More than anybody else, under God, the condition of a local church rests squarely on the shoulders of the pastor. (Rev. 2,3) God recognized the pastor as the ‘angel’ of the local church and must be allowed to lead. The Lord brings growth and health to his church through his chosen pastors and leaders. I’m aware of a city where a pastor have 7,000 members inspite of his gift of healings and miracles. In the same city, another pastor have 15,000 members – yet, can only teach and lead, no gift of miracles!
It is not possible to grow a healthy church through guest ministers. The pastor must have his life as a sweet smelling garden of the Lord to bring healthy growth to his church (Gen. 27:27). There is anointing that gathers people but can’t keep them. There is an anointing to keep, grow and make people healthy in the Lord. It is this anointing that helps pastors to lead a healthy church.
A. Bible Foundation-Acts 2:41-46
A healthy local church has been described in many ways by preachers over the years. Here are descriptions of the local church:
- A museum for the saints – perfect people for heaven.
- A moving Bus/coach – people can drop off wherever. A hospital to treat the wounded – recovery and restoration.
When a local church functions in any of these three ways, it has a lot of demerits. I believe that Army Barrack is the best description for a local church, where people can be recruited, trained, empowered, treated and equipped to fight the battles of life and the kingdom. They can be sent out to fight, extend and multiply the victory of our Lord over the enemy.
B. Marks of a Healthy Pastor – Jer. 3:15; Hosea 4:6; Psalm 78:72; Mal. 2:5-7
Pastors that truly pastor healthy churches to growth demonstrate Calling, Competence, Capacity, Connection, Commitment, Credibility and Character, to God and the people. They must display the followings in their lives:
1. Spiritual Health – the church is spiritually healthy because of the spiritual health of the pastor.
2. Personal Growth – Your personal growth, improvement and growth will always rub off on the church.
3. Godly Attitude – Your attitude will lift or limit the church. Positive and great attitude helps church health.
4. Green Minister – You must be a fertile ground, growing, green and fruitful. Things must grow and prosper in your hand and under you.
5. Ministerial skill – Relational, ministerial, counseling and communication skill.
6. Leadership Capacity – Your capacity to lead and take leadership decisions will greatly help the health of the church.
7. Workings of Holy Spirit – The greater, freer and deeper workings of the Holy Spirit in you, by you and through you is crucial.
8. Freshness And New – You must be fresh, new, refreshed and never grow stale in your preaching and leadership.
9. Integrity and Trust – You must keep your word and be reliable and trust worthy.
10. Study And Learning – You must learn, relearn and unlearn. Your depth will help you to lead well. Shallow gutter easily muddle up.
11. Knowledge – What you don’t know is what will kill your church. Being confused and doing ministry with trial and error decimate churches.
12. Marriage and Home – Your pastoral credibility starts at home and with your spouse.
Recommended Reading
THE DYNAMIC PULPIT: FROM TEXT TO SERMON
Top Ten Lessons on Forgiveness
Top Ten Lessons From The Life Of Rahab
13. Secret prayers – Your prayer life will have telling and terrific effect on your pastoral effectiveness. Pastor them on your knees.
14. Programmes And Meeting – Your strategic programmes and meetings must be blessed by the Lord. God must confirm your programmes and use them to accomplish things in their lives.
15. Problem Solving Skill – Your ability to solve problems and provide way out will go a long way to bring health to the church. In your problem solving, do it with justice, fair play.
16. Flexibility Mindset – Rigidity will kill churches. You must be ready to change, shift ground and accept better views, perceptions and reasonings.
17. Leader As Ladder – You must be a ladder that allows others to climb and manifest. Inferiority or superiority complex must leave you. 18. Large Heart – Your heart must be large, full, tender, matured and clean for the Lord to pastor a healthy church.
19. Fear of God – You must have the fear of God in your heart and do things without partiality, injustice. The fear of the Lord must rule in all you do.
20. No Curses – Ordinational, lineage, ministry or personal curses must not serve as limitations over your life and ministry.
A healthy pastor that will pastor the church in a healthy way must be able to work through people. You must be happy to see others rise and give them the chance to perform. You must know when to stand to speak and when to sit down and allow others to speak.