Part 1 of So, You Want To Be An Armor Bearer was designed to help you understand whether or not you have what it takes to be an armor bearer. Part 2 addresses armor bearer selection and training. The last part is for pastors and ministry leaders who are served by volunteer armor bearers and ministry assistants.
Armor Bearer Selection
Armors bearers are usually appointed. This is generally not a “whosoever will let him come” ministry. Most armor bearers are selected from men and women who have been observed to be: faithful to the ministry, loyal and dependable. They are men and women of prayer who know how to stand in the gap. If necessary, they will not hesitate to protect.
Most importantly, they must have a heart to serve and the pastor must feel comfortable with the armor bearers.
Training
Since each ministry and pastor is different, it is essential to provide armor bearer training. Armor bearers must be trained so they can meet their senior pastor’s expectations and how he/she want’s that ministry to operate.
General Training addresses the overall role of an armor bearer. My general training was twofold: 1) required to read God’s Armor Bearer Volumes 1 & 2: Serving God’s Leaders
If your ministry can’t afford to send you to conferences or classes, that’s ok. At the least I would suggest reading God’s Armor Bearer Volumes 1 & 2: Serving God’s Leaders
Specific Training addresses protocol set by your ministry. There must be set standards from which armor bearers operate or there will be no order, just confusion.
In the movie Drumline, Nick Cannon’s character was an extremely gifted drummer who wanted to do his own thing and prove that he was the best. All he did was create disunity and confusion. The band leader gave a speech that sums up the number one quality of a good team: One band, one sound. One band, one sound is precisely what a well trained team of armor bearers represent. A team of armor bearers might be different heights, weights and ages but they should perform tasks the same.
Specific training can include:
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the time to arrive at church before a service
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specific duties before, during and after service
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where does the armor bearer meet the pastor, guest speaker (or whomever is being served)
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what is the protocol for picking up guests from the airport or hotels
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what is appropriate attire for picking up guests from the airport or hotel
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what is the protocol for serving guests
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are armor bearers expected to accompany/drive the senior pastor to speaking engagements
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who should armor bearers call in when they cannot serve when scheduled
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what does the armor bearer do during an altar call
These are just a few topics that can be included in armor bearer training. There are a number of other topics that can be included; it all depends on how the senior pastor wants his or her armor bearers to operate.
For Pastors Only
Appreciate Your Armor Bearers: Armor bearers provide a valuable service to you and your ministry. A good armor bearer is worth their weight in gold, especially if you pastor a busy ministry. Even thought they don’t serve for recognition or reward, it’s always good to find a way to appreciate your team.
Remember that they have:
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volunteered countless hours to the ministry
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looked out for your best interest
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anticipated your needs, allowing you to focus on ministry
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arrived early mornings and served late nights
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run many errands
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served guests selflessly
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burned up many gallons of gas
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spent precious time away from their families
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changed their personal plans at the last minute
You can appreciate your armor bearers in small ways throughout the year:
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acknowledge birthdays and with a phone call or card
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if they are married, acknowledge their wedding anniversary – don’t forget that the spouse has to share them with you
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send a gift for new babies
It’s also thoughtful to sponsor a big event once a year. For these men and women who personally serve you, I think their appreciation should be in addition to an annual volunteer appreciation for all ministries.
Am I showing partiality? Probably. I’ve been an armor bearer and served as an armor bearer leader. I know how I have called someone for a last minute assignment and I know many times our armor bearers have changed their plans to accommodate. We are often the first to arrive and the last ones to leave the church; sometimes getting home in the wee hours of the morning.
Good armor bearers are priceless, cherish them.
Laymen
Do you still want to be an armor bearer?
Related Posts:
- 10 Ways to Help Out of Town Guests Feel Welcome at Your Church
- How to Host A Guest Speaker
- Go The Extra Mile for Ministry Guests
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Tags: armor bearer, armor bearer training, armorbearers, ministry assistants, ministry volunteers, selecting armor bearers
May 18th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Great information! Very informative.
May 20th, 2010 at 10:17 am
Praise the Lord,
I have been serving as my First ladies armor bearer for about three years now. During the last year I have fallen very short in my relationship with the Lord. My First Lady has always been very supportive and very very patient with me and my short comings. I have felt for along time that I should has been sat down or should have sat myself down if there is such a thing. I also recently got married and now have five year old twins to care for as well as a new husband. I enjoy serving my first lady she a doll, but now I’m in a place where I feel I don’t deserve to be in this position. I also have a women ministry the was started about a year ago and I believe this is where my ministry is. Need help I already talked to my pastor and First Lady about this and situation is still up in the air.
Thank you for your time.
God Bless.
May 30th, 2010 at 7:19 am
My Sister, you say that you already discussed this with the leaders, correct? As a Pastor, I have come to understand why my Bishop and Apostle handled me the way they did when I served them as Armor Bearer. Then, however, I did not relaize why I was not sat down, nor allowed to quit. I offer this suggestion to you…if you believe that they are Pastors after God’s own heart, then remember that they are your gifts from God and that they are not simply ignoring you, but they are serving you! As often as we desire for the cup to past over us, if you are called to this, then you must drink this! Hang in there, keep the line of communication open between you and the 1st Lady, and remember to always pray and seek wisdom from the LORD!
June 1st, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Pastor Rob has given good advice. One thing you need to be sure of is that your motives for serving are pure and you are serving in the area of your spiritual gift(s).
June 5th, 2010 at 8:25 am
My question is, is an armorbearer just the pastor’s servant? I mean I believe in helping the pastor and in making the church better and doing for the church in any way, but am I suppose to be the Pastor’s servant for his personal needs away from church. Am I suppose to cut his grass and wash his car and pick up his dry cleaning and run personal errands that have nothing to do with church in any form. I am but a humble servant to the Lord but I am catching alot of flack about all the “personal” things I do for my pastor. Is my pastor taking advantage of me or does he not fully understand the seperation of duties from church and home? God Bless
August 1st, 2010 at 11:06 am
Hi Sam,
I am an Armour bearer too, to the Pastoral Team leader at my church. There are four other Armour bearers that serve four different leaders and we happen to share an office. I have come to appreciate for the past two years that i joined from the time I joined the team that while most of our duties are similar, they also differ according to the “man” you serve. Different “men” have different personalities, temperaments, skills, talents, strengths, weaknesses, etc. Therefore your service to the “man” that you now serve may not necessarily be the same as mine. So to say, that an Armour bearers calling is not necessarily uniform/similar all over the world. I believe that while you should be careful with the extent of your friendship with your pastor not to reach a level of familiarization, yet you need to reach a level of connection where you are free to speak your heart with honor and respect to him. And if he surely is your pastor with whom you have a heart connection, he will be able to know your strengths, weaknesses, like and dislikes. That’s why King Artaxerxes quickly noticed Nehemiah’s sad look and knew immediately that something was wrong in his heart(Neh 2:1-3).
Each Armour bearer has their package from God, to categorically position them in the destiny that God eventually will lead them to. I personally do a lot of church related duties and personal errands as well. And at both times i have picked my lessons that i might have never caught if may be i were to be rigid only to one sided responsibilities. So I wouldn’t say your pastor is taking advantage of you by requesting you to take care of some of his personal duties, but rather i would say that it is a privilege for you to relieve him of certain duties that he would be so busy caught up trying to accomplish while he could have spared that time to follow up on excellently achieving his ministerial responsibilities. However if a certain duty displeases you, i would recommend that you find a good timing & carefully communicate this. Am sure he would respect you & find an alternative.
May God guide according to His perfect will.
Cheers!
August 1st, 2010 at 2:50 pm
@Pato, your advice is excellent. Also, thanks for the complement on my articles.