Sustainable Ministry: Leading for the Long Haul
As I celebrate 40 years of pastoral ministry and 29 years at my current church, River of God, several critical factors have helped me lead for the long haul. First of all, a key is effective communication with those who lead with you. This dialogue should be collaborative and informative. So often, conflicts in local churches flow from a lack of communication. Informed leaders and congregants can focus on a local church's vision and mission, helping it to thrive.
In addition, developing leaders through training, staff retreats, leadership development plans, accountability mechanisms, weekly staff meetings, quarterly team leader meetings, and quarterly reviews helps share the burden of leadership and reduce burnout. Discovering the giftings of both leaders and congregants through gifting assessments and ministry opportunities creates shared ministry and missional effectiveness. One challenge is preventing ministry teams from becoming silos, which can be addressed through collaboration, recalibration meetings, and pastoral leadership. Another aspect of both discipleship and development for leaders and church members is encouraging the ministry gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11-12. As a pastor/teacher, I must be open to the gifts of the apostle, prophet, and evangelist to help build up the body of Christ. Their giftings have brought health and vitality to our congregation over the years.
To be successful in delegation, a leader must avoid micromanaging, even if the task is done differently or not as well as you would like. There are usually opportunities to evaluate a task with the person later, with corrections and suggestions for next time. There are various ways to do a thorough evaluation. It is essential to celebrate wins with the individual or team after an event or ministry opportunity to encourage them to continue serving. Showing appreciation to those whom you delegate responsibilities should be accomplished through notes, emails, texts, verbal affirmations, and public acknowledgments.
Another critical part of leading a sustainable ministry for the long haul is to understand that, like people, churches go through seasons. Sometimes, pastors feel the urge to leave a ministry post due to temporary church issues or the loss of some members. If the call of God for that church is still alive in a pastor, they should pray through the temporary situation. Of course, if the issues are self-inflicted by the pastor, they need to address and correct their failures. During these temporary challenges, outside trusted voices can encourage and give an unbiased evaluation of the situation.
On a personal note, I must continue to grow and develop as a pastor and leader. Over the years, I have recognized the importance of maintaining a personal devotional life with the regular rhythms of Bible reading, prayer, fasting, keeping a weekly sabbath, and witnessing. To stay fresh and useful to the Lord and His Church, I take advantage of opportunities to attend denominational meetings, seminars, conferences, mission trips, and further education. I enjoy hobbies that take me outside the church and let me share them with friends. Of course, spending time with our family throughout the year is always on my calendar, whether it's a vacation, an event, a holiday, or time together. If the pastor is healthy and effective in ministry, the church will enjoy a thriving ministry over the years, and the pastor will experience sustainable ministry for the long haul.