The first time I read Psalm 78:72, it dawned on me that it takes more than a calling to lead God’s people.
“So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.” (NKJV)
What an enlightening statement. Shepherding people is not an easy task. It requires both the integrity of a godly heart and the skillfulness of capable leadership. A pastor must possess character that reflects Christ as well as the leadership skills necessary to guide people toward spiritual maturity.
It is obvious that without a heart that loves people and a willingness to embrace the burden of shepherding, few would ever answer God’s call to ministry. Yet after more than thirty years in ministry, I have observed that many pastors who genuinely love people still struggle to see healthy growth in their churches.
A loving heart alone does not cause a church to grow. Leadership skills are equally essential if pastors are to guide people into new levels of spiritual maturity and personal transformation. Hard work without tangible progress eventually becomes frustrating, often leading to discouragement and burnout.
Over the years, I have noticed three leadership characteristics that consistently distinguish growing churches from those that remain average. These principles can serve as a compass to help reorient ministry in a healthier and more fruitful direction.
Pastoral ministry is unlike most professions. It is not a nine-to-five job. The work rarely ends at the close of the day, and weekends are often the busiest part of the week. While many people assume pastors enjoy weekends off, most are deeply engaged in ministry from Sunday through Thursday, and many continue preparing sermons on Friday and Saturday.
You may wonder, “When do pastors get a day off?”
For many, Monday is considered their day of rest. Yet it is rarely a day of relaxation. Instead, it often becomes a day of reflection and self-examination. Questions begin to surface: Why was attendance lower this week? Where were some of our volunteers? How did this week’s offering compare to last Sunday’s? What could I have done better?
I know this because I spent more than twenty years pastoring. During those years I experienced moments of incredible joy as well as deep disappointment. At times, ministry felt like riding a never-ending emotional roller coaster.
My point is this: pastoring is difficult. A genuine calling from God is absolutely necessary. But calling alone is not enough if we desire to be fruitful and experience the increase God intends. Guiding a church beyond the barriers of mediocrity requires intentional leadership development.
Many factors influence church growth, but in my experience, they almost always lead back to leadership.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Every organization is the lengthened shadow of a single man.” In other words, the character and leadership of the pastor inevitably shape the culture of the church.
Here are three leadership practices I have consistently observed in churches that grow.
They Intentionally Create Culture
The first practice is what I call culture creation.
Culture creation is the intentional process of establishing an identity that naturally attracts people with similar values, passions, and vision.
Peter Drucker famously said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” His point was simple: no matter how brilliant the strategy may be, the culture of an organization ultimately determines whether that strategy succeeds.
For example, if I want to build a church that effectively reaches young adults and college students, desire alone will never accomplish it. I must intentionally create a culture that values and reflects that generation.
That culture should be evident in every ministry of the church. It is reflected in the leadership team, the worship style, the clothing people wear, the music that is played, and the authentic, engaging way biblical truth is communicated.
Consistency and intentionality always pay off. Over time, the culture begins to take shape, and eventually the church becomes known for what it consistently values.
They Don’t Treat Sunday as the Finish Line
Another characteristic I have observed is that growing churches do not view Sunday morning as a “slam dunk” service where everything has to happen.
They do not place unrealistic pressure on a single service to produce every salvation, healing, restoration, deliverance, and life change.
Instead, they understand something very important.
The primary goal of Sunday morning is to encourage people to come back next Sunday.
If people return, there are fifty-one more Sundays throughout the year to teach God’s Word, strengthen marriages, bring healing, build faith, and disciple believers. Spiritual transformation is usually the result of consistent exposure to God’s truth—not a single emotional experience.
Growing churches understand that lasting transformation is a process, not merely an event.
They Develop Self-Feeders and Disciple Makers
One of the most common reasons people give for leaving a church is, “I’m not being fed.”
Certainly, no believer should remain in a ministry that is neither centered on God’s Word nor genuinely committed to caring for people.
However, every believer must eventually learn to feed himself spiritually. Personal growth and spiritual maturity are ultimately our own responsibility.
Healthy churches intentionally develop what I call self-feeders.
These believers cultivate a personal relationship with God through consistent Bible study, prayer, and daily obedience to His Word. As this habit develops, they become less dependent on their pastor and increasingly dependent on their own walk with Christ.
Being a self-feeder does not mean becoming independent of pastoral leadership. Rather, it means recognizing that our spiritual health cannot depend solely on our pastor’s availability to teach, counsel, or pray for us.
Finally, growing churches never lose sight of the mission Jesus gave His followers.
The Great Commission is not merely a suggestion—it is Christ’s final command before His ascension. We are called to make disciples and win people to Him.
Churches that consistently emphasize evangelism while creating intentional pathways for discipleship tend to grow naturally. They understand they are not merely a community of redeemed people but a redeeming community, committed to helping others experience the transforming grace of Christ.
Healthy churches do not simply gather believers. They equip believers to reach others.
If this article encouraged you, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to leave a comment below.
Thank you for reading.