The Big Three
Dear Pastors
Most all Pastors are generalists, probably about 95% of us. This is because our churches are simply not big enough organisations to give us the opportunity to specialise.
That means we have a lot of different tasks to do each week and certainly each month. Many of those tasks we didn’t expect when we signed up to lead a church, we don’t actually like many of them and we are not well trained for them. Every week 3000 or so pastors/ministers/vicars/priests go to work in New Zealand to do administration, managing work flow, handling conflict, building teams, governance, communications, counselling, casting a compelling vision, praying for folks, teaching the bible, organising programmes, officiate at weddings and funerals and perhaps most challenging of all these days engaging committed volunteers. Frankly, it’s a tough gig and I am not aware of any other job that is quite so diverse in its requirements and demands. Perhaps being a small business owner might come close.
Given this quantum of work, I find it helpful to think (and organise myself) around what I call The Big Three. They are Leadership, Teaching and Pastoral Care.
Take a few minutes to think about these sphere’s of work and the tasks needed to get them done successfully over the long haul. Again very diverse. But here’s the thing. Do the ‘Big Three’ really well and you are well on the way to developing a healthy and growing church. In other words if your people feel they are on a mission (leadership), are taught well (that’s far more than Sunday sermons) and are loved and cared for especially in times of special need then you have a great foundation for a fruitful and growing ministry.
But here is the rub. You are unlikely to be excellent at all three unless you are an exceptionally talented person. You may be great at two of the three. Based on my own experience as a pastor and church consultant many of you are excellent at only one. What I mean with that is that you will have talent and skill in other areas that these big three don’t require. You may be surprised how often that is the case.
So what are the ‘key’ tasks for each of The Big Three.
Leadership. The ability to see what others can’t see as yet and then communicate it in such a way that the people you lead are inspired and keen to sign up and get involved. Having done that you have the ability to put together a plan, that get’s buy in and plenty of ‘get up and go’.
Teaching. The ability to preach and teach sermons, bible studies and one-on-one’s that give people a great love for biblical truth and a deep desire to be fully devoted followers of Christ at home, at work, at sport, at wherever. The ability to make learners for life otherwise known as discipleship.
Pastoral Care. This is where the real rub happens. It’s where the 30 or so New Testament ‘one another’s’ are worked out every day in the trenches of church work. It’s where we as pastors have the unbelievable privilege to be called into life’s toughest of moments, whether in a family living room, at the hospital bed, in a court room or prison, at a 21st birthday party, to be the ‘lucky’ guy or gal to tie the knot at a beautiful wedding, to hold a brand new baby and when life draws to a close to stand with that family that you have gotten to know so well and usher their elderly parent and grandparent into the hands of our loving God. You want to talk about privilege and beauty and joy and sorrow and……….
Pastor, hear me please. You can’t be brilliant at all of the above. Some of these tasks you do in fact do brilliantly, others not so. But here is the good news. You are the one ‘called’ to serve these people in your care. You are the one God will use greatly. You are the one that if you so choose can get better and strengthen those areas of weakness. And if you stay open and vulnerable before God you will be amazed what God can and will do in and through you.
So be of good courage.
Blessings
Alan
Announcement
My wife, Jeanette has just published her first book. It has a long title, ”An Ordinary Life Lived in a Moment of Time Loving an Extraordinary God”. It is her story in a beautiful little book of 90 pages and includes some of her poetry and a photo gallery. It took me 75 minutes to read (she decided to keep it a surprise). It’s a moving story of a young kiwi girl growing up in heartland NZ, a mentally unwell father and all the pain associated with that, the tragic loss of her first husband at age 27 and so much more. Jeanette has worked as a Nurse, A Baptist Pastor, A Spiritual Director, a Mother and now a ‘hands on’ Gran. If you would like a copy please email her at Jeanette.vink1@gmail.com. $15.00 +postage.
Alan Vink is currently the Executive Director for LeadershipWorx. Prior to this role he has been the Executive Director of Willow Creek Association NZ (WillowNZ), a Baptist pastor (23 years), Bible College teacher, and church consultant.
