The body of Christ and family of God are terms that express to us the kind of relationship that should exist in the church. Our expectations of the caring relationship begin with a desire for the pastor to emulate a caring nature. Often there are unrealistic expectations of the pastor being able to meet everyone’s needs and/or expectations. The reality is that a pastor needs the same kind of care and partnership to minister to the needs of others.

You can be a vital asset in the success or failure of your pastor. The first step is to begin by demonstrating a mutual care for the pastor. We need to remember that he is a member of the family. When Paul said, “The members should have the same care for one another” (1 Corinthians 12:25); he did not exclude pastors. The pastor is viewed as the “caregiver” but even caregivers need to receive care.

Meeting the needs of people requires that we know what matters to them. Learning to find out what the pastor cares about helps enable us to understand him. It is always difficult to care about someone’s needs unless you know what the person cares about.

A second step is learning to connect with your pastor. There are several ways in which you can learn to connect:
§ Accept the fact that we all have differing personalities and styles
§ Be open and share your true feelings
§ If you have a conflict or controversy keep it personal
§ Give the benefit of the doubt
§ Leave the past in the past
§ Don’t compare pastors (the Corinthian problem)
§ Catch his passion for ministry and join him in his vision

The third way you can make your pastor a success is by learning to be a compliment. Not simply by complimenting him after a good message but learning his need for help. Pastors cannot be successful without the other members of the body functioning in partnership. You and each member of the local church have been given assets that compliment your pastor. Together the local church becomes all God designed the church to be. These complimentary assets include:
§ Your unique personality: Your personality will enable you to minister to people your pastor may not be able to.
§ Your Spiritual gifts: No pastor has all the gifts but the church needs all the gifts functioning.
§ Your natural abilities: Ministry today is complex and needs people with natural abilities and skills in every area.
§ Your life experiences: People today relate to people based on common experience and your experience can help others.
§ Your personal resources: Financial needs are a reality of ministry and your giving is a crucial need in ministry.
 

The greatest way to make your pastor a success is by making a commitment to pray for him. Paul clearly understood his need for people praying for him and often asked for prayer when he wrote his epistles. One example is 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2,
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.
resources through networking with other ministries.