Five Important Areas to Check the Pulse

While the church can be described and defined as an organization, it can also be described as an organism. In 1 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul illustrates the church as a living, breathing human body. In many ways, it's the truer definition. 

In 1 Peter 2:5, Peter writes, 

"And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God."

Scripture calls the church, the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:26-27). She is a living entity and has a pulse that vibrates throughout her ministry. Sometimes this pulse can be felt by how things are performing; other times metrics and numbers can reveal a strong or weak pulse. As pastor, it is important to conduct pulse checks in the areas that drive ministry and impact. This doesn't mean being involved with everything or being a part of every conversation; it simply means being health conscience of the things critical to the mission of the church. 

There are five key areas that I recommend pastors conduct periodic pulse checks (you may have a different five). Pulse checks shouldn't require attending endless meetings or long zoom calls. Matter of fact, these pulse checks should happen with ministry leaders, not those doing the work of the ministry. Depending on size of your church, the executive pastor or leader may serve in this capacity. These check-ins may be with paid staff or lay leaders or both. Regardless, making sure these five areas have a healthy pulse will result in greater ministry impact.  

1. Equipping Teams: Ministry leaders should lead with a "we" mentality instead of a "me" mentality. It is easy for leaders to migrate to "doing" instead of "equipping." When people feel like they are part of a team, they will rally around a cause with creativity and ownership. As a result, commitment heightens and things get done. Proverbs 15:22 reminds us of the value of doing ministry as a team, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” The pastor should encourage leaders to create environments of participation and teamwork. In doing so, leaders function better and teams build a new planning muscle. 

2. The Diligence of Deadlines and Objectives: In the world of church, leaders equip volunteers to "do the work of the ministry" (Ephesians 4:12). Because most volunteers have their paying jobs, families and other things going on, it’s easy for things to be left undone. When tasks are given without clear objectives and specific deadlines, the completion of the task becomes something we hope happens. Hope is not a very good strategy. When leaders hold people accountable, people finish well. Teaching people how to stay focused on the objective, while honoring deadlines is a massive win for the church. 

3. Police the Vision: Growing churches sometimes develop a tendency to create or add new things. It is important to make sure that every new endeavor aligns with the overall vision. The vision gives you permission to say no. Anything that doesn’t drive the vision, must be removed. Leaders need extreme clarity around vision in order to help the people they lead move in the right direction. When this doesn't happen, vision drift occurs, which is like breathing carbon monoxide. You don't feel the affects immediately, but will eventually.

4. Be the CEO: In the secular, the CEO is the Chief Executive Officer; in the church, the pastor is the Chief Encouragement Officer. Pastors must invest in their leaders by reassuring their efforts and celebrating the wins. Proverbs 3:27 says, “Do not withhold good from those whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” The words of the pastor carry weight, therefore encouraging your leaders can't be optional and is an investment that will always bring a return.

5. Pray for Your Leaders: Lastly, above everything else, pray. Every October, I take a flip chart paper and begin to write down my new year prayer focus list. At the top of the list is my family, my staff and our church. I make it a point to specifically pray for my staff and leaders and their families. Regardless if your leaders are paid staff or lay leaders, one of the most important things you can do (on a weekly basis) is pray for them. As elementary as that sounds, you would be surprised to find out how often this is left undone. Prayer really does change things. 

I hope this has been helpful. I would love to hear what areas you think needs regular pulse checks! 

Chad