A well-cared servant of God is the strongest asset to building a united and healthy community of believers in a growing church. We therefore have to ensure their well-being so that they can fully concentrate on their ministry. This ultimately yields a win-win situation - the sheep benefit from the shepherds’ commitment, while the shepherds gain fulfillment in their calling.

The NECF Malaysia Survey of Churches, Pastors and Christians conducted three years ago showed that 19.4% of pastors interviewed received an average monthly salary of RM1, 000, while about 50% earn between RM1,000 and RM2,000. About 80% said the income was inadequate or just enough to meet present needs. Over eight percent cited insufficient income as the greatest discouragement to them.

The reality is that pastors’ present salary is not commensurate with the current cost of living index. Does this not contradict God’s desire that shepherds should be given double honour and rewarded worthily? That the ox that treads out the grain should not be muzzled? (1 Tim. 5:17-18)?

This inadequate-income predicament has put pastors and full-time workers, particularly in rural areas, in financial difficulties. Consequently, some had to quit the ministry and take on ‘secular’ work to adequately provide for their families’ needs, which include higher education expenses for their children. Others press on in their ministry, while juggling another job to supplement their meagre income. In addition their financial difficulty, some full-time workers also suffer emotional pressure from the high expectations of their congregations.

Some established denominational churches have built-in structure and system to cater sufficiently for basic needs such as Employees Provident Fund benefits, insurance coverage, and medical benefits. In contrast, most of the local independent and evangelical churches do not provide such security, let alone gratuity or sabbatical. Little thought is given to their workers’ emergency and future needs. Early burnout becomes a dangling threat that could seriously affect the workers’ morale, and inevitably productivity and efficiency.

Some Christians feel that full-time ministry entails sacrifice, self-denial and suffering, and are expected to forsake their beloved ones as well as all that they possessed (Luke 14:26,33). Over time, this view has resulted in the neglect of the workers’ welfare.

Paul argued in 1 Cor. 9: 7, "Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?" And in vs 11, "If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?" Like Paul, who appealed to the Corinthian Christians to consider the welfare of their "full-time ministers", we also appeal to the Church to care for their workers.

Two major challenges facing the pastoral and full-time ministry need to be addressed and overcome. First: How can we – the congregation – encourage capable, qualified and dedicated Christian to enter the ministry by assuring them of sufficient finances and material support? Second: How can we ensure that they remain in the ministry?

Two years ago, the NECF Malaysia Pastors Prayer Shield Campaign was initiated nationwide. The campaign helped stir awareness of pastors’ plight and their need for financial, emotional and prayer support, especially those serving in rural areas.

Several churches, and even denominations, responded to our call to appreciate their pastors and leaders by organising special gatherings to honour them, and support them in prayer.

Spurred by such enthusiastic responses, we considered more ways to help pastors and full-time workers, particularly those serving smaller churches in rural areas. Hence, the creation of the NECF Foundation – a welfare fund that provides financial assistance to needy pastors, full-time workers and missionaries.

As Christians we need to use whatever resources we have to ensure that the servants of God are loved, encouraged and cared for. It is our responsibility to also serve them by freeing them from financial and other material burdens so that they can be more effective and fruitful in their ministry.

At the time of the first church, there was none who lacked, "for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet, and they distributed to each as anyone had need." (Acts 4:34–35) Our first-church brethren set an example that demonstrated our Father’s heart for the needy.

Let us give to the deprived, yes, even our full-time workers.