As an employee of INJOY Stewardship Solutions, I interact with literally hundreds of volunteer leaders at local churches. One of the big challenges is helping committee members, elders, church boards, deacons, and key influencers know how to effectively partner with their pastor in leading the congregation.
“We may disagree in private but we’ll be unified when we walk out of the room” is only a start. Great leadership requires so much more.
The primary role of volunteer, decision-making leadership is the multiplication of the pastor’s vision and the expansion of ministry by including others.
Since I primarily work with churches in capital campaigns, I will focus on that aspect of ministry. However, these principles work for any ministry initiative a church may be undertaking.Â
During seasons of generosity, the following is the coaching I give to volunteer leaders:
- Always start by constantly and fervently praying for your pastor. Unless clearly spelled out in Scripture, never question their decisions until much time has been spent praying for that individual. Then approach them only in private.
- Bring your unchurched friends to church.
- Listen to your pastor’s heart. Passion is more caught than taught.
- Both publicly and privately support the church’s initiatives.
- Encourage your pastor. Tell them how wonderful they are…often!
- Focus on the changed lives that will result from the releasing of financial resources.
- Lead financially. During a generosity initiative, leaders must lead in the contributing of their financial resources. If not, the harsh reality is that you disqualify yourself from future influence.
- And now the big one – Unless explicitly spelled out in Scripture, leadership demands that you champion the cause. This one could cost you more than money does.
What does it mean to champion a cause, in this case a capital campaign?
- You constantly and fervently pray for the campaign’s success.
- As as result, you own the campaign’s success deeply in your heart.
- Once the campaign becomes public, as a leader you must be answering questions, not asking them.
- You become a primary source for strategic solutions.
- You enlist others and get people involved.
- You have only positive things to say about the campaign.
- You tell others why the campaign is vital and why now, not tomorrow but today, is the time to do undertake this challenge.
- Whenever you are with people from the church (lobby, coffee shop, ball fields, small groups, Sunday School, etc…) you always include in the conversation the question, “Have you been praying about your role in the campaign?”
- You actively seek out stories of life change coming out of the campaign.
- You exceed your pledge.
Church leadership is high stakes. You constantly make decisions that make impact the lives of others. It is a great responsibility but filled with incredible joys.
Pastors and church leaders, I want your initiatives to succeed. But more than that I want the people in your church and those you want to reach to experience everything that Jesus has for them.
Pastors and church leaders, feel free to forward this post to your key leaders. Also, tell us what your volunteers can do to assist you as their pastor.
If I can ever serve your church in this area, I’d be honored. Contact me on this site or at www.INJOYStewardship.com.
To get future posts on leadership sent directly to you, please take advantage of the many subscription options on this site.