10 Quick Lessons for Every Church Staff Member

Today’s staff meeting at Saddleback was a bit different from the norm at Saddleback Church. Pastor Tom Holladay shared from his heart 10 lessons he’s learned from watching Glen Kreun over the past twenty years of ministry.

Pastor Glen served as Executive Pastor of Saddleback for 27 years under Pastor Rick Warren’s leadership. Over those years, he developed an amazing ability to both lead and to be led in ways that supported the miraculous growth of the church.

Here are Tom’s ten observations…

1. No job is more important than pastoring. In other words, people matter far more than paperwork.
2. Believe that God can do great things in every person’s life who walks through the doors. Never discount anyone.
3. Adjust to the style of your leader. Glen spent twenty years in the military before joining a Pastor with an impossible vision, so he made the necessary adjustments to serve his leader well.
4. Be both quick and patient to handle issues.
5. Doctrine is your business. You won’t always have the privilege of referring the tough questions on to someone else. You need to be knowledgeable enough to handle them.
6. Value the staff above yourself, value the church above the staff, and value Jesus above all. Find sacrificial ways to honor your hierarchy of values.
7. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Keep the joy in your life and in your job.
8. Appreciate your family. They are the people with whom you rejoice over the successes.
9. Take the breaks that you need, including a sabbath and a vacation.
10. Let go in order to grow. You don’t have to control everything.