Lana Rose knows. Ministry assistants have told her.

"Most churches have fewer than 200 members," said Rose, ministry assistant (MA) specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Convention who leads MA training events for LifeWay Christian Resources. "These churches usually have one ministry assistant and maybe one financial secretary. So, these MAs have a lot of work to do."

As Rose puts it, "Respect, appreciation and common courtesy go a long way in helping an MA feel affirmed in the work."

When Rose asked the assistants on her email list what they wish their pastors knew, dozens of responses came quickly.

Rose said they seemed to fall into three categories: professional, personal and personality.

Professional:

-- I could be a wealth of information to him. I often stand in the gap between him and the church members, so I have knowledge that could be helpful if he would just ask.

-- I would like to be reimbursed when I use my own car and cell phone for church business.

-- I would like for him to go to bat for me on salary and benefit issues. I deserve to make a livable wage.

-- I want to be acknowledged for my professional skills. I am skilled in computer software, financial software and graphic design, plus I have exceptional interpersonal and relational skills that I use with church members and church staff members.

Personal:

-- I want to have the freedom to come to him and appropriately share struggles within the church family. He doesn't always know what is going on.

-- I want to be kept in the loop. If he gets a call about a celebration, a sickness or especially a death in the church family, I need to know. And, I'd like to be kept informed about his schedule.

-- I appreciate it when he talks positively about me in front of church members and other church staff members. If they see that he values me, they will value me as well. Continued...