In the normal church, the pastor must have workers and assistants that help him in the onward movement of the church. Workers in the church who should be supporting and assisting the pastor fall into various categories. All categories of Christian workers must work with the pastor as partners in progress. |
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However, the reality today is that many workers have not learnt how to be a good and effective worker with the pastor in the church. What you find is that many pastoral assistants are doing more harm than good in the church. Many pastoral assistants have been the rallying point against the leadership of the pastor.
They confront, confuse, and confound the pastor. They do everything to pull down the ladder of their leader. Small wonder that nothing is working in their own lives. Pastoral assistants and workers must not prove to be too know. They must jettison pride of their talents, gifts, money, positions and names in the church. They must remember that despite the great wisdom of Ahitophel, he was still under David, and one prayer from David stopped the flow of that wisdom in Ahitophel's life (II Sam. 14:31).
Now, let us consider how various categories of workers in the church should work with the pastor.
1. Associate Pastors:
Associate pastors are next to the pastor in the church. They must work with their pastors with sincere and honest motive. As an associate pastor, you must follow his vision. You must not have the attitude of an associate but behave as your uvm boss. You must rep0l1 everything to your leader. Don't deceive him by telling him untruthful stories and don't let the ambition for money, position and tame push you out when the Lord still wants you to be serving under his leadership. As an associate pastor, you are in a sensitive position.
The tendency to undermine your leader will be very strong. Members will tempt you and try to provoke you to act rashly. Unfortunately, many associate pastors listen to their ungodly wives and members, thereby failing the test of God for their lives and ministries. Remember, if you pull down the ladder of your leader, you are simply pulling down the ladder of your own leadership.
2. Executive Committee Members:-
As an Executive Committee Member, you must stop arrogating the power of life and death to yourself. Every Committee member must submit under the leadership of the pastor. He / she must support the vision of the pastor and give him the free hand to lead the church according to God's mind. This category of pastoral assistants must be good influence and example in the church. They must show care and concern for the pastor.
The welfare of the pastor must be uppermost in their heart. Their meetings and deliberations must never be held in the absence of the pastor. Such IS tantamount to rebellion. Your deliberations must help the growth and progress of the church. Moral and financial support is highly valued.
3. Elders and Deacons:
It is on record that Christians that serves in these roles in cChurches have antagonized pastors more than any other categories of church workers. But such should stop in the interest of the church and themselves. They must know that pastor's antagonists don't sleep, eat and die well. Calamity, wrath and evil occurrences are their portion and that of their offspring.
Deacons, Deaconesses and Elders must help the pastor to succeed in the church. They must be good examples to the flock. Each must be a model of prayer, submission and respect for the pastor. In cChurches where these people have the power to punish pastors, evil will always befall them from the Lord.
4. Men in the Church:-
The men must stand as strong pillar of support to the pastor in the church. The men must not cause problem but be a solution in the church. Financial, moral and physical support must come from them to the pastor. Men in the church must be real men that live out the word of God in their daily lives, take care of their families and stand up for what is right.
5. Women in the Church:-
The women are the usuals of pastors. However, they must not tempt him to sin. They must work to help him to move the church forward. Bickering, infighting and petty jealousies must be done away with amidst and among the women in the church. All hands must be on deck to move the church towards the right direction.
6. Every Worker in the Church:-
Youths are usually found among the volunteer workers in the church. In many cases, the youths tend to be self-willed and rebellious. But this should not be the case in the church. Every youth must find a place to use his or her gift in the church and support the pastor for growth. The Choristers must not act independently of the pastor.
The Ushers, Sunday School Teachers, children workers, interpreters, and technical departments must work in love, respect and honour with the pastor. Seeking to make him work with joy and happiness in the church must be uppermost in their hearts. Operation peace and progress in the church demands that the pastor and his workers must work together in unity, love, understanding and mutual respect. The people cannot really progress without the pastor, and the pastor cannot achieve tremendous success in ministry without the cooperation and support of the people. |
