📖 Serving Servants

Why a staff needs more than oversight.

One of the greatest assets of a lead pastor is the support staff. Whether paid or volunteer, staff are essential to the church’s effectiveness. Let’s be honest. Church feels different behind the scenes. For those who serve week in and week out, the church is not just a place of worship. It is their workplace, their calling, and often their second home.

Staff need the church to be different for them. They need more than vision statements and task lists. The best way to honor those who serve is to serve them with honor.

A lead pastor’s responsibility is not just to preach sermons or cast vision. It is to ensure those who serve the ministry are cared for physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Staff cannot be left with a mindset of “work out your own salvation and turn in the report by Friday.” Yet without intentionality, that is precisely what happens.

Your staff needs more than oversight. They need pastoral care, the same kind of attention Jesus gave to Peter, James, and John. When a lead pastor cares deeply for staff, the whole church benefits for generations to come.

Here are a few priorities every lead pastor should consider:

Family First

Remind your staff that their first ministry is at home. No spouse or child should feel second to the church. Ministry should never cost someone their marriage or their children’s hearts. Make it clear in both word and structure that family comes first.

Celebrate staff when they choose family over extra duties. Encourage them to worship with their families. Rotate schedules so they can sit in service together once or twice a month. Model what you want them to live. God honors those who honor their home.

A healthy church staff starts with healthy homes.

Break the Time Clock

Ministry is not about hours. It is about impact. We do not trade time. We offer our gifts for God’s glory. That said, staff should not feel they must be available all day and night to prove their worth. Trust their rhythms—set standards that honor their time, not just their tasks.

Some staff thrive working from home, while others need the structure of the office. Create space for both. What matters most is output rooted in peace, not stress. Empower staff to serve from overflow, not exhaustion.

Win Souls, Even on Staff

Let’s be clear. Unsaved people are working in the church. The goal is not perfection. It is discipleship. Just like the congregation, your staff needs spiritual growth.

Start every staff meeting with a devotion or word from the pastor’s heart. Show them you care about their souls, not just their skills. When the leader shares honestly and spiritually, it sets the tone for a culture of growth, accountability, and faithfulness.

Create a Positive Environment

Many pastors are unaware of the silent tension on their teams. One staff member once told me, “I love the church. I just hate working with her.” Her productivity was high, but her joy was gone.

Culture matters. Foster an environment of trust and camaraderie. Consider peer evaluations, not just top-down reviews, where staff can share wins and areas for growth. Your goal is not just staff performance. It is staff unity.

Level Up. Do Not Settle for Loyalists

Great leaders are not intimidated by greatness. Surround yourself with people who are so gifted that you would work for them. Do not just hire people who say yes to everything. Hire people who challenge you and complement your weaknesses.

Involve staff in hiring decisions. Let them give feedback after a group interaction, not just based on resumes. But remember, the final decision still rests with the lead pastor. Lead with humility, but do not outsource your authority.

If you only hire people “smaller” than you, the church will never grow bigger than you.

Invest in Team Building

Do not let the only time your staff sees your pastoral side be on Sundays. Schedule regular gatherings for spiritual formation. Lead the training yourself. Teach them what you expect, both in skill and in spirit.

Take time to develop the people who will form the ministry. You do not need expensive retreats. Start with intentional presence. Invest in their growth, and they will trust you.

In Essence

When staff members are seen, fed, and valued, they serve with joy, which flows to the congregation. Do not settle for a church that is vibrant on Sunday but dry from Monday to Saturday. Serve those who serve. That is leadership worth following.