitude during this month.

This month is an opportunity to honor all pastors, priests, reverends, ministers, and other clergy members.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the estimated number of employed clergy in the U.S. is 50,790.

Brainstorm a list of people you know serving in ministry. Of course, there’s your local pastor. But maybe you also know a missionary or pastor sitting outside the spotlight. These individuals may not get a lot of attention, but deserve recognition. They are working hard and pouring out their lives for others.

5 Reasons You Should Celebrate Pastor Appreciation Month

In practice, we should always be showing love and expressing thanks for the important people in our life. But we all have busy lives, and it’s easy to forget.

Similar to Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day, the purpose of observances like Pastor Appreciation Day isn’t to honor special people in our lives ONLY at these specific times. Instead, it serves as a welcome reminder to take some extra steps and plan ahead to make it special.

Here are 5 reasons why you should celebrate Pastor Appreciation Month:

1. Your pastor works hard

Pastoring is not an easy job! Your pastor works long hours, often behind the scenes. Preparing a sermon requires lots of work, and that’s not all they do. They’re also responsible for leading, administration, and pastoral care responsibilities.

In addition, the schedule is relentless. Your pastor is responsible for services 52 weekends a year. And that’s not counting mid-week services, holidays, and other special events.

Also, a pastor is one of the first people called in times of emergency. And you can never predict when accidents, hospitalizations, or tragic events will occur, whether it’s the middle of the night or while your pastor is on vacation.

Although people like to joke that preachers only work one day a week, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

2. Your pastor deals with tough stuff

Pastors have to deal with difficult and often tragic situations. In any given week, they might hear about someone getting a terminal cancer diagnosis, a marriage on the brink of divorce because of adultery, or an untimely death.

Although pastors know that dealing with these issues is part of their job, it doesn’t make it easy. It’s not uncommon for this to become a challenge for their mental and emotional health over time.

And there are other issues that can cause stress. When you work with people, things inevitably get messy! Pastors must regularly deal with gossip, conflict, and difficult relational dynamics within the church.

It’s not always easy being the person everyone comes to with their problems and complaints. That’s what makes Pastor Appreciation Day so important.

And yet, they continue to show up week after week because they know that God has called them to ministry.

3. Your pastor needs encouragement

Pastors are often seen as being strong and capable of handling any situation that comes their way. But they’re only human.

They need support, words of affirmation, and encouragement just like everyone else. In fact, because of the unique challenges they face, pastors often need it more than most.

You can’t please everyone all the time. However, pastors are faced with serving a wide variety of personalities. All these people have different standards and opinions regarding preaching, leadership, and ministry care.

Faith leaders must also address complicated social, political, and cultural issues. And with today’s technology and social media, they are under the spotlight and scrutinized for everything they say and do.

It’s a ton of pressure.

Suffice it to say that your pastor desperately needs to hear “well done” and other words of encouragement. You can support them with prayers, notes, and more – especially during Pastor Appreciation Month.

4. Your pastor needs rest

Based on all we’ve mentioned above, your pastor needs regular time off to rest and recharge. Unfortunately, most pastors don’t get enough vacation time, and Sunday is always coming!

Most pastors feel like they’re always on call. They might feel guilty taking a day off, even when desperately needing it.

But the truth is, your pastor needs regular time away from work to prevent burnout. They need time to relax, enjoy hobbies and interests outside of the church, and connect with family and friends.

Pastor Appreciation Month is the perfect time to rally around your pastor and their family to give them a much-needed break. You can provide meals, do chores or errands, or provide them with a vacation or getaway.

By helping your pastor rest, you’re also helping to prevent burnout. And that’s something we can all get behind.

5. Your pastor deserves honor

We’re not trying to guilt you into celebrating Pastor Appreciation Day…but the Bible is very clear about honoring our leaders.

And that includes our pastors!

When we take the time to celebrate Pastor Appreciation Month, we are acknowledging them for their service. We are saying “thank you” for all they do to shepherd us and lead us closer to Jesus.

It’s a way of showing our appreciation for their dedication, hard work, and sacrificial love.

To add to this point, here are some Bible verses that speak to both those who honor and what the Bible says to encourage.

Bible Verses for Pastor Appreciation Month

What does the Bible say about honoring our pastors and leaders? It’s clear that we’re meant to show them honor, respect, and love.

Now we’re not talking about putting up with abuse, corruption, or dictatorships. While no pastor is perfect, the vast majority have the best of intentions and love people. So, there are many verses that encourage us to respect, submit to, and follow our spiritual leaders.

Here are a few examples:

  • “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
  • “The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain, and the worker is worthy of his wage” – 1 Timothy 5:17-18
  • “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.” Hebrews 13:17

10 Verses to Encourage Your Pastor During Pastor Appreciation Month

As you pray for your pastor and write notes of encouragement, consider using these scriptures and others.

  1. “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” – Deuteronomy 31:8
  2. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9
  3. “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” – 1 Chronicles 16:11
  4. “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31
  5. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who brings good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’” – Isaiah 52:7
  6. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” -Proverbs 3:5-6
  7. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:29-30
  8. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13
  9. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10
  10. “We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers” – 1 Thessalonians 1:2

10 Ideas to Celebrate Your Pastor on Pastor Appreciation Day

Every pastor is different, so consider their particular likes, hobbies, and personality type when deciding what to do for them.

Here are a few ideas for Pastor Appreciation Month to help you start brainstorming how to show some love.

  1. Plan a special service or event in their honor
  2. Give them a gift card to their favorite restaurant or store
  3. Present them with a plaque, certificate, or another award
  4. Take them out for lunch or coffee
  5. Write a letter of appreciation and have others sign it
  6. Give them tickets to a play, concert, or another event
  7. Buy them a book or resource that they’ve been wanting
  8. Have the children in your church make cards or gifts for them
  9. Offer to provide housecleaning or yard service for their family
  10. Give them a certificate for a vacation or getaway

Conclusion

Pastor Appreciation Month is a great time to show your pastor how much you care. By expressing your gratitude and appreciation, you can let them know that their hard work and dedication do not go unnoticed.

This is also an opportunity to encourage them in their faith and let them know that they are making a difference in your life and the lives of others. Use this month as a way to build up your pastor and show them the impact that they have made in your life.

Written by THOMAS COSTELLO

Article taken from here.

How Do You Talk About Pastor Appreciation Month?

I’m uncomfortable, you’re uncomfortable, everyone’s uncomfortable.

October is almost here, and if you’re a pastor, you know what that means – it’s pastor appreciation month. Which, if we’re being honest, feels delicate.

When I served as a pastor, I was always the first to say that I didn’t need any special recognition. And while I didn’t NEED the extra recognition, I think it’s fair to say that I secretly hoped for a nice note or a gift card or some little extra bit of validation.

Can you relate to this? I bet you or someone on your pastoral team can.

In a lot of churches, the pastors and staff are the primary, if not only communicators, which makes the whole “let’s take a month to appreciate our pastors” language feel a bit self-serving.

I think one of the big reasons for the discomfort around this particular topic is that as pastors and staff, we’re typically used to championing and driving forward a lot of the communication and challenges for our congregations. Normally, when we’re asking for things from the congregation, we’re not really asking for things for ourselves. We’re asking for people to give or volunteer with the intent of impacting our communities for the kingdom of God.

While keeping pastors healthy and avoiding burnout is an incredibly important part of doing ministry together, we intuitively know that we can’t be the only ones who champion ourselves, we need to be championed by others. So how do we do this?

Let non-staff members take the stage

This is the low hanging fruit. You probably already do this do a degree. Whether its an elder, board member, or some other layperson in a leadership role, communication about showing extra love and appreciation to the pastors and staff is best when it comes from someone who isn’t going to directly benefit from it.

Realistically this is already happening in many, if not most churches, so I don’t need to spend a lot of time on this, but if you’re in a position where this isn’t on your leadership team’s radar, its completely reasonable – maybe even important – to raise the issue with them.

If you’re a church planter or the only pastor of a small church, don’t make the mistake that this is only about you. Regardless of how you feel personally about the extra recognition for a few weeks each year, you can begin to lay the groundwork of a culture of appreciation and care that will impact future pastors and staff, and the longevity and health of their ministries.

Create a culture, not an event.

Pastor appreciation month or week or day? Regardless of how your church approaches it, we can all pretty much point to a single timeframe each year in which we talk about it. I think this is great. So many groups of people are intentionally recognized throughout the year, and having a regular, predictable time to talk about it is good to help us remember. Notes, gift cards, and other physical blessings are amazing and often are just the thing someone needs, but more important is creating a culture of care for you and your team all year round.

If you work on a staff with multiple pastors, be sure to champion your co-workers with the volunteers in their department. If you know that one of your co-workers is feeling stretched thin or is going through a rough time, let the church members that work with them know that they need some extra care and love. (In all things, make sure anything you’re sharing is appropriate and safe to share). If you know a pastor has a birthday coming up, check in with some of the team members in their ministry to see if they plan to acknowledge them.

It’s far too easy for pastors to feel like commodities in their work. Sundays just keep coming every week, and between preparing for services and helping church members navigate a variety of heavy life circumstances as they grow deeper in their faith and discipleship. It’s easy for a pastor to feel like there’s no time to stop and care for themselves.

The church was never intended to be an organization run by a few individuals for the benefit of the masses. Regular and intentional care is important for all believers to give and receive, pastors included.

So yes, celebrate pastor appreciation month. If you’re a pastor and this doesn’t happen at your church, don’t be afraid to ask your elder board to help get the ball rolling. As you celebrate next month, use this as time to help lead your church deeper into authentic community, giving care to those around you, and asking for care when you need it.

Happy Pastor Appreciation Month!

Written by Josh Tarp

Article taken from here.

Josh Tarp is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and worship leader from Minneapolis with over 15 years of experience in church & worship leadership. Josh serves as the Director of Marketing at Motion Worship, helping to write various blog posts, managing social media, designing graphics, and handling customer service.

3 WAYS TO HELP FAMILIES WIN ON SUNDAY

Sundays not only matter greatly to you, but they matter greatly to the families that you serve each week. Whether parents are bringing their young children back to your preschool environment or dropping their high school student off for small group – here are 3 effective ways to help families win on Sunday.

  • Be Present

Presence is simply the act of making yourself available. Whenever a family arrives to a family ministry environment there should always be someone available and ready for them. Consistently equip your team members with a clear vision for being present for every child, student, and parent on Sunday.

When a little one is being dropped off… they want to know they are safe.

When an elementary-aged child joins a group… they want to know they matter.

When a teenager shows up… they want to know someone will show up for them and they won’t feel alone.

When families show up on Sunday… Who and what will they see? 

Will they see someone ready, welcoming, and smiling?

When I train family ministry leaders, we take time to practice smiling. And I tell them to expect their cheeks to hurt a bit on Sundays. Why? Because we are committed to helping families win on Sundays with intentional presence, a warm welcome, and a big smile.

  • Make It Fun

If you want to help families win on Sundays, then make sure you equip leaders help make Sunday fun for the kids and students who show up. 

Why does this matter? Because our missiology matters.

If we were serving in another country or culture, then as a well-equipped missionary we would know what matters to the people we are serving and practically meet them there. That is how we communicate tangible care and love: by understanding and responding to what matters to the people we are serving… And fun matters to kids and students.

We communicate to the next generation that we genuinely care about meeting them where they are when we put in the effort to provide them with purposeful, age-appropriate fun. Your family ministries ought to be using a biblically sound, scripture- based curriculum. Help kids and students to love learning the scriptures and point them to the Author of joy… by making it joyful!

Not only does “making it fun” help kids and students win, but it helps the whole family win because next Sunday parents and kids will be much less likely to have conflict about heading to the church together. Instead, kids will be asking, “Is it time to go to church yet?!”

  • Give a Good Word

Proverbs 12:25 tells us that “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.”

As I often say to other parents, “This whole parenting thing is not for the faint of heart.” Family ministry leaders have the unique opportunity to bring gladness by intentionally giving a good word to parents on Sundays.

Make it a point to equip leaders to go out of their way to encourage parents with a “good word” that is specific to their child. Here are a few examples:

  • “It was a joy to have Xavier in small group today. He gets along so well with the other boys!”
  • “Maya went out of her way to help me today. You are doing a great job teaching her to be a helpful servant.”
  • “Micah was asking great questions in class today. It’s evident to me that He is growing in his faith.”
  • “Veda goes out of her way to include girls who our new to our student ministry. It’s evident to see that God has given her a kind heart towards others.”

In summary:

  1. Be present for every family.
  2. Make it fun for every kid.
  3. And bring a good word to every parent.

Every Sunday is an opportunity to help families win!

Written by Chris Warszawski

Serving the local church for over 15 years, Chris Warszawski currently serves as a City Missionary for SEND Network. His passion is to help churches, church planters, and ministry leaders take their next, best step. He is the author of “Primed to Lead: An Honest Conversation for New & Experience Leaders.”

Starting Your Ministry Year Off Right

As summer ends, it’s time to think about starting a brand new ministry year! Here are some essential ways to prepare for the year to start you off right.

At Orange, we have a core belief. The scope of your influence is determined by the success of your volunteers. If you agree, the most important thing you can do as you prepare for the Fall is to empower your team so they can lead. While this requires a lot of intentional planning, it’s not impossible with the right team and mindset! The last thing you want is to limit both your influence and the ministry-at-large, so here are five words to consider that will start your new ministry year and your volunteers off on the right foot.

Plan 

Your ministry most likely has some core values already established – like serving the community, making disciples, or deepening community. Consider using these as a framework to set some team goals and clarify your win for the new calendar year. What were some wins and learnings from the past year? Where are you going? What will you do this year to put feet to each value? How will you know if you’ve accomplished a goal?

You might also plan out how you will equip, empower and encourage your team throughout the year. Will it be through monthly volunteer huddles, seasonal virtual book studies, or weekly thank-you cards? We think all of the above are great places to start. If you subscribe to Orange Curriculum, we have developed our first monthly volunteer training resource that will give you a focused topic each month and the resources you need to ignite confidence and purpose in the hearts of your volunteers all year long.

Recruit 

In our current reality, it’s not uncommon to start off the new ministry year with holes on our teams. Families are often not fully recovered from vacation, the back-to-school frenzy has begun, and many are not thinking about how else they might fill their time.

Collaborate with your staff to plan one or two Recruitment Sundays early in the Fall to make people aware of where there are still opportunities to serve. Create a large, colorful display of open positions with copies of detailed job descriptions and contact information. Invite your current team of volunteers into the recruitment process with you so they can experience the joy of seeing new volunteers find their place and purpose.

Launch

The beginning of any new ministry season is always exciting. There are new team members, kids and students are oftentimes in new classrooms or environments, and the energy is generally high. Leverage the momentum of the season by planning a celebratory volunteer kick-off event to cast a compelling vision and launch your team well. This is your chance to help your teams see the big picture goals for your ministry, equip them to feel empowered in their role from day one, and delegate responsibilities to your key leaders.

Attendance will be crucial so consider offering this both in-person and virtually. Record it and post it as its own event on social media so that you can capture as many people as possible. Brainstorm ways to get this information to the entire team in order to reduce the amount of “sideways energy” spent in the coming weeks training the folks who missed out.

Evaluate

It’s one thing to develop a well thought-out plan and quite another to know whether it was effective. Building a strategic evaluation and follow-up process in your ministry can be an absolute game-changer.  When you give your volunteers clear directives, occasions to rise to, and a plan of action, it helps them lead with intentionality and thoughtfulness. And gives them the potential to grow and develop into better leaders.

Encourage each volunteer to come up with 2-3 goals of their own that they would like to see accomplished before the end of this ministry season. Help them determine how they will evaluate their effectiveness and set a date together to follow-up on how they’re coming along. Be sure to share your own ministry goals to make them aware that this is a team effort. We’re all on a mission to grow and become better leaders for the sake of those we lead.

Post

In today’s tech world, it’s not enough to train our volunteers weekly, seasonally, and annually – we have to ask what it looks like to train them digitally. One of the most underutilized resources for training and inspiring our volunteers is social media. We have the opportunity to show up and drip-feed vision directly onto a device that every volunteer is going to engage with every day!

With limited time, the best plan of action is to schedule your social media in advance each month. While there are now countless publishing tools available online, perhaps the easiest option is to use Facebook’s Meta Business Suite. This free tool has the ability to schedule and publish directly to both a Facebook group and an Instagram account you have set up just for those who serve in your ministry. You might also consider how you can utilize an app like Zoom to host prayer gatherings, book studies, or simply play games through an app like Houseparty to build trust and community among your team.

Written by Daniel De Jesus

Article taken from here.

Why You Shouldn’t Quit Ministry Right Now, Even Though You Feel Like It

You’ve probably thought about quitting recently.

The data David Kinnaman, President of Barna Group shares weekly on our joint podcast, Church Pulse Weekly, shows that pastors are more discouraged than ever,  are worried about much lower effectiveness in their ministry post-COVID, and that 20% of churches might not even survive.

No wonder you’ve thought about quitting.

Speaking personally, I find that even scrolling through my social media and news feed most days discourages me.

I’m not telling you can’t quit. Of course you can. You can do whatever you’d like.

But I would like to try to persuade you why, for most leaders, this is probably the wrong time to leave. To at least reconsider.

And I’d love to give you a few strategies to help you move through these days with more composure, grace and, well, sanity.

I get it. It’s hard. Really hard.

Here’s why it’s worth hanging in if you can.

1. Quitting on a Bad Day is a Really Bad Idea

I’ve wanted to quit more than a few times, and almost always that’s because I’m having a bad day.

Here’s what I’ve realized: quitting on a bad day is a really bad idea.

On a bad day, your emotions hijack your brain. You can’t think straight, and you almost always end up doing things you regret.

Quitting is pretty permanent.

And if quitting on a bad day is a bad idea, The last few years have been a string of bad days, weeks, and months. The pressure is cumulative. And it’s probably wisest to resist.

Does this mean you can never quit?

Of course not. If it’s time to go, it’s time to go. I’m actually stepping down from our church staff at the end of 2020, but that was planned for years as part of a carefully developed succession plan.

If you’re going to quit, quit on a good day. After careful prayer, adequate rest, wise counsel, and a clear sense this is the best step into the future.

If you’re having a bad day (or a bad year), hang in there. You’ll probably be glad you did.

If you need some further incentive, here’s a pattern I’ve noticed in my life: you’re most tempted to quit moments before a critical breakthrough.

I can’t tell you the number of times I almost gave up, didn’t, and saw a breakthrough right around the corner.

So hang in there.

2. You’re Probably Just About To Innovate

You know the saying: necessity is the mother invention.

So, yep, things are really tough. Which also means you’re probably about to start innovating.

Most of the change that’s happened since March 2020 hasn’t been innovation, it’s been adaptation. You had no choice, so you really didn’t pivot, you adapted. We all did.

The adaptation is wearing thin. It’s not working as well as it did a few months ago.

And the return ‘back to church’ has been, for the most part, a shadow of what existed pre-COVID. Many leaders stepped back into the past when they stepped back into their buildings, and now they’re now frustrated with the lack of progress they see.

Which is driving you to despair. But sitting on the other side of despair is something much more promising: innovation.

Let your desperation drive you to innovation. That’s where all the promise is.

3. The World Has Never Needed the Church More

Saying that these have been hard times for most churches and leaders is absolutely true.

Most churches are seeing significant declines in in-person and even online attendance. I get it. That’s really discouraging.

But the mission of the church has never been more important.

In a divided, tribalized, angry, isolated and fragile culture, the mission of the church has never been more important.

While some church leaders are mimicking the attitude of the culture, supporting partisan candidates and fueling anger online, the future belongs to pastors who don’t.

What the culture needs is an alternative to itself, and the church is just that.

This is a great time to remind yourself that when you’re surrounded by division, the church brings unity.

When you see isolation, the church fuels community.

It’s a good time to affirm once again the answer to hate isn’t more hate, it’s the radically countercultural practice of enemy-love Jesus embodied.

The world does not need the church to mimic it right now, it needs the church to provide an alternative.

Perhaps you were called into leadership for such a time as this.

4. The Challenge of 2020-2021 Places You Squarely in the Tradition of Biblical Leadership

I don’t know about you, but the biblical stories I’ve read all my life are leaping off the page in fresh ways this year.

As much as you might hate 2020 and 2021, it places you squarely in the tradition of most Biblical leadership. Leaders in scripture almost always led through crisis.

If you think being Moses was easy, hang out in Exodus or Deuteronomy for a little longer. It was brutal.

People criticize the scripture regularly for being too violent (that often confuses descriptive passages with prescriptive passages). Conflict, war, oppression, invasions, and corrupt political systems characterize biblical times.

But personally, I’m glad the scriptures don’t describe some idyllic life where everyone walks in the woods in perfect harmony with each other, because that’s not the world we live in. Come on, that’s not even your family. You can’t go for a walk without someone arguing about something.

No, the dysfunction we see in biblical characters reflects the dysfunction we see in ourselves.

And strangely, through it all, we see God’s hand still at work. That Christ’s redeeming work is still progressing.

The church in Corinth was a mess. And God used it.

None of this justifies the dysfunction, but it lets us know that God works in it and in spite of it.

Which means there’s hope for you and me.

Which means when you lead through the mess that is today,  you are squarely in the tradition of Biblical leadership, tracing out hope where nobody can find any.

Three Ways To Stay Encouraged In Leadership

So, that’s a little motivation as why you shouldn’t quit.

But how do you find the fuel and motivation to stay in there?

Here are three things that have helped me and I hope will help you.

1. Don’t Look To Time Off To Heal You—Pay Attention To Your Time On

I know a lot of leaders who are holding out for some time off. And time off is wonderful.

But it’s not going to get you through the crisis. You just can’t take enough vacation or days off to get you through a prolonged crisis.

When the way you’re living and leading is broken, all the time in the world off won’t fix it.

The problem with most leaders is not how we spend our time off. It’s how we spend our time on.

So, focus on creating a sustainable rhythm for every day.  The mantra I’ve lived by for the last decade plus is, live in a way today that will help you thrive tomorrow.  It helps me figure out everything from how much sleep I need, how many meetings to take, how many decisions I can reasonably make, and how to replenish myself daily so I can lead at home and at work.

Your time off can’t save you if the problem is how you spend your time on.

This might take constant adjustment on your part, but it’s worth it.

2. Create An Encouragement File

For years I’ve kept a file I simply call “encouragement”.

It’s a simple Gmail folder.

The rule is simple. When someone sends me something that encourages me (an email, a blog comment, a DM, a card, a note), I put it in that file.   Often it’s a thank you for something I said or did, a short message of encouragement, and sometimes it’s a life-changing story (love those!).

Here’s why I keep it (hang on, my reasoning is complicated): I get discouraged.

The news bothers me. My social media feed can be depressing. Results can be disappointing. And critics can get under my skin.

Sometimes it doesn’t even take a comment from anyone.  I can discourage myself in no time flat.

You probably get a lot of encouragement, but you just forget. Plus it takes about 1000 positive comments to compensate for the one devastating critique someone emailed you.

When you get discouraged, read what you’ve saved in your encouragement file.

God is using you more than you think, and people appreciate you more than you realize.

3. Don’t Do This Alone: It Can Kill You

Leadership was already lonely enough before the crisis hit. Now it’s even lonelier.

If you want to stay motivated and strong in leadership, you can’t do it alone.

Think loneliness isn’t a big deal?

Think again. Apparently it can kill you.

Loneliness can be more deadly to your health than smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

If you’re feeling lonely, reach out to a friend. I’ve reached out to a handful of friends in the pandemic. One friend and I text every day, just to stay in touch and encourage each other.

And when you can grab lunch and meet face to face, do it.

Solitude is a gift from God. Isolation is a tool of the enemy.

Leaders, you’re only as lonely as you choose to be.

Written by Carey Nieuwhof

Article taken from here.

5 Traits of Great Staff

When it comes to great staff, we all want to hire the best leaders, see them flourish and realize their God-given potential!

When a staff member is motivated, competent, and loves their job, they are a joy to work with! They bring life to the party and you want to be around them.

We also know that’s not always the case. An unhappy staff member who struggles to do their job, and possibly doesn’t like where they work can really hurt the team.

Selecting the best staff is an art, we never get it perfect, but if you know what you are aiming for you are much more likely to get.

What traits should we look for? What characteristics do you want to develop after they are on the team? Of all the options we could list, which ones are at the top of the list?

Before we look at the five traits of great staff, let’s review the basics.

The foundational elements of great staff, just like a great boss, are:

  1. Love Jesus: humble spirit, servant heart, hears God’s voice
  2. Continued Growth: secure, learning, practicing leadership
  3. Strong Character: trustworthy, living by the same standards that they expect, discipline to do the right thing

The following 5 traits come from interviewing and coaching hundreds of church leaders across the country, as well as my own personal experience as an Executive Pastor leading staff.

5 Traits of Great Staff:

1) They bring leadership energy to the table.

At 12Stone Church, we say about a great new staff person “Someone just showed up.” You don’t have to be in our culture to immediately get a feel for what that means. We all know how wonderful it is when someone else jumps in and brings leadership energy into the room. They help make things happen!

  • A great staff member is inspired with passion for the mission.
  • Great staff are proactive.

2) Their consistent self leadership results in noticeable maturity.

Leading others well begins with leading yourself well. The basics of being a great employee seem simple but make a surprising difference. Things such as being on time, finishing assignments, taking initiative even in the little things, and following up on what is promised. These kinds of behaviors require consistent discipline and result in maturity. Any staff member that operates out of a framework of maturity along with competence is a highly valued teammate.

  • Great staff are self-aware.
  • Great staff manage emotion well.
  • Great staff are OK when a teammate gets more than they do.

3) They absorb pressure with grace and composure.

It’s natural to want to get rid of pressure, or at least make it lighter by taking the matter to your boss. It’s normal to want to know what your boss would do. Sometimes you need some help. That’s OK. That’s part of why your boss is there. But the best leaders absorb as much pressure on their own as possible. You become absolutely invaluable if you consistently step in, step up and handle the pressure filled situations, whatever they may be.

  • Great staff lead well at home. (Peace at home increases your ability to handle pressure at work.)
  • Great staff lead up well. (On this topic, I recommend 360 Degree Leader, by John Maxwell.)
  • Great staff solve problems.

4) They are socially adept and get along well with even challenging personalities.

It’s difficult to over emphasize the importance of strong and natural relational abilities. This is especially true in the church where nearly every situation is relationally driven. The following four attributes are simple to understand, but tough to live consistently. Leaders who are good with people live them well and are in high demand.

  • Great staff are encouragers.
  • Great staff are positive by nature.
  • Great staff possess a sense of humor.
  • Great staff have a personal inner peace that allows them to pay attention to others.

5) They are really good at what they do, and continue to improve.

We all want to be on a winning team and winning teams have staff that are gifted at what they do! When you work in a healthy and productive environment there is much training, development, coaching and encouragement. In response staff become better at what they do. That’s the ideal winning scenario!

  • Great staff possess talent and skills that are recognized and requested.
  • Great staff see the big picture.
  • Great staff have a competence that leads to greater capacity.

Written by Dan Reiland

Article taken from here.

Maximizing Your Team

How’s that weekly staff meeting going for you?

Church leadership and staff teams get bogged down by the day-to-day grind, but it doesn’t have to be that way.  When vision is established, creating a plan of attack is critical in reaching the big goals, but it’s also necessary to keep your team motivated, encouraged, and making real progress.

Think about your regular team meetings.  Are they much the same each week, or are they really helpful in moving your church closer to the prize?  Below are five simple, but effective habits for maximizing your team.

1. Define the next win to the big goal.

Achieving vision doesn’t happen overnight and strategy implementation is a long-term process built on a commitment to focus. When the big picture is all a staff sees, some will get lost in the dream while others will get discouraged by the distance between the dream and reality. Yes, set long-term vision and challenging performance goals each year, but in your staff meetings, focus on the win for this week that takes you closer to the big goals. Always cast what’s priority in light of the big picture, but channel your team’s energy towards what can be accomplished this week.

2. Determine the critical pathways.

Defining the next win sounds great, but you need to know how to get there. When I was the project manager for a campus building project, I worked every week with our contractor to define the step-by-step pathway that was necessary to hit our weekly, monthly, and overall project goals. It can help to map out your goals with your team, and work together to set benchmarks and align responsibilities.

3. Prune the waste from your schedule.

In his fantastic book essentialism, Greg McKeowen states, “You cannot underestimate the unimportance of practically everything.” Where is your team wasting effort on things that are ostensibly important but are actually almost useless? Take time for staff to list out their time breakdown, and encourage them to eliminate 20% of it by classifying it as a total waste of time.

4. Manage the minutiae.

There will be things in your week that are tedious but necessary. Follow the Pareto Principle, and don’t allow your 20% most powerful effort to go towards these things. Relegate the minutiae to your least valuable time, and delegate as much as possible. No one can eliminate all of their busy work, but teams can demote it so that it doesn’t consume their week.

5. Celebrate the progress.

Each week, celebrate the quick win you aimed for the previous week. If you didn’t attain your goal, celebrate what was accomplished, and talk about how you can hit the current week’s goal. Your team needs to believe that your church is actually working towards something, that the payoff is worth it, and the journey itself is rewarding. No one wants to end their week feeling like they were in a hamster wheel: running their hardest only to finish in the same place they started. Mark progress and celebrate it.


Here’s the bottom line.  Ask yourself this question: would I be willing to sacrifice an inch of progress in a hundred directions if I could gain a mile in one direction? Does this mean that there would be a drop-off in productivity somewhere? Yes. But if you can build team clarity around what truly matters most in the weekly grind, you’ll finally gain momentum towards your vision and accomplish bold performance goals. I imagine you’d take that trade every day of the week.

Written by Scott Ball

Article taken from here.

5 Positive Reasons Why Church Staff Leave

Staff, just like members, come and go in the normal rhythm of church life–20% of Americans move every year and that one factor alone affects all churches and staffs.

This may alarm or even scare other staff or members of your congregation. They may wonder, “What went wrong?” Was it a result of sin or incompetence or conflict? Yet, this is rarely the case. In Saddleback’s history only a very small handful of staff have left for negative reasons. Instead we rejoice as staff members step out in faith to follow God’s will into new areas.

Why Staff Leave:

1. A Stage of Life

Sometimes staff leave because of a change in their life or family: having a baby, kids entering school, spouse changing jobs or being transferred, having to care for an aged parent, getting married, needing greater income, going back to school, or retirement. These are just a few of hundreds of valid stage-of-life reasons.

2. A Stirring of God

Sometimes staff leave simply because they sense God wants them to do something else! They feel a “stirring” or restlessness in their spirit, which often indicates that God has other plans in mind for them. Some people feel the pull of God to go to seminary full-time or get more education to prepare for future ministry.

Sometimes the stirring is circumstantial – the job they were hired to do is finished, or the job has changed due to the growth of the church, or the church has restructured and is moving in a new direction. God often has people “serve for a season” in order to benefit his church at that particular moment and also to teach and develop them.

The reality is that almost no one stays with the same job for his or her entire lifetime. In fact, one of the primary ways God teaches us to trust him is through job changes. If we never had to change, we’d never have to live by faith.

I like to use the illustration of the American Moon Project–thousands of engineers worked for NASA on different stages of the project. But when their part was finished they moved on.

3. A Season of Healing

Sometimes staff members leave in order to “take a break” and focus on some physical, or emotional, or relational health issues. Sometimes it is a personal health issue and sometimes it is to care for a family member. Either way, we applaud people for making a wise and healthy decision. Work should never be at the expense of your health.

4. A Sense of Greater Calling

I have said repeatedly “You don’t judge the strength of a church on its seating capacity but by its sending capacity.” As a purpose driven church our goal is to “Bring them in, Build them up, Train them, and Send them out!” This is true for both staff and members. It has never been our goal to selfishly cling to all the talent God raises up in this church. We want to share it.

Over the years we’ve had many staff be trained at Saddleback and then sent out to plant new churches, and to help existing churches–as pastors, staff members of other churches, missionaries, Christian organization workers, consultants to other churches, seminary teachers, and even as volunteers in smaller churches who could not afford staff.

My dad used to tell me “Your first ministry is never your greatest ministry. It is always preparation for what God will eventually do through you.” After nearly 30 years in ministry, I have found this principle to always be true. If someone is at their first church, don’t be surprised if God moves them eventually.

5. And Sometimes It’s Private

On rare occasions, people leave staff for PRIVATE reasons. In those cases, it is my commitment to protect the privacy of those individuals. So sometimes we don’t publicize the reason the staff member has chosen to leave.

Regardless of the reason people leave, your response should always be the same: gratitude for the time God allowed them to serve, along with prayers and best wishes that God will continue to use them in the future.

Written by Rick Warren

Article taken from here.