Pastors want to see every congregant growing spiritually. However, we sometimes overlook those who assist us in ministry.

Whether leading a team of staff members or volunteers, we should invest in their spiritual health and development.

As a lead pastor, I oversee six staff pastors, ranging in age from 26 to 68. We recently went through a church crisis that affected each person differently.

Additionally, these team members have experienced a variety of life events over the past year, including getting married, having a baby, receiving a stage-four cancer diagnosis, grieving the loss of a parent, and buying a first home.

To lead my team toward spiritual health and growth amid these ups and downs, I have focused on six specific areas.

1. Personal Authenticity

Before we can lead team members toward transformation, we need to prioritize and experience it.

As I study Scripture in preparation for sermons, I often share what I am learning with my team.

I also discuss my personal devotional life, opening up about how the Holy Spirit is shaping my heart. I talk about my spiritual practices, such as prayer and Bible reading, while encouraging team members to ask questions and talk about their habits.

People appreciate vulnerability, accessibility and authenticity from their leaders. These traits are especially important to younger leaders.

Team members are not looking for superheroes, but sincere followers of Jesus who are transparent about their spiritual formation.

2. Faith Crises

All believers experience events that shake their faith at times.

It might be the death of a loved one, a medical diagnosis, a church wound, or simply the state of the world that leads people to question what they believe about God.

A crisis of faith can be devastating, but it can also become a catalyst for renewal and growth.

In addition to offering prayer, emotional support, and work flexibility, I try to connect those who are struggling with someone in whom they can safely confide. Christian counselors, mentors, and friends can become lifelines during faith crises.

3. Home Life

Every staff member has a life outside of ministry. I am single and childless, but I recognize and acknowledge the family obligations of staff members.

Last year, I made the mistake of hosting a staff prayer event on the first day of school. Some team members were unavailable because they needed to accompany young children to their classrooms. I’m learning to pay better attention to family life rhythms.

During staff prayer times, we intercede for our families. We plan fun activities that include spouses and children of team members.

These gestures foster a sense of community and support. They give staff pastors a chance to share their wisdom and experiences with one another on everything from parenting to caring for aging family members.

4. Supportive Friendships

God created us for community. Ministry leaders are often so busy cultivating community for everyone else that they miss living in the reality of it themselves.

With today’s pastors experiencing burnout and leaving ministry
at an alarming rate, developing a network of support is essential.

Friends help us survive in ministry and thrive in life. With today’s pastors experiencing burnout and leaving ministry at an alarming rate, developing a network of support is essential.

Lead pastors can teach the value of relationships by prioritizing them in their own lives. My team members can name my closest friends and mentors, and they know how to contact them.

I talk with team members about their friendships as well. I listen to their stories and ask whether they are meeting regularly with mentors and experiencing life-giving friendships.

Scripture highlights the importance of friends. For example, Ruth helped Naomi overcome bitterness and experience life again (Ruth 1:16; 4:15). Jonathan and David developed a close bond amid difficult circumstances (1 Samuel 18:1–4). Jesus referred to His disciples as friends (John 15:14–15).

5. Mundane Moments

Too often in ministry, we focus on events and weekend services as the places where God shows up.

It’s easy to forget that the Lord is with His people even in life’s ordinary moments — while grocery shopping, paying bills, helping kids with homework, mowing the lawn, and caring for sick family members.

Scripture is replete with instances of people encountering God while doing ordinary things in ordinary places, like Moses tending sheep in the wilderness (Exodus 3) and two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35).

I frequently remind team members to focus on God’s presence throughout the day. Each day is an opportunity to encounter and grow in Christ.

There are numerous books that reinforce this truth, such as The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence and Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren.

I provide opportunities during staff meetings for team members to talk about how they are interacting with God in their daily lives. They have talked about experiencing God’s presence and help in the context of everything from family dinners to remodeling projects.

Listening to stories and testimonies changes how we think about God’s involvement in the lives of His people.

I often send team members prayers from Every Moment Holy by Douglas Kaine McKelvey. This book encourages readers to focus on God during everyday routines, like coffee drinking.

When one team member became a new mom, I gave her a printed copy of McKelvey’s “A Liturgy for Changing Diapers” to hang above the changing table.

These are simple ways to turn people toward God in spaces where we often overlook His abiding presence.

6. Sabbath Rest

In my experience, few things are more vital — or difficult — for ministry leaders than intentionally stopping to rest and delight in God.

Rest acknowledges our human limitations and God’s ability to work in and through us. It reminds us that ministry does not depend solely on our efforts. We partner with God to advance His kingdom, but we also rest as a reflection of Him (Genesis 2:1–3).

Even in the church world, many view success as a measure of worth and promote work as the means to achievement. To counter this philosophy, I encourage team members to set aside time regularly for slowing down and focusing on God.

I am mindful of people’s schedules, ensuring they have adequate down time built into each week. I often ask about their plans for days off and vacations.

During our disorienting church crisis last year, I maintained a text group with team members. We talked about how they were prioritizing rest and self-care, which created an environment of accountability and health.

Since that time, talking about what rest and delight look like for us on any given week has become part of our team culture. Staff members even volunteer to cover for one another so everyone can find time to rest.

To promote resilience and health in ministry, we need to care for those we serve alongside. Having a pastoral title or holding ministry credentials does not guarantee a person is maturing spiritually.

Jesus strategically invested in the development of 12 disciples in His inner circle. Let’s follow His lead and purposefully support the work God is doing in our team members.

This article appears in the Fall 2024 issue of Influence magazine.