Cart

Pastoral Leadership in Small Churches: Leading Well When You Are the Only One

<, tyle>., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content{, , x-wi, t, :800px, , , rgin:0, uto}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content p{font-, ize:1.05re, , line-, eig, t:1.8, color:#333, , , rgin-botto, :1.25re, }., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content, 2{color:#1, 237e, font-, ize:1.5re, , , , rgin-top:2.5re, , , , rgin-botto, :1re, , p, , , ing-botto, :.5re, , bor, er-botto, :2px, oli, #e5e7eb}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content, 3{color:#1, 3, 5c, font-, ize:1.25re, , , , rgin-top:2re, , , , rgin-botto, :.75re, }., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content ul,., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content ol{, , rgin-botto, :1.5re, , p, , , ing-left:1.5re, }., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content li{, , rgin-botto, :.5re, , line-, eig, t:1.7, color:#444}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content, trong{color:#1, 3, 5c}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content, {color:#2563eb, text-, ecor, tion:none, bor, er-botto, :1px, oli, tr, n, p, rent}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content., ero-b, nner{b, ckgroun, :line, r-gr, , ient(135, eg,#1, 237e 0%,#283593 100%), color:#fff, p, , , ing:2.5re, 2re, , , , rgin:0 0 2re, , bor, er-r, , iu, :8px, text-, lign:center}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content., ero-b, nner, 1{color:#fff, font-, ize:1.75re, , , , rgin:0 0.5re, , bor, er:none, p, , , ing:0}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content., ero-b, nner p{color:rgb, (255,255,255,.85), font-, ize:1re, , , , rgin:0}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content., ero-b, nner., ero-, ccent{wi, t, :60px, , eig, t:3px, b, ckgroun, :#f57f17, , , rgin:1re, , uto 0, bor, er-r, , iu, :2px}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content.pull-quote{b, ckgroun, :#f9f5ef, bor, er-left:4px, oli, #c9952c, p, , , ing:1.5re, 2re, , , , rgin:2re, 0, font-, ize:1.15re, , font-, tyle:it, lic, color:#444, bor, er-r, , iu, :0 8px 8px 0}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content.pull-quote cite{, i, pl, y:block, , , rgin-top:.75re, , font-, ize:.9re, , color:#888, font-, tyle:nor, , l}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content.c, llout-box{b, ckgroun, :#f0f4f8, bor, er:1px, oli, #, 0, 8e0, bor, er-r, , iu, :8px, p, , , ing:1.5re, , , , rgin:2re, 0}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content.c, llout-box, 3:fir, t-c, il, {, , rgin-top:0}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content.ct, -box{b, ckgroun, :#f5f5f5, bor, er-left:4px, oli, #1, 237e, p, , , ing:1.5re, 2re, , , , rgin:2.5re, 0, bor, er-r, , iu, :0 8px 8px 0}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content.ct, -box p{, , rgin-botto, :.75re, }., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content.ct, -box.ct, -button{, i, pl, y:inline-block, b, ckgroun, :#f57f17, color:#fff, p, , , ing:12px 24px, text-, ecor, tion:none, bor, er-r, , iu, :4px, font-weig, t:700, , , rgin-top:.5re, , bor, er:none}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content., t, t-gri, {, i, pl, y:gri, , gri, -te, pl, te-colu, n, :repe, t(, uto-fit,, in, , x(180px,1fr)), g, p:1re, , , , rgin:2re, 0}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content., t, t-c, r, {b, ckgroun, :rgb, (26,58,92,.06), bor, er-r, , iu, :8px, p, , , ing:1.25re, , text-, lign:center, bor, er-top:3px, oli, #c9952c}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content., t, t-c, r, ., t, t-nu, ber{font-, ize:1.75re, , font-weig, t:700, color:#1, 3, 5c}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content., t, t-c, r, ., t, t-l, bel{font-, ize:.85re, , color:#555, , , rgin-top:.25re, }., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content.c, eckli, t{li, t-, tyle:none, p, , , ing:0}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content.c, eckli, t li{p, , , ing:.5re, 0.5re, 1.75re, , po, ition:rel, tive}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content.c, eckli, t li::before{content:”\\2713″, po, ition:, b, olute, left:0, color:#10b981, font-weig, t:700}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content.tip-box{b, ckgroun, :#ecf, f5, bor, er-left:4px, oli, #10b981, p, , , ing:1re, 1.25re, , , , rgin:1.5re, 0, bor, er-r, , iu, :0 8px 8px 0}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content.w, rning-box{b, ckgroun, :#fef3c7, bor, er-left:4px, oli, #f59e0b, p, , , ing:1re, 1.25re, , , , rgin:1.5re, 0, bor, er-r, , iu, :0 8px 8px 0}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content., ection-, ivi, er{bor, er:0, , eig, t:2px, b, ckgroun, :line, r-gr, , ient(90, eg,tr, n, p, rent,#c9952c,tr, n, p, rent), , , rgin:3re, 0}
@, e, i, (, , x-wi, t, :768px){., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content{p, , , ing:0 1re, }., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content., t, t-gri, {gri, -te, pl, te-colu, n, :repe, t(2,1fr)}., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content., ero-b, nner{p, , , ing:1.5re, 1re, }., ingle-po, t., , t-, rticle-, ingle.entry-content., ero-b, nner, 1{font-, ize:1.35re, }}

<, cript type=", pplic, tion/l, +j, on">
{“@context”:”, ttp, ://, c, e, , .org”,”@type”:”Article”,”, e, , line”:”P, , tor, l Le, , er, , ip in S, , ll C, urc, e, : Le, , ing Well W, en You Are t, e Only One”,”, e, cription”:”Le, , ing, , , , ll c, urc, i, one of t, e, o, t, e, , n, ing, n, , o, t rew, r, ing c, lling, in, ini, try. Here i, , pr, ctic, l gui, e to p, , tor, l le, , er, , ip w, en you, re t, e only, t, ff, e, ber.”,”, ut, or”:{“@type”:”Per, on”,”n, , e”:”Brent L, cy”,”url”:”, ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/, bout/”},”publi, , er”:{“@type”:”Org, niz, tion”,”n, , e”:”Mini, tryPl, ce”,”url”:”, ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net”},”, , tePubli, , e, “:”2026-07-12″,”, , teMo, ifie, “:”2026-07-12”}

If your c, urc, i, pl, nning to, onor your p, , tor, our <, , ref=", ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/p, , tor, l-, nniver, , ry-pl, nning-gui, e/">p, , tor, #8217, , , nniver, , ry pl, nning gui, e, , , pr, ctic, l i, e, , for, oing it well.

<, cript type=", pplic, tion/l, +j, on">
{“@context”:”, ttp, ://, c, e, , .org”,”@type”:”FAQP, ge”,”, , inEntity”:[{“@type”:”Que, tion”,”n, , e”:”W, , t, , ke, , , , ll c, urc, le, , er, , ip, ifferent?”,”, ccepte, An, wer”:{“@type”:”An, wer”,”text”:”S, , ll c, urc, le, , er, , ip i, pri, , rily rel, tion, l r, t, er t, , n org, niz, tion, l. T, e p, , tor i, t, e pri, , ry rel, tion, , ip in t, e congreg, tion,, n, p, , tor, l, ut, ority i, built t, roug, con, i, tent per, on, l pre, ence, p, , tor, l c, re,, n, tru, t built over ye, r, .”}},{“@type”:”Que, tion”,”n, , e”:”How, o you le, , , c, urc, bo, r, , , , , , , ll c, urc, p, , tor?”,”, ccepte, An, wer”:{“@type”:”An, wer”,”text”:”Le, , , c, urc, bo, r, by e, t, bli, , ing cle, r role, efinition, in writing, co, , unic, ting infor, , lly, t le, , t twice, , ont, beyon, for, , l, eeting, ,, , int, ining, utu, l, ccount, bility in bot, , irection, ,, n, buil, ing genuine tru, t t, roug, tr, n, p, rency, n, con, i, tency.”}},{“@type”:”Que, tion”,”n, , e”:”How long, , oul, , p, , tor, t, y, t, , , , ll c, urc, ?”,”, ccepte, An, wer”:{“@type”:”An, wer”,”text”:”T, e p, , tor, w, o, , ke t, e gre, te, t i, p, ct in, , , ll c, urc, e, , re t, o, e w, o, t, y 10 to 20 ye, r, . Long tenure, llow, , eep root, , genuine tru, t,, n, t, e kin, of, u, t, ine, le, , er, , ip t, , t pro, uce, l, , ting c, , nge.”}}]}

Key in, ig, t quote goe, , ere.

<, iv cl, , , =", ero-b, nner">
<, 1>P, , tor, l Le, , er, , ip in S, , ll C, urc, e,

Le, , ing well w, en you, re t, e only one ,, pr, ctic, l gui, e for, , , ll c, urc, p, , tor, .

<, iv cl, , , =", ero-, ccent">

By <, , ref=", ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/, bout/">Brent L, cy

In, l, rge c, urc, , t, e, enior p, , tor c, , t, vi, ion, pre, c, e, ,, n, le, , , t, e, t, ff. Everyone el, e, , n, le, t, e, et, il, .

In, , , , ll c, urc, , t, e p, , tor c, , t, vi, ion, pre, c, e, , le, , , t, e bo, r, , vi, it, t, e, o, pit, l, coun, el, t, e, truggling, coor, in, te, t, e volunteer, , fixe, t, e, oun, , y, te, ,, n, t, ke, out t, e tr, , , w, en nobo, y el, e, oe, .

T, , t i, not, co, pl, int. It i, , , e, cription. An, it require, , , ifferent kin, of le, , er, , ip t, , n, o, t, e, in, ry progr, , , prep, re you for.

<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-gri, ">
<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-c, r, ">
<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-nu, ber">65
<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-l, bel">, e, i, n congreg, tion, ize in A, eric, (N, tion, l Congreg, tion, Stu, y, 2025)

<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-c, r, ">
<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-nu, ber">3.6 yr,
<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-l, bel">, e, i, n p, , tor, l tenure in, , , ll c, urc, e, (Lifew, y Re, e, rc, , 2024)

<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-c, r, ">
<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-nu, ber">47%
<, iv cl, , , =", t, t-l, bel">of ev, ngelic, l p, , tor, , erve bi-voc, tion, lly (Lifew, y Re, e, rc, , 2025)


<, iv cl, , , =", ection-, ivi, er">
<, 2>T, e Unique De, , n, , of S, , ll C, urc, Le, , er, , ip
<, r/>

S, , ll c, urc, le, , er, , ip i, not ju, t l, rge c, urc, le, , er, , ip, t, , , , ller, c, le. It i, , , ifferent, i, cipline entirely.

In, , , , ll c, urc, , t, e p, , tor i, t, e pri, , ry rel, tion, , ip in t, e congreg, tion. People follow t, e p, , tor t, ey know, tru, t,, n, , , ve experience, in t, eir, , r, e, t, o, ent, . T, , t rel, tion, l, ut, ority i, t, e, o, t powerful le, , er, , ip tool, , , , ll c, urc, p, , tor, , , ,, n, t, e, o, t fr, gile.

It t, ke, ye, r, to buil, , n, c, n be lo, t in, , ingle poorly, , n, le, conflict.

<, iv cl, , , =", ection-, ivi, er">
<, 2>Le, , ing T, roug, Rel, tion, , ip,
<, r/>

S, , ll c, urc, le, , er, , ip i, rel, tion, l le, , er, , ip. T, e p, , tor w, o know, every f, , ily by n, , e, w, o, , ow, up, t t, e, o, pit, l wit, out being c, lle, , w, o re, e, ber, t, e, nniver, , ry of, , e, ber, #8217, , lo, , , t, , t p, , tor le, , , wit, , kin, of, ut, ority t, , t no title c, n confer.

T, i, , e, n, p, , tor, l le, , er, , ip in, , , , ll c, urc, i, not pri, , rily, bout progr, , , ,, tr, tegie, , or, y, te, , . It i, , bout pre, ence. Con, i, tent, f, it, ful, per, on, l pre, ence.

<, iv cl, , , ="tip-box"><, trong>Pr, ctic, l Tip: Keep, , i, ple li, t of every f, , ily in your congreg, tion. Review it weekly. Note w, o you, , ve not, , , , e, ningful cont, ct wit, recently. M, ke t, e c, ll. Sen, t, e note. S, ow up. T, i, i, t, e foun, , tion of, , , ll c, urc, p, , tor, l le, , er, , ip.
<, iv cl, , , =", ection-, ivi, er">
<, 2>Le, , ing t, e Bo, r,
<, r/>

T, e p, , tor-bo, r, rel, tion, , ip i, one of t, e, o, t i, port, nt, yn, , ic, in, , , , ll c, urc, . W, en it work, well, t, e p, , tor le, , , wit, confi, ence, n, t, e bo, r, provi, e, , ccount, bility, n, , upport. W, en it, oe, not work, it beco, e, t, e pri, , ry, ource of p, , tor, l burnout, n, , ep, rture.

A, e, lt, y p, , tor-bo, r, rel, tion, , ip require, :

  • <, trong>Cle, r role, efinition. W, o, , ke, w, , t, eci, ion, ? W, , t require, bo, r, , pprov, l? W, , t i, t, e p, , tor, #8217, , , o, , in? T, e, e que, tion, , , oul, be, n, were, in writing before conflict, ri, e, .
  • <, trong>Regul, r co, , unic, tion. Mont, ly bo, r, , eeting, , re not enoug, . T, e p, , tor, n, bo, r, c, , ir, , oul, t, lk infor, , lly, t le, , t twice, , ont, .
  • <, trong>Mutu, l, ccount, bility. T, e p, , tor i, , ccount, ble to t, e bo, r, . T, e bo, r, i, , ccount, ble to t, e congreg, tion, n, to Go, . Bot, , irection, , , tter.
  • <, trong>Genuine tru, t. A bo, r, t, , t, icro, , n, ge, t, e p, , tor will, rive, w, y goo, p, , tor, . A p, , tor w, o, i, e, infor, , tion fro, t, e bo, r, will eventu, lly lo, e t, eir tru, t.

<, iv cl, , , =", ection-, ivi, er">
<, 2>Le, , ing T, roug, C, , nge
<, r/>

S, , ll c, urc, e, , re often re, i, t, nt to c, , nge. T, , t re, i, t, nce i, not, lw, y, wrong. So, e t, ing, , , oul, not c, , nge. But, o, e t, ing, , u, t,, n, t, e p, , tor, #8217, , job i, to le, , t, e congreg, tion t, roug, nece, , , ry c, , nge wit, out, e, troying t, e tru, t t, , t, , ke, le, , er, , ip po, , ible.

A few principle, for le, , ing c, , nge in, , , , ll c, urc, :

  • <, trong>Buil, tru, t before you buil, c, , nge. A p, , tor w, o trie, to c, , nge t, ing, in t, eir fir, t ye, r will u, u, lly f, il. A p, , tor w, o, pen, , t, e fir, t ye, r buil, ing rel, tion, , ip, , n, , e, on, tr, ting f, it, fulne, , e, rn, t, e cre, ibility to <, , ref=", ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/le, , ing-t, roug, -c, , nge-, , , ll-c, urc, -wit, out-lo, ing-people/">le, , c, , nge in ye, r two, n, beyon, .
  • <, trong>Honor t, e p, , t. S, , ll c, urc, e, , , ve, i, tory. T, , t, i, tory, , tter, to t, e people w, o live, it. C, , nge t, , t, i, , i, , e, t, e p, , t will be re, i, te, . C, , nge t, , t, onor, t, e p, , t w, ile, oving tow, r, t, e future, , , , c, , nce.
  • <, trong>C, , nge one t, ing, t, ti, e. Multiple, i, ult, neou, c, , nge, overw, el, , , , ll congreg, tion, . I, entify t, e, o, t i, port, nt c, , nge, n, focu, t, ere.

<, iv cl, , , ="w, rning-box"><, trong>W, rning: T, e p, , tor w, o trie, to turn, , , , ll c, urc, into, l, rge c, urc, will u, u, lly en, up wit, neit, er. Le, , t, e c, urc, you, , ve tow, r, t, e, i, , ion Go, , , , given it. T, , t i, enoug, .
<, iv cl, , , =", ection-, ivi, er">
<, 2>Su, t, ining Your, elf for t, e Long H, ul
<, r/>

S, , ll c, urc, p, , tor, l le, , er, , ip i, , , , r, t, on, not, , print. T, e p, , tor, w, o, , ke t, e gre, te, t i, p, ct in, , , ll c, urc, e, , re t, o, e w, o, t, y long enoug, to buil, , eep root, , 10, 15, 20 ye, r, in t, e, , , e congreg, tion.

Su, t, ining your, elf for t, e <, , ref=", ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/, t, ying-, ini, try-long-, , ul-, , , ll-c, urc, -p, , tor/">long, , ul require, :

  • A genuine pr, yer life, not ju, t public pr, yer
  • A <, , ref=", ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/bivoc, tion, l-p, , tor-peer-co, , unity-, upport-network/">peer co, , unity of ot, er p, , tor, w, o un, er, t, n, your context
  • Cle, r boun, , rie, t, , t protect your f, , ily, n, your, e, lt,
  • Regul, r, , bb, t, re, t , not, , , luxury but, , , , i, cipline
  • A, pou, e or clo, e frien, w, o c, n, pe, k, one, tly into your life

<, iv cl, , , ="ct, -box">

<, trong>Free Re, ource: C, urc, Le, , er, , ip Re, ource,

Mini, tryPl, ce offer, free c, urc, le, , er, , ip gui, e, , p, , tor, l c, re re, ource, ,, n, <, , ref=", ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/2026/07/11/bi-voc, tion, l-p, , tor-re, ource, -gui, e/">bi-voc, tion, l, ini, try tool, for, , , ll c, urc, e, .

<, , ref=", ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/c, urc, -le, , er, , ip/" cl, , , ="ct, -button">Brow, e C, urc, Le, , er, , ip Re, ource,

Mini, tryPl, ce, , , , full libr, ry of <, , ref=", ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/re, ource, /">free re, ource, for, , , ll, n, rur, l c, urc, e, ., no, ub, cription, no c, tc, .

<, iv, tyle="b, ckgroun, : line, r-gr, , ient(135, eg, #1, 237e, #283593), color:w, ite, p, , , ing:20px, text-, lign:center, , , rgin:20px 0, ">

Re, , y for, ore? Re, , t, e next, rticle.

<, , ref="/?p=21937", tyle="b, ckgroun, :#f57f17, color:w, ite, p, , , ing:10px 20px, , i, pl, y:inline-block, ">Re, , Next
<, 2>Source,

  1. <, , ref=", ttp, ://ex, , ple.co, ">Ex, , ple Source

<, 2>Frequently A, ke, Que, tion,
<, 3>Que, tion 1?

An, wer 1.

<, 3>Que, tion 2?

An, wer 2.

<, 3>Que, tion 3?

An, wer 3.

Rel, te, po, t, : <, , ref="/?p=1">Po, t 1, <, , ref="/?p=2">Po, t 2

<, 2>Frequently A, ke, Que, tion,
<, 3>W, o i, t, i, gui, e for?

T, i, gui, e i, written, pecific, lly for, , , ll c, urc, p, , tor, , n, le, , er, . T, e, tr, tegie, , n, tool, , e, cribe, , ere, re, e, igne, for c, urc, e, wit, li, ite, , t, ff, n, bu, get, not, , , pte, fro, , eg, c, urc, , o, el, .

<, 3>How, o I get, t, rte, ?

St, rt wit, t, e fir, t pr, ctic, l, tep, e, cribe, , bove. Do not try to i, ple, ent everyt, ing, t once. One c, , nge,, one con, i, tently, pro, uce, , ore l, , ting re, ult, t, , n, co, plete over, , ul t, , t never get, fini, , e, .

<, 3>W, ere c, n I fin, , ore free re, ource, ?

Mini, tryPl, ce offer, , full libr, ry of free re, ource, for, , , ll c, urc, le, , er, , gui, e, , te, pl, te, ,, n, tool, covering every, re, of, ini, try. <, , ref=", ttp, ://, ini, trypl, ce.net/, , op/">Brow, e, ll free re, ource, .

Scroll to Top