You must lead.

Church growth expert Lyle Schaller is adamant that the key reason most churches do not grow or reach the unchurched is a failure of leadership. And while I do not put the same weight on the importance of the pastor as Schaller does, I nevertheless agree with his basic premise.

Schaller says pastors can be put into one of four categories. The first category includes those "who fail to pay the rent on time or are not able to pay the rent on time or are not able to pay it in full every month." Simply stated, these pastors, due to poor health, family problems, uncertainty of call, or poor work habits, do not carry out basic pastoral duties.

The second category is the "paying-the-rent pastor." The "rent" includes preaching and worship, teaching and pastoral care, organization and administration. Schaller emphasizes that paying the rent is not a fulltime job. These pastors use their discretionary time for activities that do not establish goals or a vision for the church.

Schaller's third group of pastors is called, "goal-driven pastors." These leaders not only pay the rent, they help carry out projects and programs initiated by them or others in the congregation. If the goal is to reach younger families with children at home, the goal-driven pastor may seek to build a new preschool wing, to expand off-street parking, or to develop the latest "hot" program for young families. Goal-driven pastors use their discretionary time to enlist allies and to accomplish tasks necessary to reach their goals. These leaders tend to operate in a constant flurry of activity.

The pastor who does not pay the rent typically leads the church to decline. The pastor who does pay the rent, the task-driven pastor, cannot typically lead a church past 350 in attendance, according to Schaller. The goal-driven pastor, in contrast, can usually lead a church to about 700 in attendance. Schaller contends that we have few unchurched-reaching pastors because most church leaders fit into one of the three previous categories. Only a small number of pastors, says Schaller, are in a fourth group he calls vision driven. They are characterized as follows:

- They see "paying the rent" as important, but they do not believe all the payments must be made by themselves personally. They seek to involve others in tasks.

- Instead of much activity and busywork, these leaders expect others to be involved; "they have high expectations of anyone who commits to being a disciple of Jesus Christ."

- The vision-driven leader believes that the vision will be so compelling that enough key leaders cannot help but be drawn to it. The vision thus engenders alliances rather than the pastor creating them. For the vision-driven leader, a goal is not an end in itself. It is simply a building block to something greater and more exciting.

- The vision-driven leader sees few limitations. He truly believes any thing is possible through Christ.

Perhaps Schaller's descriptions explain why our data indicates only four out of 100 American churches could be described as effective churches. Very few pastors are actually vision driven.

I understand, however, why many pastors do not seek to be vision driven. They have been so abused, so criticized, so nitpicked by people who call themselves Christians that they no longer feel that the effort is worth the pain. I have been a pastor. I have dealt with some not-so-well intentioned dragons. Sometimes it is just easier to pay the rent than to be verbally crucified.

Nevertheless, leaders must not quit the fight. Too much is at stake. Eternity is in the balance. Yes, too much pressure is placed on pastors. Certainly, unreasonable expectations abound. But this battle is part of a larger war. It is indeed spiritual warfare.

Pastors, be people of prayer. Seek God's face in hours of sermon preparation. Learn to communicate the best you can. Keep a sense of humor. Laugh at yourself at times. Be personally accountable to someone as you share your faith week by week. Seek excellence in all things. And lead your church to something so great that it will be a certain failure unless God is in it. Dream the big dream. Dream God's dream for your church.

Thom S. Rainer, Ph.D., is president of Church Central Associates LLC and founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Considered one of the leading experts on the church today, he is the author or co-author of 16 books on the church and has written articles or reviews for more than 30 publications. Dr. Rainer has also served as a pastor and interim pastor in 10 churches and has consulted with more than 300 churches, denominational entities and religious organizations.