How You Can be a Blessing to Our Grace Ministry Team

 

“We don’t serve God to gain His acceptance; we are accepted so we serve God. We don't follow Him in order to be loved; we are loved so we follow Him.”                        Neil T. Anderson

 

This is an exciting day in the history of Grace Church! It’s “Hello” to the Hausers Sunday! This day is an answer to much prayer and planning. For some time, our leadership has been aware of the need to hire additional staff to enable us to continue to reach our community and develop more Christ-followers. Because the Lord has blessed us with so many who are taking those first steps forward in their faith, we needed additional help.

We are very blessed to have such a wonderful staff! God has richly blessed us with Gary Thompson, Jane Carson, Susan Riddle and now, James Hauser. It’s a joy to serve alongside each of them. It’s noteworthy that each of them has a common trait in that they have life and outside work experience, not just a ministry background. For example, Gary was in law enforcement and a general contractor prior to entering vocational ministry. James was a VP for a large bank. Backgrounds like that give great insights on how to better minister to those, not in vocational ministry.

We know James will be a blessing to us and we want to be a blessing to him and all who are part of our Grace team. How can we do that?

Regularly pray for them! Most of us consistently pray for our families. Our church is our spiritual family. Those on our ministry team are on the front lines, serving the Lord and serving you. For me personally, during this pandemic, those who’ve shared that they’re praying for me has so touched my heart. Please pray for our team, their spouses, and children.

Remember that they’re redeemed sinners…just like you. Some think that those who are in vocational ministry don’t struggle with temptation. All of us have our spiritual soft spots and Satan knows what they are. We all blow it. Our old nature will periodically rise to the surface. When it does and we see it in someone’s life, we need to show grace just as we want grace shown to us. For us to be spiritually healthy there must be a continual confessing of sin to each other and the asking of forgiveness. We must be gracious forgivers, going forward in His grace!

They’re here to worship, too. Everyone on our staff has some Sunday ministry responsibilities. They’re main focus though is on worshipping the Lord, just like you. It’s the time for us as a family to encourage, pray with, serve each other. Menial “church business” can wait. Things like the sink in a bathroom is dripping or the landscaping needs attention. We have so little time to worship together. Let’s all keep the main thing the main thing.

His wife and children are simply that. One of the continual blessings of our church is the kindness you’ve shown to my wife and children. That’s not the case in too many churches. We’ve not hired James’ wife, Dana, or his children; Grace, Genevieve, and Grant. It’s not a package deal.

Let me illustrate. Can you imagine introducing your plumber’s wife to someone as, “this is my plumber’s wife”? A pastor’s wife has an identity and first name, too. She’s not just his “wife.” She has a unique personhood.

My now three adult children love the Church and our church because of the continued kindness that you showed to them during their formative years (all three of them were raised at Grace). Too many PKs (preacher’s kids) are hurt and embittered by an unkind church.

The very few times that anyone came to me about the behavior of one of my children, I learned to ask: “Would you go to any other parent in our church about this?” If they wouldn’t go to anyone else, then they shouldn’t go to a pastor about his children.

It’s tempting for churches to be very kind when the pastor’s children are very young and have childlike “cuteness.” James three children are in junior high and high school, and working through the normal concerns young people have. If anything, they need more encouragement, prayer and affirmation than a very young child needs.

We must be committed to biblically problem-solving. Everyone on our staff is going to offend you from time to time (personally, I seem to have a special gift for it). If it’s large enough, obey what Scripture teaches (Matt. 18:15-20) and go to them one on one and share the problem, seeking to problem-solve. All of us have been hurt by learning someone has talked behind our back or to others about a problem rather than coming to us directly. It’s one of the greatest wounds those in ministry deal with. The Golden Rule says, “whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them” (Matt. 7:12). We must treat leaders as we desire to be treated.  

Express gratitude and encouragement often. Stored in a safe place at the Library of Congress is a small blue box. The label reads: “Contents of the President’s pockets on the night of April 14, 1865.” That was the fateful night when President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. It contains five things: (1) A handkerchief embroidered “A. Lincoln”; (2) A country boy’s pen knife; (3) A spectacles case repaired with string; (4) A purse containing a $5 bill—in Confederate money! (5) Some old, worn newspaper clippings. Those clippings concerned the great deeds of Abraham Lincoln. One reports a speech by John Bright, a British statesman, saying that Abraham Lincoln is one of the greatest men of all time. That’s not news for us today. We know Lincoln was a great man, but in 1865, the jury was still out. The nation was divided. Lincoln had fierce critics as he made decisions that he hoped would restore the Union.

There’s something poignantly pathetic about picturing this lonely figure in the Oval Office reaching into his pocket and spreading out these newspaper clippings to read and re-read those encouraging words. It gave him the courage and strength to go on. Everyone, especially leaders, need encouragement! So, if you’re thankful for something a staff member or leader at Grace has done. Please let them know. Tell them, encourage them and tell them again and again.

Those who minister to us need to be ministered to, too! Will you be part of our Grace Church Staff Support Team? I know you will!

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.