In today’s modern church, there are so many things that needs to be done, meetings to attend, people to meet, endless whatsappt messages to read (forward, respond to), etc. The church is like a huge corporation that needs to be led and the Senior Pastor role is like that of a CEO. All these activities and many more may not be bad in itself and many are indeed biblical and needful BUT they can be a GREAT DISTRACTION to what the leader must primarily be committed to.

“Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them” (Acts 6:1-6)

The apostles were used by God to spark a mighty revival that brought thousands to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The new believers forms the early church congregation. Together with growth comes new demands that may be legitimate and important. But the apostle refused to be distracted by them. They reestablish their priority to prayer and the Word even in the face of genuine needs in the church v2,4. Other leaders were raised to augment the ministries and meet the prevailing needs v3,6

As a result of prioritising prayer and the Word, the church continues to grow

“Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7)