(some elements adopted from “Simply Strategic Volunteers” by Tony Morgan and Tim Stevens.)
One of the wonderful blessings that we have at our church is our gifted pastoral staff. As an intern, it has been privilege to work with our pastors and be mentored by them.
As I work closely with our staff, I realize that I often believe that they are super-heroes! After all, they are employed by the church to do this great work of ministry. It’s easy for me to sit back and expect the pastor to do all the ministry work, thinking that he is able to do things that I cannot.
Pastor Tim Stevens writes that many of us follow this myth of the Superpastor without knowing it. We assume that ordinary laypeople are unable to do things that we normally ask a pastor to do. When a pastor is at a lunch meeting, he’s asked to pray thanks for the food. We expect Superpastor to visit us in the hospital. We ask Superpastor for advice on everything from finances to marriage.
God has called our pastors to not simply be ministry doers, but ministry leaders. God has called them to lead the body of Christ. This means that they should not be left to do all the work of ministry. Other people are just as equipped and gifted in certain ministry tasks.
The apostle Peter reminds us that God has equipped all of us for service in his kingdom:
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. -2 Peter 1:3
What tasks do you see our pastors doing that you could do just as well? How has God gifted and enabled you to serve others? Are you leaders at your job and school? How can you use those abilities and gifts to serve people through our church?
Can you imagine what it would look like if we all used our gifts, ability, and influence to do ministry within the church, and freed up our pastors to lead and shepherd our congregation? Think about how much more effective our church family could be for the kingdom of God!
So, next time you see a pastor doing something that you also have the ability to do, why don’t you ask if you could help with that task? Our pastors do not have super-powers! There are many things that they do that we can do just as well. Next time there is someone in need, will you use your expertise to serve them? Let’s all be faithful with what God has given us!
