In this issue:

Setting Goals and Meeting Expectations with a Volunteer Staff

At the church I serve we estimate that it takes sixty people to “make a Sunday morning happen.”  This is everyone from the guy who unlocks the doors to the man who makes the coffee to those who teach and preach God’s Word.  Now, before you go and say something like, “Hey, I thought this was Average Church that sounds pretty big to me,” don’t worry.  We are not a large church.  It just takes a lot more man-power than most people ever realize to do many of the things that happen at a church.  For us, of our sixty people, only six of them are paid anything to do what they do.  Like you, we depend on volunteers and lay leaders.  Our “staffs” are made up of people with a limited amount of time, varying commitment levels, differing skills and abilities, and wide range of ideas about what success looks like.

All of this leads me to ask the question, “How do you set goals and have expectations when the majority of people working and serving alongside you are volunteers?”  In attempting to answer this question, I will break it into two categories.  First, we will discuss the kinds of expectations we should have for our volunteers and the goals we should set for them.  Secondly, we will see how those expectations and goals translate into ministry and the stewardship of the Gospel.

Expectations and Goals for Volunteers

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

- 1 Timothy1:12-17

The expectations I place on my volunteers and the goals I have for them are simple: be faithful and be teachable.  Whether your context is children, students, or adults, a volunteer that is faithful to the Lord and faithful to their commitment in ministry is essential.  While calls to faithfulness are abundant in the Scriptures, I wanted to draw your attention to the above Scripture for two reasons.  First, Paul clearly states that his call to ministry was a result of Christ deeming him faithful despite his horrific background.  Through my years of ministry I have learned a good lesson.  The best ministers are the ones who are faithful to God and who show up.  I have known several great teachers and youth workers who could captivate an audience, but rarely demonstrated a steadiness in ministry.  I have learned to rely on perseverance and steadfastness much more than talent and ability.

The second reason I believe that Scripture is important is it points to Paul’s own teachability.  He admits that he was once far from God.  He defamed the name of Christ and denied the grace of God, but through a miracle of mercy and grace Paul was restored to a right relationship with God.  Paul was extremely teachable.  Where he once gave his whole life to a wrong idea about who God was and how He loved His people, Paul was given a glimpse of God’s grace and immediately changed his life.  He was open to God and because of his teachability, the Lord used Paul in mighty ways.

I am sure there are other goals and expectations that are healthy and Godly for our volunteers, but I believe most of them can be boiled down to these two ideas.  If you have a group of men and women that are willing to learn and faithful to show up, your ministry has already been blessed.

Expectations and Goals for Ministry with Volunteers

The simplest way I know how to express my thoughts in this area is this: I believe our expectations and goals ought to be set high for our ministries and our volunteers.  Through His grace, Jesus has high expectations of us.  Through His mercy, God has high expectations of His Church.  To set our goals any lower is an offense to God’s grace and all He has entrusted to us.  Ephesians 3:10 says “that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known.”  Colossians 1:18 says “he [Jesus] is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.”  Hebrews 12:23 says the Church are “all those who are enrolled in heaven.”  If the Church makes God known, is lead by Christ, and is made up of those who will live with God forever, shouldn’t our goals and expectations be nothing short of ultimate glory to God and the declaration of the supremacy of Jesus Christ?

Unfortunately, I rarely see goals and expectations formed by those types of ideas in churches.  Practicality and, supposed, reality seem to rule the hearts and minds of many leaders.  The pressure of budgets, attendance figures, and “realistic” expectations overrun and overrule our pursuit of God and His glory.  I want to challenge all of us to make our goal for ministry the righteousness of Christ and the grandeur of His name.  And that not only goes for us as pastors, but for our leaders as well.  As they teach, lead, plan, disciple, serve, and give let us set high expectations for them, because that is what God has done for His Church.  May we bring God glory and may we and those we lead give our lives to magnifying the Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord!

In this Issue:

The Role of the Senior Pastor in the Average Church

The “No-man’s” Land of the Associate Pastor

The Role of an Interim Pastor in the Average Church

Because the average churches that I have served have not had a lot of “numerical explosion” I have spent hours grappling with the issue of my role. I have spent hours feeling guilty that my church wasn’t growing and moving into the kingdom of the large church. Aside from house churches, most churches in America own some property and have regular meetings scheduled. The very definition of the Greek word for church [ecclesia or called out ones], implies that there are some people in this group. If you are the pastor of any church you face the reality of people and property.

As we find ourselves in this information age we also face the reality of expectations. The numerical success stories of churches in every state of these United States are well known. In my state of Colorado it seems that several large churches started a few years ago as a Bible study in somebody’s basement. The very strong unspoken message that is communicated through these stories to the average church and average church pastor is this: “What is wrong with you?” If Bible studies in basements result in churches numbering in the thousands, why isn’t this church larger numerically?

A senior pastor or a solo pastor must face the reality that he likely is the most powerful man in that particular church. I don’t throw these thoughts out as a recognized authority, but as a pastor who struggles to honor God and do his best. I submit these thoughts to you based on God’s Word and some of the experiences I’ve had. How should a senior pastor think about his role? What are the categories that pastors should use to gauge success?

#1   Pastors are shepherds.

“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eargerly;” 1 Peter 5:1-3

Within 5 miles of the church that I serve there are several large churches with over 1,000 attending each weekend. These churches have all the latest ministry bells and whistles. One of these bodies recently hired a former recording artist as their leader of worship. Each of these bodies enjoys a sprawling church campus [or 2] and a multi-million dollar budget. If I am honest I must admit that there have been days I have envied certain aspects of these huge ministries.

Something strange, however, happens each year that I serve in my present church. A family or maybe two families, migrate from one of these huge churches to my church. They come in and find a few friends and get involved in a ministry opportunity. As I approach them and let them know that our purpose is not to take people from other churches they insist that they want to switch churches.

The reason that families migrate to the average church I serve is because they are shepherded in our church. We don’t have 1,000 people to watch over and we can pay more careful attention to individuals and individual families. When someone is gone from our fellowship they are usually noticed in a few weeks rather than a few months.

I encourage you today to think about all that you are doing as a pastor. You may even have some janitorial responsibilitiesJ Who are you shepherding? Who are you guiding spiritually? God created people with a need for spiritual guidance and God through his Word clearly tells you and me that we are to shepherd His people.

#2   Pastors are stewards.

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace;” 1 Peter 4:10

It is significant that just before Peter gave these instructions in the 5^th chapter of his first letter, he talked about stewardship. God’s grace is “varied” and leaders that God has put over His church are also “varied.” We have all preached messages to our congregations from Matthew 25. You remember the passage don’t you? A man going away on a journey entrusted his servants with “talents.” The servants did not all receive the same number of talents. The point of the passage is to use the “talents” God has given you, even if He has only given you one solitary “talent.”

I didn’t start a Bible study in my basement with 2 other couples resulting in the planting of a mega-church. I have, however, been playing basketball on Monday nights with some men. Over the years guys have drifted in and out of the game and I have had numerous opportunities to talk with them about spiritual struggles, marital difficulties, and problems with their kids.

Playing Monday night basketball may not result in hundreds of people coming to Christ and subsequently coming to the church I serve. It is an example of God’s varied grace. I’m not responsible for overseeing the people of any other church or the “talents” of any other pastor. God has given me some gifts to use and I need to use them.

Not every church or pastor has five “talents.” Some churches and some pastors have only one. Use the resources and gifts you find God has given you and stop comparing yourself and your church to others.

#3   Pastors work

“…exercising oversight” 1 Peter 5:2b

I’m tempted at this point to grab all my John Maxwell books for illustrations of great leadershipJ I think that Peter is talking about the leadership of pastors and elders in these verses, but it is a different kind of leadership. This is more than “CEO leadership” that is concerned with the bottom line. This is shepherding-leadership that is concerned with the bottom line and so much more. A CEO doesn’t need to guide the people under him through their personal struggles.

Episkopeo is the Greek word that Peter uses in 1 Peter 5:2b. Peter is saying to pastors, “exercise oversight as a shepherd of the flock that God has put under your care.” Peter is saying, “fill the role of an overseer/shepherd in the church God has placed under your care.” This is the work of a pastor.

Pastors lead. Pastors guide. Pastors love. Pastors decide. Pastors encourage. Pastors prepare people for service in the Kingdom of God. All these verbs represent hard work and Peter tells pastors that in this action they are to “exercise oversight.”

It is probably true to say that most of you reading this article are the most influential person in your church. Don’t be afraid of that, don’t be intimidated by that, embrace it and be the shepherd/overseer God has created you to be. That is the work of being a pastor. Going to the hospital and visiting the sick, preaching at funerals, and preparing for a children’s sermon can all serve to wear us out. In that work pastors are to “exercise oversight.”

#4   Pastors are joy-filled believers

“Though you have not seen him, you love him, ‘Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy this is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.’” 1 Peter 1:8&9

A great book that I would recommend to you is Liberating Ministry from the success syndrome, by Kent Hughes. In the book Hughes talks about a dark time in his life when he was having trouble believing. His wife comforted him by telling him that she had enough belief for the two of them at that point in time. I’ve gone through times like that and so have you.

I occasionally schedule a day in which I am inaccessible to anyone but my immediate family. I may go to a hotel or to a public library for a day. I will spend that day reading my Bible, talking with God and journaling. I need to be a joyful believer if I am going to be shepherd in God’s church. I need to do whatever is necessary in order to be that joy-filled believer.

I concluded with this area because as the pastor of an average church for 23 years this is the area that I struggle with most often. Joy-filled belief can be a rare commodity in an average church. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t give up my belief in God or my faith in Jesus Christ, but I sometimes find it hard to joyfully believe God is working in my church when there isn’t much ministry fruit. When the offerings are low and when 7 people show up for a prayer meeting, when an Easter message falls flat and a Christmas outreach doesn’t, it’s just plain hard.

Pastors are joy-filled believers. We need to be. If you aren’t, immerse yourself in the Word and pray. If you have no one to pray for you or with you, e-mail me, I want to pray for pastors who are slugging it out every day for the glory of God in an average church.

“Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
18 e yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
f I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
19 God, the Lord, is my strength;
g he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me h tread on my i high places.”

Habbakuk 3:17-19

In Christ,

Steve

stevekalb@calvaryefree.org

When I graduated from seminary, I was convinced that full-time, unhindered ministry would help me to become a more complete pastor.  I was wrong.  The church I serve has a modest-sized Sunday morning attendance, three pastors (including myself), and the program offerings of a church three times our size.  If you serve at this type of church, I’m sure you’ll agree with what I am about to say.  When you work in an average church, you do a little bit of everything. Technically, my title starts with the words Associate Pastor, but sometimes sandwich artist, amateur graphic designer, or custodian may better describe my day.  Before becoming an Associate Pastor I had no idea what their role was or what their job entailed.  After becoming one, I still don’t.

The job of Associate Pastor is kind of a “no-man’s land.”  Every day is a little different.  Some projects or ministries are broad and continue on indefinitely, others are temporary and have a very specific focus.  Most Associate Pastors I know juggle so many balls and wear so many hats they can rarely keep them all straight.  I want to be careful here.  I don’t want it to sound as though I am unhappy or ungrateful in my current position.  I love my role as an Associate Pastor.  I feel it is what God has called me to and what He gives me grace for.  Because of those truths, I have spent the last several months pondering, studying, and praying about what the role of the Associate Pastor should be and how I can best fill it at my church for the glory of God.

When you wear so many hats, it is only natural to question how you spend your time and energy.  How often do I study?  How much and who should I counsel?  What events and programs should I plan and what should I delegate to lay people?  When do I bring matters to the Senior Pastor and when do I handle them myself?  Hopefully, this helps you to realize why I consider the role of Associate Pastor to be kind of a “no-man’s land.”

For the answers to many of these questions, I look to Timothy and the instructions and encouragement Paul gave him.  While Timothy led his own congregation of sorts, he was still under the supervision of Paul in many ways.  This is, gratefully, how I often feel.  My Senior Pastor is careful to give me many opportunities for ministry and let me pastor those who are under my care, but he is always there for encouragement, advice, and correction.  With that in mind, here are three lessons Associate Pastors can learn from Paul’s admonishment and Timothy’s ministry.

Teach and encourage those whom you shepherd.

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:  preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

- 2 Timothy 4:1-2

In my experience Associate Pastors have a myriad of opportunities to teach, some formal and many more informal.  Whether it is a Sunday morning sermon, a small group Bible study, or a one-on-one conversation in the hallway, like Timothy, pastors must be ready to teach.  What should we teach and how should we teach it?  Paul tells Timothy to teach sound (Biblical) doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3-11; 2 Timothy 1:13).  He also instructs Timothy to be an example of this doctrine lived out (1 Timothy 4:6).  In doing this teaching and shepherding, Paul says that Timothy will fulfill his ultimate responsibility, to “guard the deposit entrusted to you” (1 Timothy 6:20; 2 Timothy 2:14).

Be an example of godliness and prayer.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  -1 Timothy 2:1-4

I have recently been burdened by my need to pray as an Associate Pastor.  Because many Senior Pastors have the responsibility to preach and to work with the leadership of the congregation, they are often unable to have some of the same types of conversations with church attendees that other pastors do.  Those quick conversations in the hallway on Sunday mornings or a conversation with a student about what their parents and family is struggling through can be invaluable in pastoral ministry.  Even in a two minute conversation, we may have the opportunity to bless someone with a timely word from the Lord or the promise of prayer throughout the week.

Support the Senior Pastor and Encourage Him.

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

-1 Timothy 5:17-19

I love my Senior Pastor, not only is he a mentor of mine, but he is one of my best friends.  I am constantly encouraged by his heart for the Lord, his faithfulness to the Gospel, and his care for me.  Serving under a Senior Pastor such as mine, I do not wonder why Paul said men like him are worthy of “double honor.”  Whether we, as “Associate” Pastors realize it or not, the responsibility to lead a church, the weight of many souls, and the task of rightly preaching the Word of God is a heavy burden.  Part of our role, Biblically, is to come alongside our Senior Pastors and encourage them as they labor in ministry.

I praise God for Paul’s instructions to Timothy and for Timothy’s faithfulness in carrying them out.  I only hope that through God’s grace, I may “guard the deposit entrusted to” me with a slight measure of the devotion that Paul and Timothy demonstrated.  I love being an Associate Pastor.  I love not knowing what my day will be like.  I love to wear many different hats.  And I love to teach, shepherd, pray for, and support those whom God has entrusted me with for this short time here on earth.  My prayer is that you would love those things too.  To God be all the glory.

Adam Fix

Associate Pastor

adamfix@calvaryefree.org

For me there is no greater privilege than that of being called pastor.  Great is the responsibility and difficulty of a life that is lived under this title, but greater is the extreme honor to be trusted as a minister.  To be sure, when one is called Christian there could be no more scandalous association.  Identification with the incarnate Word is a humbling beauty.  Therefore, to be commissioned to preach and teach God’s people through his Word, is truly another level–perhaps even a double honor (1 Timothy 5:17). What a beautiful burden of blessing that has graced my life in the form of being called pastor.

My role as pastor of an average church has seen me through a number of divergent seasons.  Originally I was hired to pastor the youth.  Since that initial appointment I have been called upon to expand my job description a number of times–from youth pastor to associate pastor to interim pastor.  But they have always called me pastor.  In many ways my role has remained consistent though my specific title and responsibilities have changed as much as Dennis Rodman’s hair.  General purpose is never mitigated by specific divergence.

“Pastor” in English means the person in charge of a Christian church.  “Pastor” in Latin means shepherd.  “Tacos Al Pastor” (shepherd style) is a special kind of taco that you can order at a Mexican restaurant (it is quite delicious).  If we take our cue from latin etymology (and later Scripture) a pastor’s role is much more akin to that of a simply dressed, grungy dude who watches, feeds, and protects a flock of animals rather than a BlackBerry toting, don’t have time right now, airbrushed, mysterious professional that often pillages the office like a Somalian pirate.  What then is our role as this humble shepherd?  More specifically we will discuss how an interim shepherd should behave (Pastor Steve has done a wonderful job outlining the general role of a pastor, I strongly encourage you to read: The Role of the Senior Pastor in the Average Church).

I know that God has called me to my particular fellowship for a season.  Here in lies the complexity of interim mission and leadership.  How do we create, maintain, and increase significance (both personally and corporately) at an average church when it is clear we are not called long term to a specific community?  Paul instructs Timothy and Titus that a pastor (or elder) must be sober-minded, generous, able to teach, a lover of good, holy, and disciplined (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9).  These and other qualities are without question vital to the ministry of the interim pastor.  However, I believe by viewing Jesus’ own ministry we can glean two particular disciplines that are specifically relevant for the transitional shepherd.

Jesus, like the interim minister, knew his time was limited (Matthew 26:11).  His ministry as the incarnate Word of God would eventually culminate with the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.  It was in this temporary ministry that Jesus demonstrated two disciplines that are helpful for every average church interim pastor–discernment and presence.

Jesus was discerning about his mission and message.  In Matthew, Jesus applauds Peter’s declaration that he was indeed the Christ.  (This followed a number of spoken rumors that Jesus was thought to be John the Baptist, Elijah, and Jeremiah.  Do not be surprised when a congregation tries to make you into their favorite leader from the past.  Average churches grow extremely attached to their pastors because they have many opportunities to connect with them.  Pray for patience and constantly voice gracious compliments of the pastors who have come before you.)  Interestingly, Jesus does not commission Peter and the disciples to immediately run to their MacBooks and blog about him being the Christ.  In fact, Jesus says, tell no one.  Discerning the lack of knowledge and readiness for the complete message, Jesus maintains some pause regarding his mission and message.

While shepherding a flock through an determined or indefinite amount of time we can easily be moved to rush the message and rush the mission.  Many of my own downfalls as an interim pastor have been made in haste and impatience.  In a rushed initiative it is easy for passion to be mistake for arrogance and insensitivity, leading to corporate stagnation and ineffectiveness.  Feeding the sheep is a gradual process.  Therefore transitional shepherds must patiently pursue the God-given mission and message, resting in the understanding that he who began a good work will be faithful to complete it (Philippians 1:6).

Jesus was present with his people.  A great temptation for interim pastors is to constantly keep our eyes on the horizon for other opportunities.  Though thinking ahead is a virtue, living in the future is a cancer.  Jesus continues to point toward the cross, but never stops touching people’s lives.  Christ had an incredible focus on his present time.  He connected with a needy tax collector sitting in a tree (Luke 19:5) and he noticed the touch of a woman on his garment while in the middle of a crowd (Mark 5:28-30).  Though Jesus came to die, he was extremely present with people before his death (as he undoubtedly is now).

Pastoring for a season my cause us to neglect genuinely connecting with the flock.  Whether for fear of future painful separation or lack of earned relationship, it will be easy to remain emotionally absent.  To be present with people is to see them and love them where they are; time can not be allowed to negate healthy pastoral affection.  When caring for another’s child, not being present is grounds for dismissal–the child needs attention and love.  In the same way sheep need to be protected through the shepherd’s watchful attention.  Regrettably when caring for another’s flock, not being present is part of the job description.  Jesus exhibited no such behavior.  In an average church our focused presence is a vital aspect of a healthy transition.

Significance for the average church interim pastor will be determined by his ability to watch, feed, and protect the sheep.  They were the focus of Jesus ministry.  They must be cared for and loved with patient perception and unmitigated attention.  They call us pastor.  Therefore, it is our role as interim pastors to remain present and discerning regardless of the time we are called to care for a particular congregation.

Jason C. Helveston

Interim Pastor

helve@mac.com