Ministerial Staff Development

I believe that ministerial staff development is the most important function of the pastor in the church. I think it is also most important that leaders understand how to fulfill this function. Please do not confuse the ministerial staff development, with the concept of a class. This is not another class. It is a time that the pastor or those whom he designates should use for discipleship. I cannot stress this enough. Ministerial staff development is not another class. It is a place and time for the leader to develop those who are candidates for ministry. It is a time for establishing the principles of ministry in the people of God. It is not a time for re-teaching these principles. These sessions should be used to place the Word inside the situations, circumstances and relationships of the people. Ministerial staff development is synonymous with discipleship. Each pastor in this reformation must understand that if we are going to do and speak the same thing, discipleship is a must. In developing a good ministerial staff, there are key areas in which the pastor must focus.

It is the pastor's responsibility to make sure that all ministerial staff understands:

A. God's Eternal Purpose of the Body of Christ

It is most imperative that every leader understand the mystery of the faith. This includes a complete understanding of the salvation experience and the structure of the Body of Christ. It is vital that each member of the ministerial staff see purpose from God's perspective.

B. The Present Truth

It is equally important that the ministerial staff completely understand and come into agreement with the present message (truth). In this ministry, we have enjoyed a constant outpouring of revelation from above. However, pastors cannot be presumptuous to think that because there is a favorable reception to the Word by the hearer that it is automatically understood. Although some fundamental teachings of the subjects might be necessary, they should be taught in the form of a discussion. In order to disciple individuals into a new mindset, there must be interaction between them and the pastor. You will never know what your people have or have not comprehended if there is no interaction. This interaction could be in the form of questions, which you ask of them, or you could open the platform for remarks. Either of these methods will allow you to hear what your disciples have understood.

C. Prayer

Prayer is a catalyst for moving the church into the Spirit of God. All efforts at ministerial staff development are futile if you do not succeed in getting your staff to pray. Once again, though it may be necessary to teach some elements of prayer within the ministerial discipleship sessions, the implementation of prayer should be the focus. Consider your goals:

• You need to know that the people understand the principles of prayer.
• You need to know that the people know how to pray.
• You need to make sure that the people are praying.

One method of establishing prayer in the discipleship session, as well as promote movement of the ministry, would be to actually implement prayer in the sessions. Some methods of implementing this are:

1. Corporate Prayer for Personal Issues

• Take a list of prayer requests from the group at large.
• Write them on a blackboard or some other visible place in the general assembly area.
• Instruct the group to pray about these issues during the session.
• You could devote approximately 15 to 20 minutes in each session praying for these issues.

The individuals making the prayer requests would know when the answer has come. It would be good for them to testify that God has answered prayer. This would encourage the group to continue praying.

2. Corporate Prayer for Ministry Issues

• Make a list of issues you would like the group to pray for relative to the ministry.
• Write them on a blackboard or some other visible mechanism.
• Cause the group to pray for these issues in each session.
• Make known to the group when each issue has been resolved.

Corporate prayer builds faith in the people. Each of these goals can be accomplished if you demand that all ministers adhere to the growth path that has been installed by the Holy Spirit for the development of ministers in this ministry. This means all staff members are required to attend: 6 am prayer, 12 noon, or 6 pm prayer sessions at least three times a week. This mindset must be discipled into the hearts of the people. These sessions should create a passion to obey and follow the growth path. You must reiterate the importance of prayer and intercession in the ministry. It is here that ministers must be made aware that they will not be allowed to minister on any platform in this reformation without adhering to the command that God gave us regarding prayer. Prayer is not an option. It is a commandment. We were instructed by God to always pray and we must obey his instructions.