I have never met a person who entered ministry to be a manager. Have you ever heard anyone say one of the following: “I want to be in ministry so I can manage people.” or “I think ministry is right for me because I want to manage programs and facilities.”

My guess is, you’ve never heard these or similar statements because no one enters the ministry to be a manager. Rather, a ministry calling involves the desire to lead; leading people to faith in Christ, leading others in deeper spiritual intimacy with God, leading people in discipleship maturity, etc. It is all about leading. We want to lead. Our passion is to lead.

When you look up the word lead in the dictionary or thesaurus you find words as guide, direct, and steer. When you look up the word manage you see the words; to cope, control, and handle. Ask yourself, “Do I prefer to be guided or controlled?” The answer is always guided. Your people, your staff, team, volunteers, and members are the same. They want to be guided, to be led. No one wants to be controlled. It is not an enjoyable lifestyle.

I do understand in leadership there are times when you must manage. However, when our focus becomes managing instead of leading, we have missed God’s calling. While no one enters ministry to become a manager, too often ministers and ministry leaders become managers – managers of people, programs, and facilities. When managing occupies your time you are not leading. In our churches and religious organizations of North America we must return to leading as God ordained and called each of us.

Effective Christian leaders…

…are good communicators. Strive to continually improve your communication skills with one on ones and groups.

…demonstrate a mentor model desiring every employee or member to grow in his/her skills, abilities, and performance. Mentoring is not holding people back with threats and derogatory remarks. Mentoring is encouraging and championing the work (ministry) of others.

…are releasors, delegating to the right people, assisting with training, resources and support as they progress in their work/ministry. God has blessed you with people around you to take on tasks. Releasors do not hold people to strict-no variations course of action but release them to think and do as led by God.

…empower others through adequate resourcing, regular and frequent encouragement, & support with more than idle words.

How will you strive in the next quarter to be a more effective communicator, mentor, releasor, and empowering leader? Leave the managing behind, become an effective leader.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.