Getting paid to do ministry has to be the best job in the world. I’ve been extremely fortunate to get to do it for the last seven years or so. Trust me when I tell you that I never thought it would be possible.

For one, I didn’t grow up going to church, so working at one was never on my radar. Then, once I got involved in church, it was extremely rare to see anyone getting paid other than the senior pastor. At least that was the case for most of the churches in my small town. Most of the senior pastors got paid something, and the “larger” churches might throw a few dollars towards a youth pastor.

I had no interest in being a senior pastor or youth pastor, so it was a long shot at best. But I loved my church, and I wanted to see it grow. If I could help the church grow, then maybe I would have a chance to work there one day.

If your desire is to get hired by a church you love, I’d love to give you a few suggestions that I think will help your chances.

1. Get Involved – This should be pretty obvious, so I’ll keep it short. If you’re not willing to volunteer your time, then don’t expect to ever get paid for it.
2. Have a Positive Attitude – A bad attitude will kill the energy and momentum of the church. If you want to get hired, you need to bring the energy and create a fun environment around you.
3. Don’t Be a Gossip – This can be a tough one in the church world. You’re going to be tempted to go talk to Steve about something Bill did that you didn’t like. Instead of doing that, if you have an issue with someone, take it directly to them or get over it.
4. Support the Mission and Vision – If your church has done the hard work of creating a mission and vision, then do your best to live it out, and take every opportunity to share why you’re living it out to those who may not have made the connection yet.
5. Become a Generous Giver – The church I serve would never hire anyone who doesn’t tithe to the church. Why? Because Jesus plainly says, where your money is there your heart will be also. If you feel like you can’t afford to give, then start taking steps that will help you get to a place where you can.
6. Have Great Character – No one should expect you to be perfect, but you should do your best to live a life of integrity. Don’t be one person at church and then a completely different person when no one is looking.
7. Love Your Spouse and Family Well – It doesn’t matter how amazing you are at what you do if your marriage is falling apart and your kids despise you. When things aren’t good at home, then you have much more important things to worry about than trying to get a job at church.
8. Be Teachable – It seems like so many people struggle with this for some reason. If your leader offers you some advice, listen to them. Go one step forward and seek out their advice. That’s even better. Don’t act like you know it all, or that your smarter than everyone. Instead, always be willing to learn.

I want a team full of people with these traits. So, when I see someone who has them, I’m looking for ways I can get them more involved and give them more responsibility. And who knows, somewhere down the road that may turn into a job opportunity for them. It did for me.

Do you have people on staff at your church? Why or why not? Would you add anything else to this list? Leave a comment, and let us know.  Don’t forget to subscribe to the blog to get tips on leadership, church growth, and more delivered to your inbox each week.