How to Work for a MegaChurch

Holy, Holy, Holy

If you've ever attended a MegaChurch and considered what it would be like to work there, here are some ideas of how to get yourself noticed and move from unpaid faceless volunteer to paid staff member, as well as some realistic considerations about the job itself.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Be aware that if you're attending a church of over 2000 members, it's easy to get lost in the crowd. The best way to get the attention of the staff is to volunteer. Finding people to help with any task can be a real chore, so if you have a couple of hours to spare and come in with a smile saying "How can I help?" You will definitely get yourself on the radar of the office staff. Many volunteer jobs take very little time--handing our bulletins and shaking hands with people a few minutes prior to service, or directing people with children to various classrooms or nurseries. But even so, it's very hard to find reliable people to come consistently and do those jobs. If you show yourself to be someone they can count on, you will not only be remembered, but certainly considered when a paid opening arises.

2. Be realistic about your expectations. If you think working for a church will be peaceful and idyllic, you're deluding yourself. Pastors and church staff members are as inherently flawed as the rest of the world. If your desire to work for a MegaChurch stems from the belief that you'll be in a conflict free office environment, think again. There are interpersonal conflicts among church office staff members. In addition, many church members with heartbreaking trials will come to the church seeking solace and assistance. Part of your job will be to research solutions to help them in their time of need. If you want to work at a MegaChurch, you must be emotionally equipped to deal with difficult personal issues for the church's members and creative enough to multi-task as a problem solver.

3. Don't expect to keep your current salary. If you are making $35K in the for profit sector, don't expect a church, even one with thousands of members will be able to pay you a comparable salary. Are you prepared to take a huge pay cut for the pay off of doing a job that fulfills you?

Tips & Warnings

• Join a Small Group - it's the easiest way to get connected to other members and leaders.

• Take the Membership Class to discover the church's beliefs and vision for the future.

• Pastors aren't perfect, don't expect them to be.

• Large churches handle large amount of human trials, prepare to have your heart broken.