It's true, your staff will either make or break you. I've spent the last 9 months rebuilding or entire staff. It's been one of the most difficult seasons of ministry ever.
I've learned some big-time lessons on hiring/firing, here are a few:
- make sure you hear from God when it comes to staff issues
- develop a process of hiring (define core competencies, personality profiles, include other staff in the process, etc.)
- hire slow, fire fast (in other words, take your time to find the right person, but don't delay to make a change when you realize you've got the wrong person on staff)
- take no prisoners if loyalty is breached
- clearly define your expectations with your staff (both personally, work ethics, etc.)
- hire fewer people and pay them well
- hire leaders, not "doers"
- never try to "sell" the position or the church when hiring
- don't love any one person more than you love the church body (always do what's best for the church family even if it means an individual may have their feelings hurt)
In the final chapter, many church planters are called on the carpet for not staying true to why God called them to plant the church in the first-place. Many churches drift off mission as a result of distractions from a myriad of places.
Here are some of the ways I'm trying to keep PCC on mission:
- teach the Word - the right doctrine will keep you on the right mission
- stay close to Jesus - this will keep you thinking and seeing like Jesus' sees and perceives
- be "being" filled with the Holy Spirit - ask God for a fresh supply of his Holy Spirit everyday
- intentionally build relationships with the lost - it keeps me grounded to those that I'm trying to reach
- take risks - too often I can make excuses for not stepping out in faith
