The Gift of “Stay-ers” in Ministry

Over the past couple of decades of ministry, there have been many people who have been a gift. People who jump in, who serve, who give, who encourage; people who bring a smile to my face when I see them.

I've learned that there is one category of people that might be the biggest gift of all in a church, but their gift often goes unrecognized. They aren't always the ones planning the huge events or leading their small group, though sometimes they are. I've found that more often than not, they are content to serve in the background, faithfully just simply being there, year in and year out. That's what makes them a stay-er.

What is a "stay-er"? Good question. A stayer, as you might have guessed, is simply someone who stays. Of course, life brings us here and there, but a stayer is someone who is faithful not just to God, but to friends. And in ministry, there are precious few stayers who you know will remain with you through thick and thin.

Being a stayer isn't just about not leaving. There are people who stick around not to serve others but to serve themselves. What makes a stayer a stayer is that through the storms of life, the storms of ministry, the storms of relational difficulties, they are there to encourage, to serve, and to offer themselves.

A mentor who I met in my first ministry position once told me, "I've outlasted a few senior pastors in this church, and I expect I'll outlast a few more." He meant it as a joke, but the truth behind his comment is that he is a stayer. Over several decades he has been a part of his church, he's served in leadership positions, and he's served by cleaning up water from a broken hot water heater. And I know that he hasn't agreed with every single pastor or staff member, but he's always been there. Setting up tables, leading ministries, raising money, and doing whatever needs to be done, because he loves his church.

When you think about the people in your church that you are grateful for, many types probably come to mind: the junior high leaders, the go-getters who can pull off just about any event, your staff members who truly love what they do, those who are generous. But one that you may not think about all that much are the stayers, especially if you haven't been through too many difficult seasons in ministry. 

I would guess that you've got at least a few stayers who have been with you through thick and thin. Or maybe you're new in your role, and you've met one or two people who have been there for years, and they've already told you that they're happy to help with whatever they need. Take a few minutes this week to send them a note to say "thanks," or better yet, tell them over breakfast or a cup of coffee. They're a much greater gift than you probably realize.