The Work of the Pastor: Admin or People?

If I asked you a question parallel to the title of this post, what would you answer? If I asked, “What is the work of the pastor, admin or people? – circle one!” I bet I know what you would say. You would say…

Yeah, we both know. 

But, if you didn’t:

• Organize your contacts…
  
• Track emails from church people…
  
• Keep accurate lists of members…
  
• Prepare the program side of ministry…
  
• Maintain an organized office…
  
• Arrive to appointments on time…
  
• Not preach the same five passages over and over…
  
• Record pertinent financial information…
  
• Create meeting agendas…
  
• Return important phone calls…
  
• Remember peoples’ names…

Then how would you ever accomplish the people side of ministry??

So, again I ask: What is the work of the pastor? Admin or People?

That’s right! PEOPLE!

I tricked you didn’t I? :-)

WHY I GOT INTO MINISTRY IN THE FIRST PLACE!
On Saturday I headed out of my garage to meet a church member for lunch. This person is going through the ringer with a situation in their life. I was going to personally and eagerly contribute two hours of my time to just talk with them, care for them, and love them. As I pulled out of my driveway I said to myself, “Yeah, this is why I got into ministry in the first place! To help people!”

Today my wife and I had lunch after the morning service with a new couple in our church. We got to know their story. Our hearts went out to them as they shared some struggles. We rejoiced on the inside as they shared blessings they’ve received from the people in our church. Yup! That’s why we got into ministry in the first place – to be a part of creating a church that cared for and loved new people!

Tonight I stood next to Jonny as he watched his beloved Green Bay Packers go down in flames, and I thought… Oh wait, that’s an illustration for another blog post! Sorry.

Now, where was I? Oh yeah, tonight I was in the Fellowship Hall with Jonny and a number of our members who had just helped feed 60 college students. I heard Jonny expressing praise and gratitude to a volunteer who did a phenomenal job working with children this past week. I watched this man smile and say that he had to learn how to work with that age group of kids. I know he walked out of the church building a little lighter tonight, and a little more confident that he was appreciated.

On Thursday I got the joy of an email exchange with one of our podcast listeners who wrote this in a review of the 200churches Podcast: “I love this podcast! Thank you for taking the time to encourage small church pastors. As a pastor of a church plant, this podcast is a constant encouragement to me. Keep up the great work!”

Yeah, this is why we do the podcast, to encourage pastors! Do I love some of the tech tasks involved? Yes. But why? Because they allow Jonny and I to give hundreds and hundreds of pastors a fresh dose of weekly encouragement!

This is why we got into ministry in the first place! As Dickie V would say – “For PEOPLE babeeee!!” Yes, for people. Because it was for people that Jesus died. It was people he served. It was people that he loved. And it is people in whom he is pouring his Spirit.

Admin? Yeah, it has only one purpose – to help us do work with people! That’s it! Admin is never for the sake of admin. No way! Administrative tasks are always for the purpose of taking care of people better!

Our Financial Secretary inputs, organizes, and reports on – figures. Numbers. Money. She has minimal interaction with people in her job.

But I tell her this often: “What you do allows all of our church family to give to the LORD with joy, freedom, and abandon! Our people can give generously, without ever a second thought about how the money will be handled or managed! You free our peoples’ hearts to give to the LORD! You create freedom!”

Admin is for people! If you or I are doing administrative tasks simply because we like to be organized – I really don’t think that is a good enough reason. Only if our organization helps us to better love and serve people.

How can you leverage your organizational and administrative acumen to better love and serve people? Sure, you can chew on that thought today - go ahead!

Happy Monday Pastors! Jonny and I hope that you have a wonderful week loving and serving God, by loving and serving people.

This week’s podcast is about transitions! Episode 105 is just for you if you are involved in making any kind of transitions in your church right now. We will talk about leadership, process, and, of course, people. That’s this Wednesday, on the 200churches Podcast!

Can't wait until Wednesday to listen to another episode? Below is a great episode from the archives with Leadership Guru Dan Reiland on training and mentoring leaders!