There is an old illustration told about two powerful draft horses in a pulling competition.

Each horse was capable of pulling an impressive load alone. But when the horses were harnessed together and began pulling in the same direction, they moved far more than people expected from merely adding their individual results together.

The exact weights vary depending on who tells the story. But the picture is what stays with me.

When strength is united, the result can be multiplied.

Something similar happened in 1995 at a hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts. Twin girls named Kyrie and Brielle Jackson were born 12 weeks prematurely and placed in separate incubators.

Kyrie began growing stronger, but Brielle struggled with her breathing, heart rate, oxygen level, and body temperature.

When Brielle’s condition became critical, a nurse named Gayle Kasparian received permission to place the twins together. Kyrie placed her arm around her struggling sister. Soon, Brielle’s breathing became easier, her heart rate settled, her oxygen level improved, and her color returned.

The photograph of those two tiny sisters became known as “The Rescuing Hug.”

One was stronger. One was struggling. But when they were brought together, something happened that was not happening while they remained apart.

That is a picture of ministry:

• Alone, we become tired.

• Alone, our abilities remain limited.

• Alone, some burdens become too heavy.

• Together, strength is shared.

• Together, weakness receives support.

• Together, we can accomplish more than any of us could accomplish alone.

There is a multiplying effect when the right people come together around the same burden.

I have learned something through the years that I wish every pastor and church leader could learn early:

You can do more with the right people beside you than you will ever accomplish by yourself.

That statement sounds simple. Living it is not.

Many of us enter ministry with a strong sense of personal responsibility. God called us, so we believe we must carry everything. We preach, teach, counsel, plan, visit, solve problems, answer questions, and make decisions.

At first, we may feel capable of handling it.

Then the church begins to grow:

• More people need care.

• More decisions must be made.

• More ministries require attention.

• More problems find their way to the pastor.

• More opportunities appear than one person can pursue.

Eventually, something becomes clear:

• The pastor cannot do everything.

• More importantly, the pastor was never supposed to do everything.

Moses Tried to Carry It Alone

Moses was called by God. He had witnessed the burning bush, stood before Pharaoh, led Israel through the Red Sea, and received direction from the Lord.

There was no question about his calling.

There was also no question that Moses had taken too much responsibility upon himself.

Exodus 18 describes Moses sitting from morning until evening while the people waited for him to judge their disputes. His father-in-law, Jethro, watched what was happening and asked why Moses was doing all of this alone.

Moses explained that the people came to him to inquire of God.

His motive was good.

His method was not sustainable.

Jethro told him:

“The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.”

—Exodus 18:17–18

Notice that Moses was not the only person being harmed by this arrangement:

• Moses was wearing himself out.

• The people were waiting unnecessarily.

• Potential leaders were sitting unused.

• Important needs depended upon one person.

• The entire nation was limited by Moses’ personal capacity.

Working alone did not make Moses more spiritual.

It made the work less effective.

The Work Is Too Heavy for One Person

There are responsibilities that belong to the pastor. Some decisions cannot be delegated. Some burdens come with the position God has given you.

But carrying final responsibility does not mean personally performing every task.

Pastors sometimes attempt to do everything because:

• They are afraid someone else will make a mistake.

• They believe it is faster to do the work themselves.

• They have been disappointed by people in the past.

• They do not know how to train someone.

• They feel guilty asking others to help.

• They enjoy being needed.

• They confuse control with leadership.

If we are honest, some of us do not delegate because we believe no one else can do the work as well as we can.

Maybe they cannot do it as well today.

Neither could you when you first began.

Someone gave you an opportunity. Someone allowed you to learn. Someone was patient when you made mistakes.

The people around you need the same opportunity.

Jesus Built a Team

Jesus could do what no one else could do.

He did not need the disciples because He lacked power, wisdom, or ability. Yet one of the first things He did in His ministry was call people to follow Him.

He chose twelve men:

• He taught them.

• He traveled with them.

• He answered their questions.

• He corrected their attitudes.

• He allowed them to observe His ministry.

• He gave them responsibility.

• He sent them out to minister.

• He helped them learn from their failures.

Jesus did not merely gather a crowd.

He built a team.

Mark 3:14 says:

“And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach.”

Before He sent them, they were with Him.

That is an important part of leadership development. We cannot expect people to carry our heart if they are never close enough to see it. Training is more than handing someone a job description. It is allowing them to observe how we pray, make decisions, handle people, and respond to pressure.

Jesus prepared His disciples to continue the work after His earthly ministry was complete.

If we are leading well, we should also be preparing people to continue the work without our constant presence.

A Team Is More Than a Group of Helpers

Some pastors say they want a team when what they really want is a group of assistants:

• Helpers wait for instructions.

• Leaders learn to recognize what needs to be done.

• Helpers complete assigned tasks.

• Leaders begin carrying responsibility for the outcome.

Helpers can be valuable, but a growing church needs people who are being developed into spiritual leaders.

A healthy ministry team should include people who can:

• Pray and hear from God

• Care for people

• Teach the Word

• Make wise decisions

• Solve appropriate problems

• Work with others

• Accept correction

• Remain accountable

• Carry the mission of the church

• Develop someone else

The goal is not merely to get more work out of people.

The goal is to help people become everything God has called them to become.

Identify the Gifts Around You

God has already placed gifts within the church.

Paul wrote:

“But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.”

—1 Corinthians 12:18

God places people in the body intentionally. Every member does not possess the same gift, personality, or function.

That is not a problem to overcome.

That is God’s design.

Look around your congregation:

• Who naturally encourages hurting people?

• Who notices guests?

• Who explains Scripture clearly?

• Who can organize people and details?

• Who remains calm during a crisis?

• Who works well with children?

• Who carries a burden for prayer?

• Who has compassion for the lost?

• Who quietly completes every assignment?

• Who already has the respect of others?

Do not look only for polished people.

Some of your greatest future leaders may not look like leaders yet. They may need encouragement, training, correction, and opportunity.

Peter did not look like the finished product when Jesus called him.

Neither did the other disciples.

Jesus saw what they could become.

Pastor, ask God to help you see the potential in the people around you.

Character Comes Before Ability

Talent can attract attention, but character determines whether a person can be trusted.

When the apostles needed leaders in Acts 6, they did not merely look for available people. They said:

“Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”

—Acts 6:3

They looked for people with:

• An honest reputation

• Spiritual maturity

• Wisdom

• The trust of the congregation

• The ability to carry responsibility

Skill can be developed.

Character must be present.

• Do not place someone in leadership merely because that person is talented.

• Do not give spiritual responsibility to someone whose private life cannot support public ministry.

• Do not look only at what a person can do.

• Look at who that person is becoming.

Give People Real Responsibility

People do not become leaders by sitting in meetings and listening to someone talk about leadership.

They grow by carrying responsibility.

Begin with something appropriate. Explain what success looks like. Give the person the authority and resources needed to accomplish the task.

Then allow room to work.

That means you must be willing to let someone:

• Approach the task differently than you would

• Ask questions

• Make appropriate decisions

• Experience small failures

• Learn from correction

• Improve through practice

• Receive recognition for good work

When delegating:

• Do not delegate a task and then continually take it back.

• Do not ask someone to lead and then overrule every small decision.

• Do not hold people responsible for an outcome while refusing to give them the authority needed to achieve it.

Delegation without authority is frustration.

Authority without accountability is dangerous.

Healthy leadership provides both.

Expect Mistakes

If you develop people, someone will make a mistake.

That person may forget something, misunderstand an instruction, make a poor decision, or handle a situation differently than you expected.

What happens next will determine whether your church develops leaders or merely uses volunteers.

Correction is necessary, but correction should produce growth.

When addressing a mistake:

• Explain what went wrong.

• Help the person understand why it matters.

• Listen to their explanation.

• Correct the action without attacking the person.

• Explain what should happen next time.

• Restore confidence whenever possible.

• Follow up afterward.

People should not be terrified that one mistake will end every opportunity to serve.

There are failures that reveal serious character problems and require someone to be removed. But many mistakes are simply part of learning:

• Peter made mistakes.

• The disciples misunderstood Jesus.

• James and John had the wrong spirit.

• Thomas doubted.

Jesus corrected them, but He continued developing them.

Trust Must Grow

Trust should not be given carelessly, but neither should it be withheld forever.

Begin with an appropriate responsibility. Watch how the person handles it. If that person proves faithful, increase the responsibility.

Jesus said:

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.”

—Luke 16:10

Trust grows through demonstrated faithfulness:

• Faithfulness in small responsibilities leads to greater opportunities.

• Faithfulness when no one is watching builds confidence.

• Faithfulness during difficulty reveals character.

• Faithfulness with another person’s vision prepares someone to carry their own.

Do not promote people faster than their character can support.

But do not leave faithful people in the same small place forever because you are afraid to release them.

Teamwork Requires Communication

Good people can still become frustrated when communication is poor.

People need to know:

• What are we trying to accomplish?

• Why does this ministry matter?

• Who is responsible for each part?

• What decisions may they make?

• What decisions require approval?

• What resources are available?

• When should the work be completed?

• How will we know whether it succeeded?

Unspoken expectations create unnecessary disappointment.

• The pastor assumes the leader understands.

• The leader assumes something different.

• The ministry struggles.

• Both sides become frustrated.

Say what needs to be said.

Write it down when necessary.

Ask the other person to explain the assignment back to you. That is not insulting. It is wise communication.

Clarity protects relationships.

Honor the People Who Serve

Ministry teams need more than correction and instruction.

They need encouragement.

Many volunteers work full-time jobs, care for families, and still give hours to the church. They arrive early, stay late, answer calls, solve problems, and serve people who may never know their names.

Do not take them for granted:

• Thank them personally.

• Recognize faithful service.

• Celebrate progress.

• Defend them when criticism is unfair.

• Give them time to rest.

• Ask how they are doing.

• Pray for them and their families.

• Let the church know their service matters.

People should not serve merely to receive recognition. But leaders should still give honor where honor is due.

Encouragement does not cost much.

A lack of encouragement can cost you good people.

Protect Unity Without Demanding Uniformity

A team does not require everyone to think exactly alike.

Different personalities and perspectives can make the ministry stronger:

• One person sees possibilities.

• Another sees problems.

• One moves quickly.

• Another asks careful questions.

• One relates naturally to people.

• Another understands systems and details.

Those differences can create conflict, or they can create balance.

Unity means we share:

• The same biblical foundation

• The same mission

• The same values

• The same love for people

• The same commitment to the church

• The same desire to glorify Jesus

Uniformity means everyone must act, think, and work exactly like the leader.

God did not build the body that way:

• A hand does not become useful by trying to act like an eye.

• An ear does not serve the body by pretending to be a foot.

• A leader does not strengthen the team by forcing every person to become the same.

The strength of a team is not that everyone is the same.

The strength is that different people are moving in the same direction.

Build Something That Can Continue Without You

I once heard a pastor say that he could leave his church for several months and the ministry would continue functioning.

He was not saying the church did not need or love him.

He was saying he had developed leaders.

That is not a threat to pastoral leadership. It is evidence of effective pastoral leadership.

A healthy church should not collapse because the pastor takes a vacation, becomes ill, attends a conference, or needs time with his family.

If everything stops whenever you leave, you may have gathered workers without developing leaders.

Ask yourself:

• What responsibilities still depend entirely upon me?

• Who am I currently training?

• Who could step in during an emergency?

• What knowledge have I failed to share?

• What decisions could someone else be making?

• Am I building a ministry or creating dependence upon myself?

Your absence should be felt because you are loved, not because nothing can function without you.

There Is No Success Without a Successor

Leadership is not only about what we accomplish.

It is also about what continues after us:

• Moses had Joshua.

• Elijah had Elisha.

• Paul had Timothy.

• Jesus developed the apostles.

Someone helped you become who you are. Someone gave you an opportunity, corrected you, encouraged you, and trusted you with responsibility.

Now it is your turn to do that for someone else:

• Bring someone with you.

• Teach what you have learned.

• Share what God has given you.

• Allow someone else to receive credit.

• Give younger leaders opportunities.

• Prepare the next generation.

• Build something that can outlive you.

You did not arrive where you are alone.

You will not fulfill everything God has placed in your heart alone.

• Find faithful people.

• Invest in them.

• Trust them.

• Correct them.

• Encourage them.

• Work beside them.

Then watch what God can accomplish through a team that is united, equipped, and committed to His Kingdom.

Related Ministry Resources

• Article: Lead Your Team to Succeed — Practical instruction for building clarity, trust, spiritual strength, and unity within a leadership team.

• Article: Pull Together for the Kingdom — Encouragement for ministry leaders to work together around a shared Kingdom purpose.

• Sermon Outline: Servant Leadership — A biblical lesson about leading through service and helping people discover their place in ministry.

• Pastoral Books and Training: Visit PastoralHelps.com for books and practical training materials, including Momentum in Ministry.

• Missions and Humanitarian Ministry: Learn how OpportunityHope.org is serving orphaned and at-risk children, pastors, families, and communities in India.

About Pastor James Smith

Pastor James Smith of Valparaiso, Indiana, is the founder of PreachIt.org, OpportunityHope.org, and PastoralHelps.com.

For more than two decades, he has equipped pastors and church leaders with sermon resources, practical leadership training, and encouragement for the challenges of ministry. His writing grows out of a burden to help pastors lead with wisdom, remain faithful to their calling, and develop healthy, growing churches.

Through OpportunityHope, Pastor Smith also helps care for orphaned and at-risk children in West Bengal, India. The ministry provides food, shelter, education, clean-water wells, livestock, and other practical assistance to children, families, pastors, and communities in need.

Books and practical ministry-training resources, including Momentum in Ministry, are available through PastoralHelps.com.