Considerations for finding a missions pastor

David Mays, ACMC

Should you finance this position from the general budget or from the missions budget?

+ Staffing from the missions budget may allow addition of staff which would not otherwise be possible.

- Staffing from the missions budget reduces the missions income that actually goes to missions work.

Should you make it a part-time position?

+ A staff member may bring complementary roles to bear on each other with a synergistic effect.

- Missions seems to be the easiest role crowded out by other responsibilities and demands.

If you staff a combination position, you might consider

q Missions and evangelism

q Missions and education or discipleship

q Missions and youth

q Missions and worship

q Missions and administration

What skills and qualities does your missions pastor need?

The values and philosophy of your church and the history and scope of your missions ministry may help determine the type of person you need:

q Administrator or people person

q Organizer/planner or discipler/developer of people

q Promoter or counselor

q Missions-experienced or culture- and marketplace-experienced

q Seminary trained or street savvy (but biblically sound)

q Creative or organized

Some qualities you might seek:

q A reader, learner, listener, networker

q Creativity and openness to new ideas

q Communication skills – up front, in small groups, and one-on-one

q Understands modern culture and is able to communicate and motivate younger generations

q Influences leaders

q Organization – can recruit volunteers, delegate, run a good meeting, set and pursue goals

Some things to avoid:

q Someone out of touch with U. S. culture

q Someone too fixed on only one ministry task or focus

q Someone too weak to withstand special interest pressures

q Allowing your lay people to retire and leave it all to the missions pastor

Source: Stuff you need to know about Doing Missions in Your Church, David Mays, p. 24