In many leadership trainings today, especially even in Christian ministry circles, the value and centrality of people is sadly underemphasized. Yet, the entire heart of godly leadership is the ability to attract, build, and retain people. The greatest resource in ministry leadership is not physical buildings, financial resources, material possessions, or even large attendance numbers—it is people.
People are God’s greatest assets in the church. No matter how anointed or visionary you are, you cannot fulfill your God-given calling without learning how to connect and relate with people. Church growth, discipleship, and leadership effectiveness are all people-centered. Every pastor and spiritual leader must learn how to relate with different kinds of people—because people come in many versions!
In truth, many of the problems tearing churches apart today are people-related—not demons, not finances, but broken relationships. If you lack the skills to relate well with people, your leadership will always struggle.
Here’s a simple but profound principle to remember:
R + R – R = R + R
(Rules + Regulations – Relationship = Rebellion + Resentment)
That is, when you emphasize rules and structure but neglect building relationships, you open the door to rebellion and bitterness. People-skills—spiritual, emotional, and social—are the total sum of effective leadership.
A. A STRONG BIBLICAL FOUNDATION
Here are key truths you must understand as a spiritual leader:
- You will always need people—even Moses needed Aaron and Hur to hold up his hands (Exodus 17:12).
- The rise and fall of churches is tied to how people are led.
- God Himself is the Master of people management.
- Jesus Christ is our perfect example—He handled all manner of people with grace and wisdom.
- Many of the failures of spiritual leaders were relational breakdowns.
- You cannot fulfill your divine assignment alone.
- Success without a succession plan is a spiritual tragedy.
Follow the principle of Operation BEST:
- Believe in them
- Encourage them
- Share with them
- Trust and Train them
As President Roosevelt once said:
“The single most important ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.”
In the church, you will encounter:
- The Unruly – stubborn and rebellious members
- The Feeble-minded – easily discouraged or anxious souls (1 Thess. 5:14)
- The Weak – spiritually or morally fragile
- The Strong – in faith, finances, or influence
You’ll also meet:
- Radicals, Progressives, Conservatives, and Tradition-bound Believers
And among them will be both troublers and treasures:
- Troublers: Lot, Korah, Dathan, Abiram, Aaron (when backslidden), Gehazi, Absalom, Judas, Demas
- Treasures: Joseph, Jacob, Joshua, Jonathan, Caleb, Peter, Paul, Timothy, Epaphras
Ministry requires both tough and tender leaders to lead such a diverse congregation (2 Tim. 2:24–25).
B. TRUTHS ABOUT PEOPLE AND LEADERSHIP
- People follow the leader before they follow his vision.
- People are drawn to leaders who are stronger and more secure than themselves.
- People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
- People need a personal touch—not just a professional one.
- People crave encouragement, integrity, and consistent communication.
- Many people today distrust leadership due to past hurts and disappointments—even from church leaders.
- People don’t expect perfection, but they want humility, honesty, and openness.
To lead God’s people well, you will need:
- Wisdom
- Maturity
- Patience
- Love
- Longsuffering
- A forgiving heart
- Boldness with humility
- Perseverance
C. WHY MANY LEADERS FAIL TO INVEST IN PEOPLE
Every great leader needs faithful team members—those with:
F.A.I.T.H.
Faithful
Available
Initiating
Teachable
Honest
God is always ready to send the right people, but many leaders don’t develop them because of:
- Personal prejudice or bias
- Dogmatic, rigid mindsets
- Ignorance of mentoring principles
- Lack of training resources
- Insecurity or inferiority complex
- Fear that subordinates may outshine them
- Envy and jealousy
- Offensive behaviors that repel people
- Intolerance and pettiness
D. WHAT DRIVES PEOPLE AWAY FROM LEADERS
Many leaders and churches have lost valuable members who could have made a difference, due to:
- Insensitivity to people’s needs
- Demeaning or belittling others
- No room for growth or development
- Rigidity and narrow-minded thinking
- Unforgiving spirit and harsh corrections
- Refusal to accept advice or correction
- Lack of genuine care or opportunity for service
- Quick to criticize, slow to praise
- Inability to admit faults or apologize
Recommended Reading
Spiritual Leaders And God-Given Vision
Ten Ways To Serve God With Your Talents
RODUCTIVITY: The Master Key of Abundance
E. PRINCIPLES FOR BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND RAISING PEOPLE
To succeed in ministry leadership, you must:
- Learn to work through people and bring out their God-given potential.
- Remember: Rules without relationship = rebellion.
- Stay close enough to impact lives—ministry is personal.
- Relate with:
- Juniors – by encouragement
- Peers – by challenging one another
- Seniors – with respect and honor
- No one will commit their heart to a place where there’s no relationship.
- If you prioritize your opinion over your brothers, you may win the argument but lose the relationship.
- Effective ministry teamwork requires love and care among team members.
Practical Guidelines:
- Be warm and friendly—don’t take yourself too seriously.
- Express love openly—smile, greet, embrace, shake hands.
- Be approachable, friendly, available, and helpful.
- Accept that not everyone will like you—and that’s okay.
- Be considerate—listen to people’s opinions.
- Be patient with others, yourself, and the process of God.
- Don’t retaliate—avoid a vengeful spirit.
- Show respect to earn respect.
- Control your temper—public anger wounds and divides.
- Be generous with praise—build people with your words.
- Speak kindly—be a source of encouragement.
- Share joy—crack jokes, tell clean stories, enjoy life with your people.
- Practice Operation BEST daily:
- Believe in them
- Encourage them
- Share with them
- Trust and Train them
- Remember: the people you fail to train may be the ones to tear down your work.
- Cultivate consistent godly character:
- If you lose money, you lose nothing.
- If you lose fame, you lose little.
- But if you lose your character, you’ve lost everything!
- Promote T.E.A.M.:
- Together Everyone Achieves More
- Constantly mentor, motivate, and multiply your team’s gifts.
- Allow room for human weakness—everyone has flaws.
- Disciple with firmness and fairness—no favoritism.
Let us remember as shepherds of God’s flock, that people are not interruptions to ministry—they are the ministry (John 21:15–17). Invest in them as Jesus did, and you will raise a church that lasts, grows, and glorifies God.