From the moment we are born until we pass from this world, each of us live under some form of leadership. Leadership may come in the form of parents, family, community, church, employment, government, politics, or a number of other ways. Being under good leadership is important.
Our church pastor was recently called to another church, so our church is in the process of finding a new pastor. The pastor’s resignation was a wake-up call to me on the importance of good, healthy leadership. When I ran across an article by Dr. Jim Denison (Denison Forum), entitled “Five Questions Pastors Should Be Asking,” I was so intrigued, I just had to share some highlights. While his article is specific to pastors, I think it speaks more broadly to leaders in general.
1. Are you committed to your call?
Lifeway Research found that only about 1 percent of pastors abandon the pulpit each year. Many predicted a more rapid decline during the pandemic, but the attrition rate did not change. It’s important to attribute the faithfulness of the called since, historically, pastors are not quitters.
2. Do you experience ministry fatigue?
As of January 2022, Lifeway Research released the findings of their “Greatest Needs of Pastors” study. Fifty-four percent said their ministry is frequently overwhelming, and 48 percent often feel the demands of ministry are more than they can handle. Ministry fatigue is the slow burn after an extended season of difficult ministry. If fatigue sets in or goes indefinitely unchecked, it can easily lead to chronic burnout or clinical depression. An astounding 84% of pastors are on call 24/7, which is detrimental physically and mentally.
3. Do you feel conflicted about your vision?
You invest countless hours to making ministry plans, then they are completely changed or stopped altogether. This affects attendance and service, which could well lead to conflict in the church.
4. Do you isolate from other pastors?
The greatest needs among pastors are friendships (69%) and fellowship (64%). Many pastors may feel isolated in a crowd and need guidance on issues they are facing.
5. Do you feel optimistic about the future?
The majority of pastors believe you cannot have both faith and fear, meaning they are optimistic about the future. While faith does not completely remove all fear, it emboldens us to face them with a peace that surpasses all understanding.
Being a leader takes courage, discipline, and determination. While a great leader can bring great success, it also comes at the cost of being judged and overwhelmed. The Bible talks about many wonderful leaders and how God blessed them for their work. Scripture encourages men and women who step up and lead.
“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” (Matthew 20:26)
While the questions above are focused on pastors, each question can be asked of any leadership no matter in what capacity they serve. Let’s face it, whether we are in positions of power or not, we all have influence over others (either many or a few). So, I ask you … do you consider yourself to be a leader … a Godly leader?
Debby Efurd is co-founder of Cary John Efurd Ministries of Pittsburg, TX. She has been a contributor to Bound for Life and written numerous articles published in LifeNews, Christian Post and the Baptist Standard, and is the author of Go Tell It! Debby can be contacted at caryjohnefurdinistries@gmail.com. Visit her at the Second Mile blog at https://debbyefurd.com.
Tagged: church, courage, leadership
