COMMUNITY TAKING STRATEGIES: Pastors In Communities

It is practically impossible for the church of Christ to make a lasting and powerful impact in any community without the pastor playing a central and strategic role. God has ordained that His church be led by shepherds after His own heart—godly and spiritually mature pastors. Both Scripture and experience have proven this truth repeatedly.

While the pastor is not the church itself, God has designed that His move in the local assembly is often channeled through the pastor. The Word of God in Jeremiah 3:15 says, “And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” Also, Malachi 2:6–7 shows the sacred responsibility of pastors to preserve knowledge and be the messenger of the Lord.

If we desire churches that are alive, growing, and making kingdom impact, then we must be intentional about appointing or becoming well-trained, thoroughly discipled, Spirit-filled, competent, dynamic, and resourceful shepherds of God’s people. A church will rise or fall based on the strength and character of her pastor. Without steadfast, Christlike, and Holy Ghost-led pastors, there can be no spiritually alive, relevant, and fruitful churches.

A. THE IMAGE OF PASTORS IN TODAY’S COMMUNITIES

(Lamentations 2:14; Micah 3:10–11; Jeremiah 6:13–14; Zephaniah 3:4)

Pastors are not celestial beings; they live among the people. Just like Jesus, who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), pastors dwell in the communities they are sent to serve. People are constantly watching their lives. Sadly, the image of pastors in many communities today has become tainted due to the un-Christlike behavior of some who carry the title of “man of God.”

The public perception of some pastors today includes:

Greedy and materialistic individuals
Fake ministers and spiritual fraudsters
Immoral and flirtatious with women and girls
Motivational talkers who are selfish and lack spiritual depth
Abusive to their spouses and careless about marriage vows
Ambitious career-seekers instead of heaven-focused servants
Unable to handle correction or rebuke with humility
Arrogant, talkative, worldly, and pleasure-seeking
Obsessive over flashy cars and prosperity doctrines
Fashion-obsessed and overly concerned with trends
Outdated in message or disconnected from today’s realities
Ineffective in managing their homes and raising godly families
Ungrateful toward those who serve or support the ministry

Because of these patterns and frequent news of pastors caught in fraud, adultery, financial scams, divorce, and immoral behavior, the respect for pastors in society has dropped significantly.

B. WHY MANY PASTORS ARE NOT MAKING IMPACT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES

Many pastors today remain unknown, uncelebrated, and disconnected from the very communities they are called to serve. Instead of being salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16), they blend in or are completely absent from real community engagement. Reasons for this include:

Ignorance of their spiritual and social responsibility to the community
A traditional or outdated mindset that lacks fresh vision
Foundations built on deceit, error, or manipulation
Rivalry and unhealthy competition among local churches
A lifestyle that contradicts biblical holiness and integrity
Weak or underdeveloped leadership capacity
Lack of creativity, relevance, and problem-solving ability
Arrogance and an unfriendly, unapproachable personality
A heart captivated by the spirit of the world and materialism

C. EXAMPLES OF PASTORS WHO TRANSFORMED THEIR COMMUNITIES

(2 Kings 2:19–22)

Here are powerful testimonies of pastors who truly pastored their communities and became agents of revival:

A pastor whose community reduced land costs for church projects because of his impactful service.
On the grave of a missionary pastor: “When he came in 1842, there was no believer. When he left in 1862, there was no unbeliever.”
A pastor whose prayers were so effective that traditional rulers came seeking his blessing and covering.
One pastor fasted and interceded persistently for his community until demonic forces were broken and souls began flooding into the kingdom.
Jack Hayford, who prayed for three months daily in his church. When a demon appeared, he cast it out. From just 70 members, the church grew to over 10,000.
Yonggi Cho in South Korea defeated a demonic python spirit, a woman was healed, and his ministry began to flourish.
A pastor who prayer-walked through an entire community until the spiritual atmosphere shifted—witchcraft lost its power, and Jesus was glorified.

Every pastor must choose to become a territorial watchman and servant-leader with a vision to bring transformation and revival to their land.

D. HOW TO TRULY PASTOR YOUR COMMUNITY

(Acts 5:11–14)

God calls every pastor not just to care for the flock inside the church building but also to carry the gospel of the Kingdom into the streets, homes, and public spaces of their assigned community.

Here are key strategies for pastors who want to take ownership of their spiritual assignment:

Recognize your territorial leadership mandate.
Your ministry does not begin and end in the pulpit. You are God’s ambassador to the territory.
Develop yourself to be relevant and effective.
Grow in knowledge, skill, and spiritual capacity. A well-developed pastor becomes a beacon of hope and a source of solutions.
Live a life of integrity, holiness, and Kingdom values.
Let your life be an open book that reflects the character of Christ. You must be above reproach (1 Timothy 3:2).
Commit to the community for at least five years.
You cannot transform a land if you are always moving. Spiritual roots take time to grow.
Share the vision of community impact with your church.
You need a corporate buy-in. If your people don’t catch the vision, they won’t run with it.
Make amends for past failures.
If there’s a history of offense, division, or scandal between you or the church and the community, humble yourself, repent, and rebuild trust.
Connect and cooperate with other pastors.
Lone-ranger ministry is no longer effective. We are one Body (Ephesians 4:4). Unity among pastors can bring community-wide revival.
- Reconcile broken relationships among ministers
- Repent for disunity and pray together in humility
- Organize breakfast prayer meetings with other pastors
- Stop claiming territory selfishly—share the harvest field
- Join forces in spiritual warfare for the land
- Partner with intercessors for strategic prayers
Demonstrate the supernatural power of God.
Let the sick be healed, the oppressed be delivered, and sinners be saved through your ministry. You are the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus in your land.

FINAL WORD:

The Lord is seeking pastors who will not only preach from the altar but also stand as watchmen over the land, servants to the people, and ambassadors of Christ in the community. Let us rise and pastor our communities in the power of the Holy Spirit and to the glory of God!