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How to Increase Church Staff Without Spending a Dime

I suspect if you are in a growing church, that you and your staff feel stretched to accomplish all there is to do. You have probably said aloud that you are “understaffed”. I know, because it is part of being a growing church….and I’ve said it many times. In any organization, growth brings stress to systems and structure. Growth in staffing needs will always outpace growth in cash flow.

What if you could increase the size of your staff without spending a dime?

You can. You may not be able to hire for a new paid position, but you could:

  • Raise up new leaders
  • Empower some volunteers
  • Hand out authority
  • Increase your delegating
  • Release some control
  • Share some vision
  • Enlist some support

Chances are, regardless of your church size, that you have some untapped leadership already in your church. They have skills you and your team don’t have. They may not be leading yet, they may not even appear committed at this time, but it also could be that they are waiting for an opportunity. They may need to be recruited. Some of the best leaders in your church are serving elsewhere in the community, but need to be asked to join your efforts in the church.

I’ve noticed many pastors and church staffs holding too tightly to the positions of leadership. This limits the church’s growth, stresses out the staff, and keeps volunteers from growing in experience and faith.

Take a risk on a new leader for your church. Recruit someone and give them a simple task as a trial run. I wouldn’t start with the finance chair position, but find something with an ending date, a special project perhaps, and let them lead. See how they do in a smaller role. You will discover that some people will let you down. That happens with paid staff, too. Evaluate if the problem was you or them and go from there. Remember that they may not do things your way, but analyze based on reaching the mission of the church. You may find a new volunteer staff member who can handle other, on-going, even larger tasks.