Why We Fail

Misunderstood Roles

Pastors and people often misunderstand the nature of the ministry and their responsibilities to each other. Pastors often feel they are called to do ministry, not prepare others to do their job. Believers often think they hire the pastor to do ministry. It is not something God has called them to do.

False Assumptions

Pastors assume their people do not want to be involved. They are wrong. People want to serve Christ and find meaningful ways to express their gifts and callings. But they do not want to feel forced, be overburdened with church work, taken advantage of, or asked to do something they are not gifted or trained to do.

The Tyranny Of The Urgent

Overburdened by day-to-day responsibilities, pastors often put off training because it does not create an immediate crisis. Sadly, this short-term gain quickly becomes a long-term pain and creates a cycle of failure. Failing to recruit and train workers means no one is available, qualified, or prepared to help them. The pastor’s workload continues to increase. To compensate, he continues to put off recruiting and training. It is an ugly, self-perpetuating cycle.

Fear

Some believers fear they will be asked to do something that is not meaningful or does not fit their gifts and callings. They fear being overwhelmed, overburdened, or asked to carry an ever-increasing load. They fear burnout and becoming stuck in a difficult or unrewarding ministry with no way out. They also fear failure.

Many church leaders are afraid to release important ministry to people who may fail or create problems instead of solving them. They fear disloyalty and the devastating consequences of entrusting ministry to those who cannot be trusted. Some are afraid another’s success may somehow diminish them.

Ignorance

Many church leaders do not know how to train. They are not to be blamed because no one ever taught them. Instead, they invest their time, effort, and energy in other areas of ministry. It is easier to do the work than to train someone else.

Rob Burkhart is director of adult and children’s ministries, Michigan District Assemblies of God. He is author of Awakening the Sleeping Giant: Maximizing Your Sunday School.