- Adopt Him into Your Family (Matt 12:47-50).
He is getting a brand new family, and you are getting a brand new member of the family. He has left his old church family to become a part of a new church family. He has no friends, no co-workers, no family, but you; and you and he will see more of each other than you will your own families.
Two cultures will be merging into one. When a couple gets married, even though they have a lot in common, they still have to adjust when they move under the same roof. It will be similar when you get a new pastor. Two cultures will merge into one. There will be a transition, but it will be a good one.
Get to know him and his family (I Thes. 5:12-13). Find out their hobbies and interests. Have them over for fellowship. Work with him on a project at church. This will help both you and him.
- Be a Ready Follower (I Cor. 11:1; Heb. 13:7).
To be a follower, you must let him take the lead. Just as Joshua followed Moses, we should follow the men God puts over us in the ministry. The pastor might be younger or less experienced than you. His plan might seem different; but, if it lines up with the Word of God, you should get behind him.
To be a good follower, one must be a good hearer (Ecc. 5:1). We should be ready to hear. If we are not at the service or not paying attention to the preaching, we are missing out on where the Spirit of God is leading the church.
Be a Volunteer. Find out what needs to be done. Look for things that need to be done. Help to mobilize volunteers. If everyone would donate 3 to 6 hours a month to church work, it would revolutionize the church. The more we help, the less we complain (Prov. 26:16).
- Don’t Accept Any Criticism of Your Pastor (I Tim. 5:17, 19).
Remember there is a difference between gossip, criticism, and an accusation. You pastor is human and will make mistakes, but he is still God’s leader and needs your support.
Promote Your Pastor. Introduce people to him. Recommend people to come meet him, hear him preach, or talk to him about a problem. You pastor becomes the face of your church: when people think of your church, they will think of the pastor. So promote him.
- Be Aware of the Responsibility (Acts 20:28).
Be Aware of His Work Week. Preparing messages, visiting the sick, counseling, performing weddings, conducting funerals, activities, mobilizing volunteers for service, planning and implementing the church calendar, personal quiet time, and a myriad of other responsibilities can sometimes consume all the hours of the day and require the midnight oil. We come and sacrificially serve and leave, but the pastor never truly leaves his office. The ministry is always on his mind and heart.
Be Considerate of His Study Time (Acts 6:4). He has to be fresh four times a week. He has to be fresh in his relationship with God and in his sermons for the people.
- Keep Him Humble by Being Good to Him (Rom. 2:4).
The goodness of God keeps us humble. How many of us love our spouse more because they were good to us when we didn’t deserve it? If Scripture tells us to be kind to our enemies, how much more should we be kind to the servant of God. A note of thanks or appreciation, a small gift, a phone call or a verbal compliment all give a pastor a humble and thankful spirit. Don’t forget his birthday, anniversary of coming to the church, and his wife’s special days.
- Remember His Obligation to His Family (1Tim. 3:5).
If your pastor loses his family, he loses his ministry. One of the saddest things in the ministry is a man who gives his life to the ministry, but his family doesn’t live for God. Allow your pastor to have family time, family vacations, and go to family retreats.
- Pray for Him Daily (II Thes. 3:1).
The most important thing you can do for anybody is pray. Your pastor is in much need of prayer. Pray that he will have the wisdom of Solomon, the leadership of Nehemiah, and the preaching of Paul.
His spiritual life will affect the church’s spiritual life. Your pastor is a spiritual lightning rod. The devil will always try to get the highest point of visibility in the church; thus, he is gunning for your pastor. He needs your prayer.