Over and over again, Church Growth Research have confirmed the number one status of the pastor to the growth of the Church. The pastor is not the church, but God has decided not to do anything worthwhile in the church in the absence of the pastor. In the economy of God, the pastor figure as No. 1.  

The message of Jesus to the seVen churches in Asia Minor were directed to the pastors - angels-of those churches (Rev. 2:1- 8,.12,18; 3:17,17). The pastors were of much importance to Jesus than anything else. Growth in the church and ministry is largely determined by the personality of the pastor.

In this teaching, we are trying to bean our searchlight on those habits that separate great pastors from good ones.   A. Definition: A habit is a repeated behaviour - something so customary that you can do, without thinking about it. We are all creatures of habit. Great effectiveness in life consists of doing some little things consistently. Effectiveness mean making impact, being result orinted and life transforming.  

1. There are harmful, unhealthy habits that ruin pastors, such as over-eating, moral lapses, failure to keep appointments, laziness and procrastination, insensitivity, talking too much and prayerlessness. Many pastors remain at small, good and average levels in their pastoral ministry as a result of these harmful habits.  

2. There is a whole world of difference between effectiveness and efficienty. One can be efficient in preaching, praying, study, can general ministry activities without necessarily being effective. Efficiency is being routine, monotony, mechanical and lifeless motion. But efficiency is concerned with mighty impact and result.   Healthy habits of high effective pastors speak of those things that enable them to create mighty impact, growth, results, breakthrough and life transformation. They are the factors that separate great, outstanding pastors from good and small ones.   B. Healthy Habits of Highly Effective Pastors Let us being to enumerate, one after another, healthy habits that make some pastors to be highly effective in the pastoral ministry.   1. Relationship with God - Lk. 1:35 They are not only born-again, they also maintain a daily, consistent and growing relationship with the Lord. They take time to nurture their love relationship with the Lord through Bible study, prayer, worship and communion. They take the Holy Spirit as their partner. They don't use Him, He is the one using them - II Cor. 13:14.  

2. Personal Development - II Pet. 1:5-11 They know that growth doesn't start around them, but begins inside them. They therefore work on their character, deeper and deeper. The higher they aspire to go, the deeper they go in character development.  

3. Clear Vision - Pro. 29:18 They have recieved vision from God and continue to receive. They see more, see better, see before and see higher and deeper than others. They pursue the clear mandate and call received from the Lord.  

4. Leadership Skills - Ecc. 10:10 Highly effective pastors have come to the realization that they cannot remain pastors and see mighty church growth, they must become leaders. They must develop and acquir leadership skills that will better enhance their effectiveness. They do that by learning, studying and applying better leadership strategies.  

5. Communication Skills - Neh. 2:17-18 Effective pastors are good communicators. They are able to share and pass across their vision, goal and plans until the people embrace them and join them for their fulfilment.  

6. Positive - Attitude - II Co. 4:16-18 They have a positive attitude to people and circumstances. They do not use obstables as excuse for failure. They turn them into stepping- stones of success. They have come to realize that no matter what happened to you yesterday, your attitude today is your choice.  

7. Strategic Thinking They always think strategically. They don't waste time on old ways and methods of doing things. They think through conventional wisdom and organize things in a systematic and strategic ways.  

8. Team Spirit They know they cannot do it alone and therefore select, train and develop care under leaders to share the burden of the work. They are able to maintain team spirit because everyone contributes something vital to the work.  

9. Delegation They don't major in minor, but they majoy in major and leave the minor to subordinates. They invest in training, and delegation and then trust others to do it as well as themselves.  

10. Change - Agent: They don't settle in streotyped or status quo. They instigate and institute change where necessary. They are not afraid of change in programmes, structures, systems and methods. They see change as a friend not an enemy.  

11. Focus - Phil. 3:13 They are aware that if you don't have a focus, you will never be a focus. They therefore don't pretend to be able to do everything well. They identify thier priority areas and do them exceptionally well. Eventually, their strengths make up for their weaknesses.  

12. Excellence: They always strive to do their best and be at their best. Quality is very important in every aspect of ministry. They set some high standards under which they refuse to operate. Quality in preaching, programmes, building and facilities are always required and maintained.  

13. Self-Sacrifice: They always deny themselves. They give up to go up and they give up to stay up. They work very hard. They are not lazy and indolent. They have very strong work habits.  

14. Family: They are good family men. They strive a balance between ministry and family. They don't want to succeed in ministry and fail at home. They therefore create time to spend with their spouse and children. They know that after God, their family is the next.  

15. Teachable Spirit: They know they must keep learning in order to be current and relevant. They posses a learning spirit in high measure. You could always see them reading, listening to quality tapes and attending quality conferences. They don't joke with materials, resources and books.   16. Networking: They usually seek and maintain good relationship and networking with other highly effective pastors. They learn from each other.  

17. Analysis and Evaluation: They are constantly asking, how am I fairing? What impact am I making? They us seek for honest answeres and adjust accordingly.  

18. Prayer Backup: They know what nothing will work in the absence of prayer. They therefore don't only pray, they also seek for prayer support for others. In actual fact, they have some full-time or part-time intercessors that lift them up regularly in prayer to God. These consistent prayers seeks to lieft them up higher level of ministry effectiveness.  

19. Relationship Skills: They seek to become people person. They know how to relate with people of every stature. They realize that if their relational skills are weak, their leadership will be greatly affected.  

20. Rest and Relaxation: They take time off to rest, relax and renew their strength. They know that if they don't rest a while, they may rest in peace. If they don't come apart, they may be broken apart. They usually divorce daily, withdraw weekly and abandoned annually.   God desires that every pastor must be highly effective. Therefore these points can be adopted, adapted by you if you desire to be pastor God wants to make you.  

LINUS ELISHA is the Senior Pastor of Mighty Manifestation Ministries,
Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
www.mightymanifestation.com

	Do you have any comments on this story?
	Make three Prayer Requests now?
	Has the Lord answered your prayers? Share your testimonies here to encourage others that the LORD DOES NOT LIE.
	Do you have any suggestions to make this site serve you better?