Did anyone watch Undercover Boss last Friday night? Enrique "Rick" Silva, CEO of Checkers and Rally's, went undercover at his own company pretending to be a failed pharmacist who wanted to start his own franchise. At his first undercover location he soon realized that the employees were not following the procedures outlined by the company and could not even tell him what they were. The general manager barked orders to the employees, criticized, put down, and even threatened them at one point. Finally, Silva had had enough and called the GM out to the parking lot where he asked him why he was being so disrespectful to others. After a short confrontation, Silva revealed his identity as CEO and demanded that the manager shut down the restaurant. The manager realized that he could not pretend anymore. He confessed to Silva that he had never been trained as a manager; in fact, not a single employee at that location had been properly trained. The general manager position was dumped on him when the previous GM quit. "I'm doing the best I can," he said, but Silva did not agree that this was his best. He had pretended to know what he was doing and had overcompensated for his insecurity by lording his new position over his employees.
Sometimes unexpected or unwanted responsibilities are forced upon us, and ministry is no exception. When the youth pastor at our church moved away, my parents were the only ones available to keep the youth group running until another pastor came along. It was brand new territory for us, and even with our whole family working together we didn't know how long we could keep it going or if we were making the right choices. Whether it be a single class, event, or entire ministry department, most of us have had responsibilities dumped on us or been thrust into leadership roles that we feel unprepared to handle. If you're in such a position or new to ministry, you may feel inadequate and pressured to meet certain expectations. We all react to this pressure and insecurity in different ways, but tying to act the part and do it all on your own is the worst mistake you can make. Nothing will burn you out quicker.
If you feel under qualified, connect with another pastor or mentor who is qualified. Don't be intimidated by the term leader; ministry is a team sport. Find yourself some teammates, and don't go it alone. And remember that humility, passion, and wisdom can make up for a lot of training. Ask God for these things and for help in your ministry. Remember that the true success of any ministry is based on His will and your willingness to follow, not on the strength of your abilities.
Sometimes unexpected or unwanted responsibilities are forced upon us, and ministry is no exception. When the youth pastor at our church moved away, my parents were the only ones available to keep the youth group running until another pastor came along. It was brand new territory for us, and even with our whole family working together we didn't know how long we could keep it going or if we were making the right choices. Whether it be a single class, event, or entire ministry department, most of us have had responsibilities dumped on us or been thrust into leadership roles that we feel unprepared to handle. If you're in such a position or new to ministry, you may feel inadequate and pressured to meet certain expectations. We all react to this pressure and insecurity in different ways, but tying to act the part and do it all on your own is the worst mistake you can make. Nothing will burn you out quicker.
If you feel under qualified, connect with another pastor or mentor who is qualified. Don't be intimidated by the term leader; ministry is a team sport. Find yourself some teammates, and don't go it alone. And remember that humility, passion, and wisdom can make up for a lot of training. Ask God for these things and for help in your ministry. Remember that the true success of any ministry is based on His will and your willingness to follow, not on the strength of your abilities.
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