Whether it’s facing the challenging impact of the Coronavirus, or the challenge of your church facing the abrupt departure of your lead pastor….others are looking to you for leadership in the midst of the crisis.

They may not verbalize it, but when it’s crisis time, people want answers to 4 critical questions:

1. Can I trust you?

In the midst of a crisis (or even mild change), trust is the most valuable currency you can possess. Without it, people won’t follow your leadership. With it, even if you can’t “fix” things immediately, they will willingly follow.

Proverbs 20:6 says, “Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man?” Trust is not given nor earned by words alone. In a crisis, leaders can’t simply demand to be trusted.

Trust is a multi-faceted character issue. People trust when they have seen over time that what you say, you do. And they are convinced of your good intentions toward them. As Brennan Manning describes in his book Ruthless Trust, we only trust to the extent we know we are loved.

2. Where are we going?

Vision casting is important, even in the midst of a crisis. People want to know where you’re leading them. They want someone to explain the big-picture. When people see the big picture, they then understand the decisions that are made with the daily details.

When people are given a vision it creates unity as it rallies diversity. It is the fuel for enthusiastic commitment. It creates a template for decision making. 

3. Can you get us there?

Answering this question is a bit tricky. For people need to have confidence in you, but only as they see your desperate confidence in the Lord. Your skills, training, and experience as a leader are important assets. But a humble heart that admits God needs to show up is vital.

When a crisis envelops a church, like the abrupt departure of the lead pastor, the sheep want confidence in going with you on the journey that lies ahead. You may at this point not be able to answer all their questions, but do they know you have an unwavering trust in a big God? 

4. What is my role?

This question is based on the positive answers to the first 3 questions. People want to know what is expected of them. How can they contribute? How can they invest that makes a difference?

This question is not only being asked by the staff, it’s also being asked by each person who calls your church home. They want to know if they matter?

If you are in a leadership position and the current crisis has revealed a disconnect between you and others, review these 4 questions. Are you answering them or ignoring them? Ask those around you what answers they are hearing from you.

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When a church experiences an abrupt departure of their lead pastor, what the leadership team does in the first 90-days is critical to the body recovering.

“Aftermath” is a workbook for such a time. It gives wise biblical guidance for shepherding the church through those early weeks. Click here to go to the TRM Store to get a copy for yourself, or one for each member of your leadership team.