I am part of a growing subset of pastors. We are those who lead from the middle, serving the church not as lead pastors, but as associates. God has called us to follow as much as to lead.

We experience a unique tension, because living with the demands of leading and following simultaneously can be complicated. Three habits help me thrive in this tension.

1. Embrace the lead pastor’s vision whole-heartedly.
Lead pastors act, direct and instruct out of a vision, so embracing your leader’s vision is the best way to find freedom as a follower. How do you do this? Read what he or she reads. Keep up with the books, podcasts and blog posts that continually inform your pastor. Share these materials, and you’ll begin to share more ideas.

2. Pour your vision into your areas of influence.
If you are leading from the middle, you have specific areas of influence. Dreaming about ways to change ministries over which you have no influence is one way to guarantee frustration in ministry.

If you are leading from the middle, you have specific areas of influence.

If you aren’t responsible for youth ministry, don’t spend time thinking about how you’d do it differently. If you aren’t responsible for preaching on Sunday mornings, don’t waste your time thinking about how to improve it. Pour all your passion and vision into the specific areas where you have influence. 

3. Don’t harbor frustration; deal with it.
Understanding — yet disagreeing with — the lead pastor’s vision for your specific area of ministry can be frustrating.
Find healthy ways to vent your feelings, like journaling or talking to long-distance friends. Practice the prayer of surrender and thanksgiving. Release to God what you can’t control, and celebrate with God all the reasons you love your church.

When God calls you to lead from the middle, He also calls you to support and uphold the vision of the lead pastor at your church. By embracing his or her vision, pouring your vision into the areas assigned to you and dealing with frustrations as they come, you will release yourself to experience incredible freedom as a leader who is also a follower. You will multiply your impact, as well as the impact of your local church. 

This article was originally published in the June/July issue of Influence. For more print content, subscribe here.