This excellent three part series (originally titled “An Etiquette That Honors“) was written by my friend, Pastor Chris Ball. Pastor Chris is a leader of leaders both at his local church as well as Elim Fellowship, where he serves as General Secretary. It is a great honor to know him and share this resource with you!
Over the past 20 years I have had some wonderful experiences, both as a guest speaker and as a host to guest speakers. I’ve had the pleasure of these experiences in the local church and the broader arena, when hosting large conferences.
There is nothing like the joy of celebrating the work of the Lord when the guest speaker flows in the Spirit, leaving a deposit from God and then returns home, having felt that he or she was cared for and had received a blessing, both spiritually and financially, for the time spent in ministry. Stories like this do not happen automatically. In fact, too often, I have heard about negative experiences from either the host or the guest speaker, primarily due to poor planning and/or an attitude which exhibits dishonor rather than honor.
The Bible speaks a lot about honor: honoring the Lord with all your possessions (Proverbs 3:9), honoring your mother and father (Exodus 20:12), honoring those who seem to lack honor (1 Corinthians 12:24), giving double honor for those who labor in the Word or doctrine (1 Timothy 5:17), etc.
I take a risk of being misunderstood by writing an article about an etiquette that brings honor when co-laboring with guest speakers. As one who is invited out to speak, this may seem self-serving. It is my heart, as you read the following material that it will serve to bring glory to God and His Church as we strive to operate with excellence.
Honor is reflected when the following three essentials are functioning:
- Communication
The key to an atmosphere of honor is communication. Long before the ministry takes place, both the guest speaker and the host should discuss all details so that every possible area is addressed. This builds an environment where great ministry can take place, because both the host and guest are made aware of their individual responsibilities. The more questions asked and the more details discussed, the more it will serve to eliminate misunderstandings.
- Cooperation
Both the host and the guest should look for ways to bring honor to the ministry. Guests should always look to minister under the authority of the host leader. They should be considerate of time and dress code, come with a spirit to serve and bless, and always remember that they are only a guest. The host should look for ways to be a blessing, making life as comfortable as possible for the guest who, most often, is away from home and family. If the spirit of honor is in the minds and actions of both parties, they will be well on their way to a powerful time of ministry that glorifies God.
- Compensation
While every minister should be willing to serve with honor regardless of financial compensation, we cannot dismiss the fact that Paul challenged us to show double honor to those who labor in Word and doctrine. Paul is clearly speaking of compensation. Too many times to mention I have heard stories of men and women who have traveled far and wide, left family, and given their utmost to ministry, only to discover that their compensation was far from honorable; in fact, it was dishonoring.
Every host must consider blessing their guest by paying their expenses (including housing, miles, and meals) and compensating them for their labor. Discussion should take place before the event is finalized regarding all the details involving compensation. It is much better to know the details on the front end than being surprised after the event is completed. In short, if a host is unable to compensate a guest, let them know early so they have the opportunity to say yes or no to the opportunity to minister.
You may be saying, “I have a small church or ministry. When I look at these guidelines, I can’t begin to see how I will ever have enough compensation to invite a guest.” Remember, everything begins with ‘communication’. However, be careful not to be passive with these guidelines. There are several ways to work towards having a guest ministry.
If you are leading a small work, consider the following…
- Focus on fewer events throughout the year. Work hard to make one event successful, rather than falling short on hosting multiple events.
- Consider partnering with a couple of other area ministries to host an event.
- Consider fundraising ahead of time so you will be able to store up enough income to provide for the event/ministry.
- Don’t be afraid to charge a registration fee for some events in addition to receiving a free-will offering.
- In your communications you may be able to arrange a package that will work out with your guest ministry, but remember – this should be agreed upon before the commitment is final.
Someone once said to me, “Whatever happened to serving and trusting God for His provision? Shouldn’t that be the attitude of the guest?” Most guest ministries I know approach ministry with this attitude, and it should be the attitude of all who minister. However, I often caution that this should not give place to poor planning or be an excuse to disregard God’s call for host ministries to show honor to their guests. This article is intended to serve both the host ministry and the guest ministry. Following these etiquette guidelines will bring honor to all parties involved, and ultimately honor God. Let’s remember the essentials: Communication, Cooperation, and Compensation.
Following are some guidelines that will serve to help you in your journey to honor. You may want to consider setting up an event coordinator to handle the details. No matter the size of our ministries, we can all function with excellence.
Like what you’re reading? Click here to read ‘Part 2’ of this article!