We asked pastors of some of the nation’s largest churches to share their thoughts on church growth, discipleship, outreach and faithful ministry.
Aaron Brockett, Lead Pastor
Traders Point Christian Church
Indianapolis, Indiana
We’ve really put a high value on developing a richer and healthier culture among our staff and volunteer leaders. We’ve put several years of greater intentionality into this area, and now we’re experiencing its benefits.
We’ve also worked hard at thinking through and anticipating some of the barriers and hang-ups people have for coming, connecting and growing within our church. We continue to take what we learn and implement it, helping people take clear and simple next steps to get engaged in the mission/vision God has for our church.
As pastors, we all probably know what it’s like to see that person in the lobby after service that you’d like to avoid because you know they’re going to be critical, mean or weird. I’ve had a few occasions this past year when I was bracing myself for one of those conversations, only to have the person share with me how God had been at work in their life through our church and how excited and on mission they now were. Amazing and humbling.
Spiritual leadership is almost always connected to some sort of pain. Now, that pain takes on various forms and can be more or less intense than other times, but it’s usually a factor to any sort of spiritual growth process.
Enjoy each season and experience more. There’s always something to be learned when working in ministry, even from the tough stuff, and it all goes by way faster than I could have imagined. As much as possible, I try to remember that when I have a tough day, six months from now I won’t even remember the details, so I don’t let it rob me of joy.
Stay connected to people. Ask more questions in a conversation than give declarations. Find out how God is at work through people and churches that are different from yours and learn from it.
As different as we all are, one of the primary things everyone has in common is that we’re looking for hope. The gospel is the greatest message of hope. The culture is drawn to hope. We need to give it to them. We need to tell—and more importantly show—them the hope that only Jesus can provide.
Read more candid conversations with Outreach 100 pastors »
Twitter: @AaronBrockett
Website: TPCC.org
Founded: 1834
Denomination: Independent Christian
Locations: 4
A 2019 OUTREACH 100 CHURCH
Attendance: 8,135
Largest: 43
