From Solo Shepherding to Shared Stewardship: Building a Culture of Care in the Local Church
Recent Barna research shows a hopeful trend: More pastors today feel satisfied and resilient in ministry than during the weary post-pandemic years. Praise God for this renewal!
Yet for many—especially solo pastors or those holding bi-vocational roles—the weight hasn’t lifted. Ministry remains rewarding, but the load often rests on one set of shoulders.
Beyond better personal rhythms of rest, leaders need a broader vision: nurturing a church culture that supports ministry. How can we reframe this in light of the gospel so every member is encouraged to share the care—and become disciples who reproduce?
From Solo Shepherding to Shared Stewardship
To see long-term health in our churches, we must reframe the way we think about ministry. It’s not simply stronger leaders or better programs. As Ephesians 4 reminds us, it’s about equipping the whole body to build itself up in love.
Many churches—especially smaller ones—assume their size limits what’s possible. Yet every local body, no matter how small, already possesses Spirit-given gifts for growth in maturity and care. The issue is rarely capacity; it’s culture.
Too often, care is assumed to be the pastor’s job. But biblically, care is the church’s calling—and its joy. When members bear one another’s burdens, ministry turns from an exhausting solo endeavor into shared stewardship.
This shift doesn’t happen overnight. It requires a gospel-shaped mindset that sees ministry not as a task to survive, but as a family to cultivate.
So where do we begin?
Three Windows into Your Care Culture
Before we reach for solutions, ask honest questions—about leadership alignment, equipping pathways, and everyday practice. Let’s take a look at these three interlocking areas:
1. Leadership Alignment — Who’s Carrying the Vision?
If care decisions default to the leadership or programs are valued over people, the team pulls in different directions. Culture flows from the top, so if leaders aren’t united, change stalls before it starts.
2. Equipping Pathways — Who’s Ready to Help?
Without intentional training, opportunities for everyday care can be missed—not for lack of love, but lack of confidence. Look for clear, intentional training plans, growing confidence in messy situations, and stories of members actively serving. Without equipped saints, burdens bottleneck around a few exhausted leaders.
3. Everyday Practice — How Do We Practice Care?
When discipleship and care are confined to a single group or ministry, they become optional add-ons. Evaluate by asking: Do small groups pause to shepherd when needs arise, or just race through the study? Do sermons model “one-another” language—like “Let’s look for ways to encourage each other this week” (Heb. 10:24-25) or “How can we gently restore a struggling brother?” (Gal. 6:1-2)—and give concrete examples?
When these three align, care becomes sustainable—rooted in the gospel, with every member equipped to serve and flourish. Try using these “windows” to begin your leadership conversation.
From Assessment to Action: Growing Together
After reflecting, it’s normal to feel both hopeful and uncertain. The key here is to start small and be honest about where ministry feels heaviest.
1. Begin by discussing what you see with leaders and identifying the heaviest areas.
2. Choose one simple step to take: reflect personally on Eph. 4:11-16 to start. Consider ways to weave “one-another” language into your next prayer, announcement, or sermon.
3. Schedule a six-month review—to revisit what you’ve done, where you’re going, and to celebrate what God has done.
Remember, you won’t change everything at once. But steady and faithful steps will help you keep moving forward in developing your culture of care.
From Vision to Care: Equipping the Church to Care
Should you want a companion on the journey, OakHaven offers a simple three-year pathway that begins with the Ministry Assessment and unfolds in three phases.
Phase 1: Clarify the Vision
Here, the key question is What are we building, and why does it matter?
This phase guides your leadership team to develop shared theological and philosophical convictions so care becomes a defining part of church culture, not an afterthought. Together, we’ll clarify language, roles, and next steps so that everyone knows where you’re going.
Phase 2: Equip the Body
In this phase, we’ll answer the key question: Who else can help shoulder the load?
Every believer can learn to speak the truth in love. We help you identify, train, and encourage lay members—perhaps launching a pilot group or mentoring key volunteers—to build momentum from the ground up.
Phase 3: Sustain the Culture
The last key question we’ll answer: How will this endure?
A healthy care culture needs structures that last. We’ll help you develop rhythms of evaluation, further train those already in leadership, and provide practical tools for ongoing shepherding, like training small-group leaders to respond wisely when needs arise—so care becomes an ordinary, enduring part of church life.
Ready to Lighten the Load?
Begin by
1. Starting the Conversation. Share the three windows with another leader and ask, Where do we feel the strain most?
2. Taking a Small Step. Begin weaving “one-another” language into Sunday prayers—or simply listen well to one hurting person this week.
3. Inviting Insightful Support. Want help discerning next steps? Complete OakHaven’s free Ministry Assessment to start the conversation. We’d be honored to walk with you.