Being a church leader is not easy, specifically if you also have a parental role to address. You cannot overlook your congregation, but your children deserve your care and attention too. Ignoring your family is not a choice, and you are also accountable to your followers and disciples. Doing justice to both roles can be challenging and stressful, but you can gather strength from within to handle them well. Let us share some tips to balance church leadership with parenting from people who have been there and done it.
Take responsibility
You cannot expect the road to be easy when you double up as a church leader and dad. But taking responsibility and onus enables you to give your best to both roles. Commit to serving the church and your loved ones as far as possible, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Setting personal desires aside is crucial, so you must create a roadmap and follow it stringently. A clear view ahead goes a long way in helping you achieve an equilibrium.
Be faithful
Faith gives you the strength to overcome any challenge, no matter how daunting it is. You must be faithful in everything you do, from performing your church duties to solving the problems of your followers and handling your responsibilities as a father. Being a good husband is equally crucial as your partner is the pillar who supports you in your community leadership and parental roles.
Moreover, faith, an integral part of spirituality, is not just about believing in a higher power but also in oneself. It’s the compass guiding you through life’s ups and downs.
To better understand the depth and significance of spirituality and how it plays into your daily life, check out this podcast and article What is Spirituality? when you get a chance. It delves deeper into this subject, providing insights that may help you align your actions with your faith and spirituality, not only as a leader and a partner but also as an individual navigating life.
Love, lead, and protect
Embrace unconditional love for your children and followers to do your best for them. Lead them with conviction and courage. You can join a discipleship training program to learn the art of disciple-making. While it will make you a better leader in your church, you will also benefit as a parent. Protecting your children and followers is more than keeping them physically safe. It is also about guiding them to ensure they do not stray from the right path.
Model forgiveness
Forgiveness is a virtue, and it can make you a great leader and a better family man. The ability to forgive strengthens you as a person and shows up in all areas of your life. At times, you may experience guilt for missing out on your role as a husband and father. A forgiving approach enables you to overcome your guilt. Modeling the behavior toward others sets a positive example for your children and followers.
Learn from your mistakes
Being a church leader does not make you a perfect person. In fact, you may make mistakes in your personal life because balancing both roles is easier said than done. You may miss out on school events, forget birthdays, or be late for festive rituals because the church keeps you busy. But you must learn from your mistakes and make conscious efforts to avoid them in the future. For example, you can set reminders and schedule family plans to be there for your kids.
Balancing church leadership with parenting is challenging, but the right approach can help you manage both. However, you should not chase perfection because you may make mistakes in both roles. Your attitude matters the most!
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