FOR SALE

“We must pay closer attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” -Hebrews 2:1-3

In recent years, an unsettling trend has taken root in churches across the nation: the outsourcing of pastoral hiring to professional staffing companies. Churches, once anchored in fasting, prayer, and discernment through the Holy Spirit, are now turning to corporate-style headhunting services to find their next spiritual shepherds. This shift isn't just a matter of methodology—it reflects the deeper spiritual drift of Hebrews 2:1.

The Apostle Paul warned us plainly: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world” (Romans 12:2). Yet, we are witnessing churches increasingly modeled not as the living Body and radiant Bride of Christ, but as religious nonprofits functioning on the world’s terms. There is an alarming resemblance between modern hiring practices in the church and those of secular corporations—driven more by résumés and charisma than by character and calling.

Several years ago, I experienced this firsthand during a final interview for a Senior Pastor role facilitated by one such staffing agency. The co-founder of the company openly accused me of misogyny, saying, "You sound like a male chauvinist," for my complementarian convictions—despite the clear biblical grounding of my views (1 Tim 2:11-14, 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Cor 11:3, 14:34-35, Eph 5:22-24). Rather than a dialogue grounded in Scripture and brotherly charity, the conversation became a test of ideological conformity. It was a stark reminder that, for many gatekeepers, biblical fidelity takes a back seat to cultural conformity.

One need only browse sites like churchstaffing.com to see the scope of the issue: the vast majority of listings are funneled through these agencies (Lancaster Search, Chemistry Staffing, Celebration Ministry Staffing, Rukes Group, Shepherd Staff, etc.). It begs the question: When did the church stop trusting the Holy Spirit to call and confirm its leaders? When did prayer and fasting take a backseat to executive searches and personality tests? Why do lazy churches, that delegate their God-given responsibility and privilege to outsiders, expect God to bless them? Proverbs 28:9 speaks volumes here.

If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.

This disturbing trend exposes a much deeper problem. Local churches are no longer raising up pastors, elders, deacons, and teachers from within their own congregations. Despite King Jesus' "Great Commission" (Matt 28:19-20), many churches are no longer discipling and equipping the next generation of shepherds. Instead, churches are catering to religious consumers interested in entertainment rather than edification, therapy rather than theology, and satisfaction rather than sanctification. Churches everywhere treat ministry like a product and therefore outsource responsibility to the lowest bidder. Church has become a spectator sport, and congregants are being trained—perhaps unconsciously—to see themselves as customers rather than functional and devoted members of Christ's Body & Bride.

This isn’t just pragmatism. It's disobedience.

In the book of Revelation, chapters 2–3, King Jesus speaks directly to our current condition. Many churches today resemble Ephesus—doctrinally sound but having abandoned Christ as their first love. Others reflect Sardis, with a reputation for life, but spiritually dead inside. And perhaps the most haunting is Laodicea: lukewarm churches, self-sufficient, and blind to their true need. These warnings weren’t for the unchurched. They were for us.

Paul’s words to Timothy are likewise urgent for today:

“For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear” -2 Timothy 4:3

“The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons” -1 Timothy 4:1

We are living in those times. Churches that outsource pastoral hiring are often seeking secular spiritual CEOs who won’t challenge the flock or confront the culture. This is modern-day Phariseeism—the love of custom, tradition, and the praise of man more than the love of God.

The solution is not complex, but it is costly. It requires genuine repentance. It demands we return to worship—not just in song, but in structure. Every aspect of church life must be an act of adoration. That includes how we identify and raise up leaders.

Local churches must once again become places of genuine discipleship, where young men and women are mentored, trained, and sent. Elders must reclaim their role as spiritual fathers. Congregants must be reminded that they are not customers, but co-laborers in the Gospel.

Let's stop selling out what God has called us to faithfully steward. Let's repent and return to the ancient paths, THE WAY, where the Spirit leads and Christ is Head. The church doesn’t need better consultants. She needs bold, Spirit-filled shepherds—raised from within, called by God, and confirmed by prayer.

May the saints once again become a people marked not by professionalism, but by His Presence. Not by cultural conformity, but by covenant faithfulness. Not by hiring trends, but by holy worship in spirit and in truth. Let's take down the "For Sale" signs that are our contemporary Ashera poles and high places of repulsive idol worship and trust in the LORD with all our heart.

Blessings & love,

Kevin M. Kelley

Pastor

Big Island Christian Church