Paid Staff Can Hamper Spiritual Growth

Paid Staff Can Hamper Spiritual Growth

Here's a blog post that I could not improve upon, so I wanted to repost it from Tony Morgan. Church leaders pay attention. Incredible insight for pastor especially.

There are certain common refrains I hear as I’m talking with growing churches across the country. This is one of them. I’ve heard many leaders in recent months acknowledge that they’re trying to shift the ministry to volunteers rather than continuing to hire more staff. Likely, the economic challenges have precipitated that shift in strategy. Whatever the case, I think it’s a good thing.

Today, over on MinistryStrategies.com, Eric Geiger offered this thought as is relates engaging volunteers in ministry. He explains how pastors and other paid staff may actually be hampering spiritual growth by holding on to ministry:

“People who are gifted by God and called to serve Him are put on the bench as they watch the professional ministers make the ministry happen. Instead of fostering a serving posture among believers, this kind of “ministry” develops consumers. By keeping ministry from the majority of the people, they are taught to be moochers and consumers of the faith rather than participators and contributors. As their spiritual gifts go underutilized, they miss the joy of experiencing Christ by serving others.”

Wondering where your church stands on this topic? Do a little math. Take the number of people who volunteer somewhere in ministry at any given time each month. Divide that by the total number of students and adults at your church. That’ll give you a percentage. Here’s my suggestion:

• If the percentage of students and adults serving is over 45%, you are in a healthy range for engaging volunteers in ministry.
• If you are in the 30% to 45% range, you’re doing okay but there’s room for improvement.
• If you are under 30%, you need a volunteer strategy adjustment.

Now, I can hear the critics and skeptics already. You’re probably thinking, “The larger a church gets, the more likely they are to have a big staff team handling the ministry of the church.” It might surprise you to learn I see the direct opposite. For whatever reason, smaller churches I work with have a tendency to rely on the pastors and paid staff to carry the ministry load. In fact, the highest percentage I’ve ever seen (close to 60%), comes fromGranger Community Church — a church of several thousand people.

Check out the rest of Eric’s article on this topic. If you’re interested in coaching on how to improve your volunteer strategy, contact our team at MinistryStrategy.com. We’d love to help.

Meet Nick Cook!

Guest Blog: Karen Blankenship, Campus Director

Who is Nick? Well, in his own words, "Just a Crazy 23 year old guy who is running hard after Jesus, and passionately sharing His love with others."

Nick comes to us from North Carolina and we are soooo excited God brought him here as our new Children's Director. He has been working like crazy all week planning some awesome and cool events for the kids at LifeQuest this summer.

This coming week begins our week of camp for the kids ages K-5th grade! Your kids won't want miss out on the fun! LifeQuest is conducting 2 camps. Sports Camp will be from 9 am-noon July 13-16 at the Levo Gym in Riverside and Camp KidzQuest will be from 6-8:30 pm at the Belton Campus. Invite all the kids you know and bring them. For more details you can check it out on our website at www.lifequestchurch.tv.

It's going to be a great week! You don't want to miss it!

Unleash 09 Session 2

• 3:36 PM: chrispinion Unleash 2009 just kicked off their last session - New Spring band is doing Love Enough by Hill Song United


• 4:01 PM: chrispinion Anytime you lift up the name of Jesus, He just shows up!


• 4:30 PM: chrispinion #unleash "If God told you that you have one more Sunday to preach what would you say?" @perrynoble


• 4:32 PM: chrispinion Do you understand that ministry is not achieved but Received.


• 4:37 PM: chrispinion Do you want attendance or Repentance? When there is repentance your attendance will go up. Some people will leave, of course they will.


• 4:39 PM: chrispinion The Church is a body...if you close the backdoor to a body, sometimes an Enema is the best thing that can happen to a church. #unleash


• 4:42 PM: chrispinion Question #3 from @PerryNoble "Is God's Presence what you desire or is church attendance your desire" #Unleash

The Art of Delegating Part 1

As I continue to lead LifeQuest Church I am amazed at the horse power that it takes to continue to move forward. I am finding that most people don't delegate well. Why is that? I believe that most people are a lot like me in that it is much easier to just do something than delegate it out. BUT that is really short sighted if you have a BIG VISION. Because there will come a point where you can't do anymore. I mean nothing else. The question I am asking myself these days is what am I doing that I need to stop and delegate. The list is very surprising.

This morning I was conducting a staff evaluation with our Office Manager and our Director of Ministry Development. As we talked we came up with a few thoughts I wanted to share with you.

When you don't delegate -

1. You rob someone of a Blessing - they need to have an opportunity to use their gifts. You aren't God's Gift to this world ALONE!

2. You build an organization that can't grow past your own abilities.

3. You actually put a cap on the organization and you are really saying, "I am more important than the mission, SO if I can't do it, IT won't get done - Bad idea.

4. You will limit the number of people you will reach - in essence you are saying that you don't care of people don't hear the Gospel or even go to hell.

Why don't you delegate? If it is a weakness why? Share your thoughts.

Questions and Quotes that are keeping me up at Night Part 1

I wanted to list a few things that I have been dwelling on lately. Some are in the form of a question because I don't have them answered yet. Others are just quotes.

“The difference between where we are and where we want to be is the painful decisions we are unwilling to make.” – Ed Young, Jr. (I think that’s who originally said it)

“Thinking that things are going to slow down and we’ll be able to get our schedule under control is a lie from Hell” – Perry Noble

What adjustments and risks do we need to take in 2009 to reach more kids than ever before?

“Fairness ended in the Garden Of Eden. It’s not our job as pastors to be fair, but to follow God’s leading first and foremost” – Perry Noble

“Are you bringing on leaders…or projects?” – Jeff Kapusta

What is it in my leadership that I need to change for 09?