A pastor should never complain he does not have quality people to work with. Volunteers and leaders are already in your congregation beginning from your first member. The problem is that you do not know how to spot and train them. Good leaders are recognized and trained. It’s the pastors duty to choose leaders and shepherds. Look for certain basic qualities to tell who qualifies to be chosen as a shepherd to be trained for greater exploits.
As you pastor, see who God is using by noticing the following:
- See who comes more often for prayer meetings.
- See who is volunteering more at church
- See who is spending lengthier times at church
- See who is coming consistently to church
If you see anyone like that, personally invite them to join the leaders group. Your ability to do more depends on how many leaders you raise.
… his fame spread far and wide, for the LORD gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful.
2 Chronicles 26:15
So the Lord said to Moses: “Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you. Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone.
Numbers 11:16-17
This verse highlights a couple of things to know about receiving marvelous help:
- Your ability to recognize leaders is important.
- You should look through your current congregation for them
- You should select them after you have recognized their leadership
- Let them draw closer to you and stand with you to do the work
- Let them do the work of bearing the burden of the people with you
Practical Ways To Raise Leaders
- Look for those who come every Sunday and volunteer
- Personally invite them to join the leadership
- Share with them the benefits of being a leader
- Explain to them their expectations of sticking around all day on Sunday or training days. When expectations are clear in the beginning, conflicts tend to be at the minimum