Odds-n-Ends . Volume 13 | Issue 05

Trust and Credibility

Ten Key Words from Romans 12:9-16 for Building Trust and Credibility

1) Sincerity – People will follow you a long way if that sincerity shines through in life.

2) Spirituality – In response to a sermon I heard named “Pray for Power,” I got face down on the floor of my office and told God, “Whatever you ask of me in terms of ministry, I am willing to do it.” In the next thirty days I won seventy-nine people to the Lord! God is so much bigger than I am.

3) Loyalty – Pastors ask their people to be loyal, but we don’t show the same loyalty. I try to show each church I serve that I love them more than a great title or position.

4) Empathy – As the well-known adage goes, people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

5) Fervency – People want to know that their leaders are passionate about ministry. I’m more passionate about ministry than ever.

6) Flexibility – We minister in a society segmented into a million niches, and yet too often we offer the same old one-choice programming.

7) Generosity – I learned from John Maxwell’s father, Melvin, “If you ask for a dollar, then you give a dollar.” People will help me fund projects because they know I’m in on the projects too.

8) Proximity – I’ve always maintained an open-door policy, keeping the first part of each morning for people to drop by. On Sundays, I build relationships on the way to the pulpit.

9) Stability or Consistency – Leaders need to build trust with the congregation. People need to be able to count on their leaders, knowing that their leaders will follow through on promises made.

10) Humility – Love must be humble. I came from one of the poorest counties in America. I’m wary of the progression of arrogance: 1. Look at what God is doing; 2. Look what God is doing through me; 3. Look at me!

(adapted from Stan Toler’s “Model Church” strategic planning workshop, www.stantoler.com)