10 of the Most Common Questions Asked by Pastors
I wish I could respond to every phone call, email, text, Facebook post, Twitter direct message, blogpost comment, and several other forms of communication I receive. Pastors ask me questions, lots of questions. I am both honored and humbled that they would think that I could be a source of information or expertise.
That is why I am frustrated that I get to respond to relatively few of them. Pastors deserve better, and I'm trying to figure out a better way to be more responsive.
Before I give you my idea, let me share with you the most common questions I am asked by pastors. It was a relatively easy exercise to review several weeks of communication and tally the most common questions. Here are the top ten questions in reverse order:
10. How can I get the business and finance training I need to understand that aspect of church life?
9. What should be our church's first step with a new member or a prospective member?
8. How do I broach the subject about my salary and benefits?
7. What are the most common outreach and evangelism ministries in effective churches?
6. How do I handle a particular conflict in the church?
5. How should I allocate my time as a pastor?
4. How do I balance family time with the demands upon me as a pastor?
3. How are effective churches closing the back door?
2. How can I simplify the busyness in my church?
1. What are the most common discipleship ministries and programs used in effective churches?
Here is my plan. I hope in the next six months to establish on ThomRainer.com a comprehensive question and answer section for pastors. I will need help in two ways. First, I will need help answering the questions. I plan to recruit pastors and other leaders who can provide expertise according to the questions.
Second, I need questions from you. You can start now.