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Too Many Hats, Not Enough Heads

  • Sam Peters
  • Jan 21
  • 4 min read

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. – Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV

Recently my wife and I were cleaning out a closet, and she came across two storage tubs filled with baseball caps I’d collected over the years. The first words out of her mouth were, “You have too many hats!”

I said, “Amen!”

I don’t think she caught on to what I meant.

As a small church pastor, perhaps you can relate. It’s not just baseball caps we’re juggling—it’s the hats of preacher, administrator, counselor, and outreach coordinator all at once. And let’s be honest, sometimes we’re not great at every one of those roles. (And sometimes, people expect our spouses to wear a few hats too, but that’s a story for another day.)

But here’s the thing: We’re not supposed to be great at everything. God didn’t design you to be a one-man (or woman) band. He gifted you uniquely for the role He’s called you to fill. And guess what? Your congregation isn’t supposed to be great at everything either. God has uniquely gifted your church to be the body of Christ in your community—not everywhere or for everyone, but right where you are.

The Problem with Doing Too Much

In my 40-plus years of experience with smaller churches, I’ve seen a recurring issue: overworked pastors leading overcommitted congregations.

Years ago, I conducted a survey of smaller churches in the district I served. Most of these churches had fewer than 50 people worshiping on any given Sunday. Yet, many of them were engaged in sixteen or more ministry and mission activities—on a regular basis!

The problem? They weren’t effective in most of those endeavors. They weren’t equipped for many of them, and they were woefully understaffed to do them all well.

The result? Burnout. Volunteers who were too tired to take on one more ministry idea. Ministries that had outlived their purpose but were still running because “we’ve always done it that way.”

When I guided these churches through ministry assessments, one of the first things I’d do was give them permission to stop doing so much. You could see the relief on their faces. They realized they didn’t need to do everything—they just needed to do the right things.

Some ministries had been relevant at one time but had lived past their prime. So, I encouraged them to give those ministries a funeral. Celebrate their life, have a bereavement meal, and then move on.

Discovering Your One Excellent Mission

Listen, pastor: you have people in your congregation who are ready and willing to serve—if it’s something they’re passionate about and gifted for, and if they’re not bogged down with activities that no longer bear fruit.

That’s where discovering your church’s One Excellent Mission (OEM) comes in. By identifying the one thing your church does better than anyone else in your community, you can focus all your resources on being the best at that one thing.

Here’s how embracing an OEM can help your church make a big difference:

1. OEM Creates a Compelling Vision

A clear and focused mission inspires people. When your church is laser-focused on one area of ministry, it becomes easier to articulate why it matters and how it impacts the community. People rally around a mission they can understand and believe in.

2. OEM Aligns Opportunities with Gifts

When your church knows its mission, you can offer volunteer opportunities that align with the unique gifts of your members. Instead of asking people to fill a slot in a program they have no passion for, you can connect them to roles that energize and excite them. Serving becomes a joy, not a burden.

3. OEM Increases Volunteerism

When people see the church making a tangible impact in one focused area, they’re more likely to want to be part of it. And because they’re not spread thin across multiple activities, they have the capacity to serve with excellence.

4. OEM Improves Your Mission of Making Disciples

A focused mission helps your church excel in one area, which often becomes a natural gateway for discipleship. Whether it’s through relationships formed while serving or the spiritual growth that comes from stepping out in faith, your OEM becomes a tool for transforming lives.

5. OEM Shines a Light on Spiritual Transformation

A smaller church doesn’t need to do everything to make a big impact. By focusing on one mission, you create room for stories of transformation to take center stage—stories of how God is at work through your church. These stories inspire and remind people why the mission matters.

6. OEM Keeps a Smaller Church Nimble

Smaller congregations have a unique advantage: the ability to pivot quickly. By focusing on one mission, your church can stay responsive to changing needs in the community without being weighed down by too many outdated programs.

Big Impact, Small Church

Pastor, you don’t have to wear all the hats. And your church doesn’t have to do everything. By discovering your One Excellent Mission, you can lead your congregation to focus on what truly matters, equip volunteers to serve with joy, and make an impact in your community far greater than your size would suggest.

Are you ready to find your OEM? It’s time to give some of those hats away and step into the freedom of a focused and fruitful ministry.

The good news is that you don’t have to do this alone. Discovering your One Excellent Mission can be the key to transforming your church’s ministry, reigniting your volunteers’ passion, and making a lasting impact in your community. I’d love to help you identify and implement an OEM tailored to your congregation’s unique strengths and calling.

Let’s have a conversation about how this approach can breathe new life into your church. Reach out to me today to schedule a time to talk!

📧 Email: sam.peters@smallchurchcoaching.com📱 Social Feeds:

If this article resonated with you, I encourage you to share it with other pastors or church leaders who might benefit from these insights. Together, we can equip churches to thrive in their mission.

Your church has the potential to make a significant difference—let’s discover how together!

 
 
 

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