Nathan Paul
Tuesday, Jan 24
3:15 – 4:30 pm
When to Add Staff and How to Choose the Right Role
As your church grows, so do the needs of your congregation. But when is the right time to add staff, and what kind of role will truly advance the mission? Too often, churches assume that the answer is to call another pastor. But growth, fatigue, or complexity doesn’t always require more pastors. Sometimes the best addition is different: perhaps it’s an assistant who frees the pastor from weekly administrative tasks; a staff minister to expand pastoral care; a business manager to steward finances; an operational leader to help execute the mission; or a part-time specialist in youth, worship, or technology.
This session helps church leaders move beyond assumptions to staffing decisions that are clear, strategic, and mission driven. Participants will learn how to:
- Utilize a strategic ministry plan that aligns staffing decisions with the mission.
- Assess the needs of both their congregation and community.
- Identify the strengths and gifts of the current staff and those required of new team members.
- Distinguish between called and hired staff and when each is appropriate.
- Avoid common mistakes, like hiring based on exhaustion, convenience, or tradition.
We’ll explore practical tools for defining roles, finding the right person, writing job descriptions, setting compensation, and establishing expectations. Whether your church is stepping into a multi-staff model or just beginning to explore part-time help, you’ll walk away with a clear process for staffing with confidence, clarity, and purpose so that every role strengthens the mission and advances the gospel.
Nathan Paul is the chief operating officer at 922 Ministries (St. Peter and The CORE) in Appleton, Wis., where he provides strategic leadership and oversees all administrative functions—including HR, finance, marketing, facilities, IT, and operations—for a rapidly growing ministry. In this role, he draws on years of experience leading complex organizations, building high-performing teams, and aligning operations with long-term vision and mission.
Before joining the ministry, Nathan held leadership roles at both small and large organizations, managing manufacturing facilities in the defense sector and leading business units in paper, packaging, and industrial automation. These experiences honed his expertise in organizational development, talent management, and operational strategy, consistently building teams that delivered results while fostering growth and engagement.
Nathan also serves on the Board of Directors for Time of Grace Ministry, the Northern Wisconsin District Mission Board, and the WELS Board for Home Missions. He is currently pursuing his staff ministry certification through Martin Luther College. Nathan and his wife, Briana, live outside Neenah, Wis., with their four children, where they enjoy spending time in God’s creation, playing just about every sport, and rooting for every Wisconsin sports team.
