Pastors and leaders of ministries wield a lot of influence over members of their congregation. Pastor Obed Martinez of Destiny Church, also a member of the lead team at the Association of Related Churches (ARC), says it is crucial for leaders to steward the influence they have.
Influence is one of the greatest powers that people have today. In fact, we live in a world where influencers are celebrated for what they do and say on social media. They influence their followers to go in whatever direction they might be advertising.
From a ministry standpoint, pastors can do this, too, stewarding the influence that God has entrusted them with to do good for members of their congregation.
Here are some ways you can steward your influence.
Start as a Builder
ARC church leader Pastor Obed Martinez harkens back to Genesis 12, which discusses God’s promise to Abram. Here, God talks about making Abram a builder of his family and of his spiritual family—a role he will then use to bless all nations of families.
In essence, there are two buckets of influence being discussed in this Bible passage—one that leaders are called to build their spiritual family, and the other being the bucket of blessings.
To properly steward your influence as Association of Related Churches leaders and pastors, you must start by being a builder. This includes building your home and your spiritual family. When you put all your focus on this to start, the next bucket of influence—that of blessings—will naturally follow.
Don’t Worry About the Platform
The above comparison to social media influencers is especially relevant today. After all, many people believe they must be popular to be influential. But that’s simply not true.
To have true influence as an Association of Related Churches leader, you must be proven, says Pastor Obed Martinez. God is much more interested in the proven than he is the popular.
The goal of all ministry leaders at ARC churches shouldn’t be to achieve shooting star status. Nor should it be trying to achieve a lot of “things.” Instead, the goal should be to become a rising star and take care of the responsibility that God has given you, which is your family and your spiritual family.
Once you do this, all your other buckets will fill up with the overflow of blessings.
Trust in God
As with anything in spiritual life, trusting in God is essential to stewarding your influence.
Again, it can be easy to get caught up in the façade of what many people believe influencers today should be. But just remember that it’s not about modeling yourself and your ministry after what you see online, but instead about modeling those things after the true influencers. By “true” influences, Pastor Martinez means those who have carried messages throughout history—messages that stretch far beyond ages and empires.
At the Association of Related Churches, stewarding your influence is about respecting the privilege that you have as leaders of ARC churches, and doing what Abraham did.
Start as a builder, then allow your bucket to overflow with blessings. Never allow those blessings to take you away from being the builder. And always remember to steward the world in Jesus’ name.
About the Association of Related Churches
The Association of Related Churches (ARC) is a collaborative network that brings together independent congregations from different denominations, networks, and backgrounds. Its primary mission is to provide vital support and resources to church planters and pastors, empowering them to effectively spread the teachings of Jesus Christ. ARC’s operational approach focuses on empowering and equipping church leaders, enabling them to facilitate the widespread dissemination of Christ’s transformative message. Established in 2000, the Association of Related Churches has grown into a global entity and has played a pivotal role in facilitating the establishment of over 1,000 new churches worldwide.