ArmorBearer Coach: Explain ArmorBearing to My Pastor?

Featured Armor Bearer Question: Should I Try to Explain ArmorBearing to My Pastor?

Question: I have been serving as Armorbearer to my First Lady for over 5 years now. I love what I do and seldom feel as fulfilled in ministry as when I am serving God by serving my First Lady. I know that this is God's appointment for me. My leader is also in agreement. My problem is this. I often feel that I am not being allowed to fully reach my potential as AB to my leader.

I know you advocate being submissive to one's leaders -- timing as the spirit leads them, and truly I am. However, I feel very much that some of the hesitation is because my leader's spouse, my Pastor, does not fully understand the nature of our relationship in the spirit and in service and discourages her in fully utilizing my skills.

In part, my leader may not fully understand what being an armorbearer really means. Should I try to discuss this with leader to make sure there is no confusion about my willingness and ability to serve? Further, is there something you can recommend to help Pastor better understand our ministry dynamic and that it is appointed by God?...

Brown's Response:

Congratulations on your faithfulness in serving your pastors. Good job! Keep it going. Also, thank you for acknowledging you understand what we teach. On that note, you probably already (smile) have an idea of what we are going to say but here goes:

Varn: Hi Christine. Yielding to your authority’s wisdom is one of the most important things you can do as an armorbearer. Whether your leader fully understands armorbearing or not –they still are the leaders.

If you push beyond their leading, who knows what may happen. God may be holding them back for a reason. It always takes time for the Lord to reveal himself through people. Consider this, just because they are not ready to allow you to serve in a fuller capacity doesn’t mean they lack revelation.

Earma: Hi Christine. I agree with Varn. Additionally, you may be exactly right. Your First Lady’s husband (Pastor) may be the cautious one. Even so, we caution you on assuming the role of teacher with your leaders. Unless of course, you are asked – then by all means enlighten them with the revelation of armorbearing.

With all that said, it doesn’t mean you can’t have your own opinion. Just be careful not to insult their leadership or intelligence by suggesting they need a better understanding of armorbearing..."

Helping Leaders and Supporters in the Local Church,
Varn and Earma Brown
http://www.armorbearers.net
http://www.armorbearercoachseries.com

*Names and/or location may be changed to shield privacy

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ArmorBearer Coach: Lazy Volunteers to Help?

Featured Armorbearer Question: How Do I Get Lazy Volunteers to Help?

Question: ...How do I get lazy not 100% interested people to help? They regularly come to church with little to no enthusiasm for the house of God. It seems to be all about them. No one has time to do anything. I have everything to do. I have a full-time job. Also, I am the main caretaker in my home for my spouse is disabled.

Pastor Karen Morris
Canada

Response:
Varn: Pastor, we encourage you in your ministry. We know it can be disappointing and even burn you out if every one doesn't carry their share of the ministry load. It especially applies to you since you are the main caretaker in the home.

I would recommend praying and teaching more on the spirit of
servanthood, being consistent in coming to church and the
benefits and blessing that comes with serving God. Let them know that when they take care of God's house; he will take care of
their house.

Earma: Hi Pastor Karen, you know it's often been the case
with volunteers even in our Lord's day. Remember when he said,
"...the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few." I'm sure
in that statement--he included the committed laborers are few.
He instructed us to pray to the Lord of the Harvest for laborers
(committed, faithful)

I have found myself often praying that prayer over the years.
Because too many people fall into wrong thinking saying,
"you're the leader - you have to be here. But I'm just a
volunteer, I don't and besides that I have a life..."

Helping Leaders and Supporters in the Local Church,
Varn and Earma Brown

*Names and/or location may be changed to shield privacy

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Armorbearer Coach: Feeling like an employee instead of daughter?

Question: ...My title is not one of Armorbearer but what I do for my pastors brings me close to them. I am the 1st lady's personal secretary. However, I don't feel close at all. Sometimes I feel like I'm just doing a job while First Lady has others that she really treats as daughters. And I don't feel that (daughter) relationship. I feel like just an employee. How can I not get offended? How can I keep zeal in what I'm doing and not allow what's going on around me to affect me.

New York, USA

Response:
Congratulations on your ministry appointment. It's a great honor to do what you have been asked to do. I can almost hear you thinking, are they talking to me – did they misunderstand what I just wrote.

Varn: Hi, I'll go first this time. No, we did not get it confused. Caring for the poor and assisting your pastor are both honorable callings. We believe they are close to the heart of God. In addition to serving our pastors, Earma and I were jail ministers for 10 years and led a small group ministry that fed the poor for 4 years. It was a lot of hard work but we believe our efforts were pleasing to God.

Earma: Hello. I understand the strong need in all of us to be accepted and loved for who we are. So with gentleness, I say you need to balance your thinking. When you are operating as a personal secretary you are an employee. So, you may need to lower your expectations of how you should be treated. By that I mean don’t expect First Lady to relate to you on a personal level at that moment. When conducting church business seek to maintain the professionalism attached to that role. But when you are not operating as a secretary take off that role and just be the daughter of First Lady that you are. From the employer side, there's a certain level of formality that you must keep with your employees or they won’t respect you. It's nothing personal, just human nature and good leadership.

Varn: You know being a personal secretary (assistant) or an Armorbearer are basically the same. They both come from the same Hebrew root word 'nasa' meaning to help or assist. It's up to you how you serve – according to your gifting and talents. Whatever God has gifted you with; you may still operate in the spirit of armorbearing...

*Names and/or location changed to shield privacy

How Should I Respond When Former Leader Interferes?

Question: I am one of the pastors of a congregation and I have been assigned the task to train and teach in our church. I have a small group of armorbearers that are being influenced in a negative way right now by someone in the church that was once a Pastor (different church.) How can I deal with this situation without it appearing as if I’m jealous? This person is always trying to get involved with the armorbearers and to tell them how to serve. I have a problem with this because it is not their job number one and two they have no idea what my wishes and desires are. Please help! --Pastor, California

Response:

Thank you for your recent email. We commend your desire to shun all appearances of evil.

VARN:
If not already, we recommend our book In the Spirit of Armorbearing for further training of your Armorbearers. By no means, are we suggesting you haven’t been respectful or courteous. But I encourage you to continue to be courteous. Continue to be respectful of this former pastor in your midst. Besides knowing its Christ-like and what we should do, consider this he/she may have strengths and talents that God wants to implement to help you. So guard against allowing the enemy to distract you into making this person into an enemy.

EARMA:
Hi Pastor. I recognize the enemy’s hand that’s always working to undermine our ministry efforts or get us engaged in a tug of wills that drains our energy and spirituality. I agree with Varn about being gracious toward the former pastor. Also, another reason we suggest further training (meeting or class) is in the training atmosphere you can bring correction to this behavior without even mentioning the person’s name.

*Names and/or location changed to shield privacy

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Keep Getting Cut In On - Should I Quit?

Question:

…I have a question. I have been serving my pastor for a year and a half. Before I came to be her armorbearer no one was stepping up to the plate and serving her so God called me to do so. Since I have been serving my pastor it seems that everyone wants to do something or take my job so to speak. I provide her handkerchiefs and terry clothes while she preaches because she sweats a lot, while she is preaching an usher will come and hand her some tissues to wipe the sweat. I pray about it and do you think I should step down from position or what. It really gets aggravating but I don’t say anything, I try to keep a positive spirit. If you could enlighten me or give me some advice it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.–Roshelle*

Response:
Congratulations on answering the call to support your pastor! We commend your passion to serve your leader in excellence as an armorbearer.

Earma: Thank you for asking. Varn and I were impressed with your honesty. When we served as armorbearers, we personally experienced the same scenarios often. We realize it can be frustrating when someone steps in on your service plan. But first of all, I encourage you not to walk away from your call because of it.

Varn: Hi Roshelle, remember in Mark 3:20 when Jesus was accused of being of the devil. His response established an ancientprinciple that we can live by still. That principle is "A HouseDivided Against Itself Cannot Stand" Sometimes, we have toremind ourselves we are all on the same team. We encourage youto yield to whoever does that and try not to be too upset by it.Just step back in place when they finish.

Earma: I think it's a ploy of the enemy to get you distractedfrom your assignment or offended and totally give it up. I agreewith Varn gently step back in place when someone cuts in on youlike that. I say gently because you don't want to make anyresponses out of retaliation. With all that said, could it bealso that your responses were a little slow at those times? Youdidn't mention the size of your congregation. But whatever thesize, you have been serving your pastor a year and a half, haveyou considered it may be time to train someone else to help withyour duties? Some of the ones that try to step in there over-zealously may or may not be candidates to help.

Varn: I agree Roshelle. Training may definitely be your next step- with your leader's approval of course. We're not suggestingyou should go anywhere but pull in some help if needed. A quickexample along those lines: When I first started serving mySenior Pastor as armorbearer, before I understood and answeredthe call there was an usher that sporadically did some of thethings I ended up doing as armor bearer. I realized that mybrother may have had or heard the same call but did not fullyunderstand what to do. Out of respect for him, the Holy Spiritinstructed me to be patient with him when he felt he wanted tostep in. After all, we are on the same team.

Roshelle, we pray for you as you serve faithfully in your call.May God contine to bless you with His abundant wisdom andstrength as you help your pastor. May His blessing rest uponyou, your family and ministry.

© Varn and Earma Brown. Most leaders need a strong chain of support. Your leaders deserve one too! Varn and Earma, Co-Founders of Armorbearers International, offer help with designing a strong chain of support for God’s leaders in the local church. Sign up for free mini-course of 7 simple lessons “The Armorbearer Coach” and receive free newsletter by the same name. Go to http://www.armorbearercoachseries.com or visit host site at http://www.armorbearers.net for other insightful articles and resources.

*Name(s) have been changed to shield privacy.

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Envy & the Armorbearer Position in our Church?

Featured Armorbearer Question: Envy & the Armorbearer Position in Our Church?

2 Questions – One Response:
1. We are armorbearers for our pastors…My question is with this position is it normal for others to carry a spirit of envy. People in my church desire the position but not the pain. We did not ask for the position we were appointed … -Name Withheld

2. I've been wondering why other leaders such as ministers or elders seem to be intimidated by the relationship of the pastor and his armorbearer(s), in my church I’m just a Brother-in-Christ and I love the LORD. I serve my Pastor with passion and zeal as unto the LORD. The armorbearer ministry is small but active wherever needed. Can this be intimidating? –Name Withheld

Response:
Congratulations on answering the call to support your pastor! We commend your passion to serve your leader in excellence as an armorbearer.

Earma: Yes, the position of an armorbearer is a favored position with God and with your leader(s). Your position of serving may have brought you into close relationship with your pastor. And many desire that type of close relationship with your leader. We have observed and experienced that this favor and close relationship may stir jealous, envy and even intimidation in some. So we encourage you to guard your heart that you don't become angry and want to retaliate. Instead walk gently with humility and work to keep the peace.

Varn: Hi, even so, after acknowledging the position may stir jealousy in some, we caution you that this favored position does not automatically place the armorbearer above any other position in the authority chain. In most cases, an armorbearer receives delegated authority [through receiving instructions directly from the pastor] But the armorbearer position itself is still usually a position that is under the authority of assistant pastors, elders, etc. So be careful to respect the authorities over you as an armorbearer. In this way, there's less chance of any one feeling they have to prove their authority with you...

*Names and location may have been changed or withheld to shield privacy.

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Will You Continue?

I hope this month's letter finds you expectant of God's goodness in the year 2005. My prayer is that you will receive His most choice blessing throughout the year.

We at Armorbearers International send a warm welcome to our new subscribers! Our purpose is to help leaders and supporters build strong teams. We seek to offer practical tips and encouragement through the teaching ministry of Varn and mine and the many resources and articles via the AI website.

It's a glorious thing to be called of the Lord to do something. It's encouraging to be confirmed in that calling. But sooner or later we are asked, "Will you continue?" A little more than a year ago, the website portion of our ministry was accidentally deleted. Through those disheartening circumstances, we had to answer that question. Perhaps you or someone you know recently went through some disheartening circumstances that has left the question hanging in the air. Read this month's Reader's Favorite article " Will You Continue?" and be encouraged to Continue.

Our enemy the devil seeks to block our fulfilling the call of God on our lives with his lies. Without knowledge from God you may have fallen for it. Read Varn's Qtip article and destroy all the myths of the devil sent to block the call of God on your life... Click Here to read full Jan 05 "The Armorbearer Coach Newsletter!"

May God's mercy and lovingkindness be fresh and new every morning to you, your family and ministry.

Helping Leaders and Supporters Build Strong Teams,
Earma Brown