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Christian Leaders: Dealing with the unemployed through a pandemic.

 Food for thought.

In all my many years of teaching and mentoring young leaders, it is rare indeed for me to have to deal with church leaders who have been made unemployed.  In the grand scheme of things churches tend not to make their pastors or Leaders unemployed. This is not say that it doesn’t happen; when there is a down turn in tithes and offerings, the target for layoffs  are church staff- reception, PA’s, paid interns and employed auxiliary church staff. Church Boards only focus on the senior leader as a last resort and in my memory it has never happened.

One thing I can say though is that while I have found Church Leaders to be very pastoral with their words when it comes to dealing with the unemployed, it is rare for me to find a leader who is truly empathetic, a leader who can really relate to what a person is going through. I spoke this week with a Christian recruitment agency and was told that they have seen applications for jobs quadruple

So what is the answer? How do Christian leaders deal with the many people who find themselves without jobs? How do you deal with the fact that other Christian leaders have lost their jobs?

What I am about to propose is equally relevant to Christian Leaders and congregation members who find themselves in the unemployment que.

Firstly and I know this sounds hard but don’t say “I am praying for you”. It doesn’t help a person who is grieving a job they have lost and is confused and not sure, right then and there, which way is up. It should be an unspoken given that you pray for your flock.

Secondly if you ask the question; “How can I help?” be prepared to help and have tangible answers to the question.  Human beings need to know that they are secure in the areas of finance, food and shelter. Finance and money will be forefront in a person’s mind. Can the church give them money to pay a month’s rent or mortgage? Does the church have a food bank to make sure that the family has groceries?  Does the church have access to a debt counselling service to help a person with bills and the payment thereof?  Once a person knows these can be taken care of in the short term they are better able to focus on the future.

Thirdly there is a need to remember that all of the above needs to be financed. It may need the church to put on hold the funding of certain programmes to meet the needs of the immediate crisis. A Christian leader needs to ask for help from wealthy business people in the congregation (if you are fortunate enough to have them) or in the wider community. Don’t just ask for money, ask for practical help.  If you don’t ask you won’t get.

Lastly, remember to pray with them not for them there is a difference. You are their shepherd and they are members of your flock. You have a responsibility.

I know the above doesn’t solve every problem but it is times like these that the church is needed more and more.

P.S. I have just lost my job.


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