Pastoral Leadership

Every church has a culture—a functioning set of values and identity. Hopefully, this culture reflects what the church says it believes and teaches. But that is not always the case. Too many times, the culture of a church becomes one of divisiveness, pride, or worldliness (although no one is likely to acknowledge those).

Someone told me that October is “Pastor Appreciation Month.” I know this isn’t what they had in mind, but it got me thinking about what I appreciate about being a pastor.

In Matthew 18, we are introduced to a shepherd that has lost one sheep and leaves his flock to go find it.

It’s common to human nature—we want surface fixes. Pastors know this from counseling. You meet with someone who has major needs in his life, but all he really wants is a quick fix to the immediate crisis—not the help to deal with the root causes. Pastors are guilty of this too, however.

At Eastland Baptist Church, we have done many creative and innovative things. Each one has been organized and planned with a specific purpose and goal in mind.

Listening and assessing are two characteristics found in wise spiritual leaders. Even as you seek to move forward by faith, you must have an awareness of the current needs surrounding you and in the lives of those you lead.

None of us preach in a vacuum. We live “in this present world” and have been commissioned by God to declare His gospel in it.

A dream without a plan is a wish. So, as a pastor or local church ministry leader, it’s not enough to simply have a dream to make a big impact for Christ in your community and to see many people come to Christ. You need a developed plan.

To me, encouraging other pastors isn’t just a nice idea. It is a responsibility. And training and equipping young preachers is part of God’s calling on my life.

Brian Shaffer pastors the same church he was called to preach in as a young boy. Born and raised in the Kansas City area, he never expected this is where his call to ministry would lead.

The pastor is unique in the life of a church. He is the undershepherd who carries the burden of leadership. Some pastor’s will feel compelled to please people, but the sincere pastor is always trying to please the Lord.

Sometimes when you come to a place in ministry where you have never been before—or a place you cannot seem to grow past—what you would really like to do is sit down with another ministry leader over a cup of coffee and ask questions.

I am grateful for the tremendous team the Lord has assembled here at Lancaster Baptist Church and West Coast Baptist College, and it is my joy to co-labor with them in the work of the Lord. I pray for our staff and their families daily and thank the Lord for how they help me serve our church family and college students.

What preacher has not had somebody get upset with him? Who has not had folks who through misinformation or a legitimate grievance have become disappointed in their pastor? All of us, if we stay any length of time, will have to deal with upset members. Here are some techniques which I believe to be scriptural and have found to be helpful.

Have you ever noticed how a lack of joy negatively impacts your ability to serve the Lord? And to collaborate with those you serve with?

When you host a special day or event as a church—such as for Resurrection Sunday or a graduation or conference—it is tempting to finish the event and then kick into low gear. Or, if you are Type A like me, finish the event and quickly move on to the next!

No doubt about it, Resurrection Sunday is a highlight of the year. I thank God for the opportunity it provides many churches for extended outreach and gospel preaching, and I praise Him for every soul saved around the world this weekend.

I’ll be upfront: as an independent Baptist pastor, I am concerned. Statistics bear that various groups are sliding, and every indication is that established independent Baptist churches are seeing fewer people added to the church by baptism.

In part 1 of this post, we set the context for wanting our music to be honoring to God and offered three principles related to music. In part 2 we looked at seven more principles, for a total so far of 10:

I have learned in the ministry that things are always changing. Transition, change, and flexibility are good words for a church.