Pastors are all too familiar with the struggle of identifying potential volunteers to lead ministries in the church. When a position becomes vacant, the questions begin to swirl: Who would be a good fit? Should it be a man or a woman? Maybe a younger person with kids? Perhaps a retired person with more “free time?”
Those questions are legitimate, but they may place the pastor at the wrong starting point. In November 2022, I interviewed five long-tenured senior pastors on the topic of identifying and training volunteer ministry leaders. When asked how they have identified people to fill volunteer leadership roles over the years, I was amazed that their answers could be summed up in one sentence: Find someone who is already faithful.
The five men I interviewed have pastoral experience ranging from 33-to-59 years, and they have seen their share of successes and failures related to volunteer ministry leadership. They shared so much wisdom, but for brevity, I’ll pass along the two most significant takeaways from my time with them.
1. Faithfulness is proven, not assumed.
The Bible is full of lessons in successful leadership practices. One pastor pointed out that as we review the Bible, we’ll find that God’s approach was to pick people who were already working. Consider the story of David, Israel’s greatest king. When it came time for Samuel to anoint him, David wasn’t living the royal lifestyle. Instead, he was hard at work, tending his father’s sheep (1 Sam. 16:1-13).
Nehemiah is another example. God needed someone to return to Jerusalem and lead the effort of rebuilding the city’s walls. This would-be leader was not idle. He was faithfully serving as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia when God chose him (Neh. 1:1-2:1).
Most church-goers are familiar with the stories of Jesus recruiting His disciples and that familiar call, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men” (Mark 1:17). These men would eventually lead the entire New Testament church. Still, they were not trained members of the clergy. Do you know what they were? They were faithful. They were faithful to their secular jobs, and (with one exception) that faithfulness spilled over into their service for Jesus.
2. Faithfulness extends beyond one’s willingness to work.
The pastors I interviewed quickly pointed out that faithfulness goes beyond just showing up when it’s time to work. The Christian leader has to be faithful in all areas of life. Paul told Timothy to remain devoted to his study of God’s Word (2 Tim. 2:15). Solomon wrote that faithful people tell the truth (Prov. 14:5). Hebrews 10:24-25 implores all believers to faithfully meet together with other Christians, a practice that is best experienced through the regular worship services of the local church.
Some pastors told me they are inclined to hold all volunteer leaders to the same standards Paul lays out for pastors and deacons (1 Tim. 3:1-13). These standards require faithfulness in all areas of life.
There’s a reason to be faithful.
When it comes to faithfully stewarding a ministry in the local church – whether you are paid or a volunteer – there is one last thing to keep in mind. It will feel good when the pastor or someone else commends you for your service, but that cannot be your goal. Your reason for faithfulness should not be to receive the praise of people. Those who remain faithful will receive the ultimate satisfaction of receiving their praise from God (1 Cor. 4:1-5).
JeremyLangley.com 
Jeremy, great blog! I think your insights are relevant in all churches. Working with you through the DMin program has been great, and I always look forward to seeing your work. I will pursue a website in DMin853, and a blog in DMIN854, so be looking out to give me some great peer reviews! I’m praying for your continued success. Keep up the great work!
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Thank you, Steve!
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