13/09/2026
MESSAGE FOR TODAY
DISCIPLESHIP: EFFECTIVE PASTOR-CHURCH MEMBER RELATIONSHIP Acts 20:28; Heb. 13:16-19
INTRODUCTION: The Pastor must take responsibility to provide care and nourishment not only spiritually but also in all areas of life. But while the Pastor does these, certain things are also expected of the Church members to make the relationship effective.
А. ЕXРЕСTATION FROM THE PASTOR FOR EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIP
1. Spiritual Nourishment: As a Spiritual leader, he should provide spiritual nourishment through the word of God, prayers, discipleship and corporate worship.
2. Accessibility and availability: Pastors should be available when necessary for the reach of church members.
3. Members' Identification: (John 10:14) It is important that the pastor makes an effort to know every church member individually, identifying them by face, name. address, place of work, and other necessary information.
4. Exemplary in stewardship of resources: The Pastor should lead by example in giving towards the work of God in the Church. He must be exemplary in meeting members' needs.
B. EXPECTATIONS FROM CHURCH MEMBERS FOR EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIP
1. Respect and Honour: Recognizing the Pastor as God's representative requires that Church members give deserving respect and honour to the pastor.
2. Support: Effective relationship between the Pastor and Church Members requires that church members be supportive to the vision and ministry of the Pastor.
3. Renumeration and welfare packages: The Church should have good welfare packages for the Pastor aside from salaries and other allowances.
Decent accommodation, health care, mobility, food items, cash, and other materials.
Celebrating his special occasions such as birthdays, wedding, church anniversary, Christian festivals, Pastor's Annual Sunday, and five years appreciation service should be observed.
4. Prayers: Church members should hold it as a duty to pray for their pastor regularly
5. Attend every service/ Church Spiritual activities: Believers in his calling
6. Teach your children to love him: Let them know that the Pastor is their friend and spiritual father. Take them to your Pastor to share their bits of good news or upcoming opportunities with him.
7. Keep him informed: Your Pastor may forget when your milestone birthday or anniversary is approaching, but I can guarantee that he would be grateful for you to remind him.
8. Stand by him and be loyal to your Pastor
C. BENEFITS OF EFFECTIVE PASTOR-CHURCH MEMBER RELATIONSHIP
1. Love: Agape love exists in the Church where there is good relationship between the Pastor and the Church members.
2. Growth of the Church: A cordial relationship between the Pastor and the Church members will lead to the growth and development of the Church.
3. Soul Winning: Effective relationship between the Church members and the Pastor indicates genuine love. With this, the Church will be witness for Christ and many will believe and be saved.
4. Peaceful Community and just society: The Church will be able to influence the community and society at large for peaceful co-existence.
