Trustpilot
Church leaders are as human as you or I. They get stressed, they forget things, they make mistakes. They are also self-isolated individuals whose job is to shepherd people. Right now, caring for your flock is about as difficult as it could get when your flock are locked away in their own little pens. Being a Church leader is hard, so here are a few ideas and suggestions for helping you offer support to the leaders in your Church.
Send a Kind Word of Encouragement
This one is both the easiest and the most important to do. It can be as small as a text message, or you can be a little more lavish and send a letter in the post to them. Either way, it makes a huge difference if your Church leader hears about the difference they are making and how much they are appreciated.
Offer a Hand
Right now, your Church leader is probably swamped with work. Trying to arrange services online, manage their own Church team, and offering care for the vulnerable. The list goes one. Offering a hand, even if there is nothing you can do to help, shows support and solidarity. That you are all one people, helping each other through this.
Read Up On Ways You Can Help
Christopher Ash has been a leader and a congregant. He’s lived on both sides of Church life, and seen what both sides need most. This unique experience is what led him to write The Book Your Pastor Wishes You Would Read. In it, he starts by pointing out the big missed step in the relationship between leaders and their Churches:
‘When a friend asked me what I was writing, I explained that I was trying to write a book about how we care for our pastors. “But surely,” she said, “they are supposed to care for us, aren’t they?!”’
Pastors and Church leaders are there to care for their Churches, but it is just as important that we care for them. Filled with unique insights and ways you can care for your Church leaders, The Book Your Pastor Wishes You Would Read is made to help you care well.
Pray for Your Leader
No doubt your Church leader has spent countless hours praying for you and everyone in your Church. Through this tough time, returning the favour will make a huge difference. You can ask them if there is anything they specifically need prayer for, or you can simply pray for strength and encouragement throughout the effects of COVID-19. For a few more ideas, 5 Things to Pray for Your Church by Rachel Jones dedicates a chapter to the ways in which you can pray for your church leader.
Return to the list of practices for Christians during Coronavirus: https://www.eden.co.uk/blog/7-practices-for-christians-during-coronavirus-p1784105
