From Russia with blogs | pastor or manager?

Busy with the wrong things | Vadim Hurin

To have multiple personalities is considered a psychological disorder. When within a person there seems to be multiple personalities, which constantly change, a person is close to being diagnosed with schizophrenia. However, it is in this condition (do not worry, I do not consider myself to be Moses!) that I find myself often, especially from the moment that I began my ministry as an officer of The Salvation Army.

If we were to read through the officer’s covenant we would find that the main pledge consists of serving those in need: preaching the gospel, helping the needy, making disciples. When I was a cadet in College For Officer Training I was told that the main task is to take care of people, visit homes and hospitals, in other words, to be with people always.

But when I began my ministry, the time during which I could be with people began to decrease dramatically. Why was this happening? This was because I had to look after administrative matters of the corps work. Sometimes the matters addressed had to do with keeping the local authorities content. In one of our three appointments there was no accountant, which meant that we had to look after finances on our own. This came in addition to other reports, communications, preparation of services and administration of different programs. As a result, I only had two hours a week to be with people, but sometimes there was no time left at all.

One day I decided to be intentional in becoming productive. I thought to myself that I could probably take care of all the administrative matters quickly. In this way I will be able to spend a lot more time with the corps folk. But these attempts brought no desired results. More and more, I looked like a manager of the corps who co-ordinated programs and projects and submitted reports for review to DHQ officers. I was no longer an officer of the corps who serves humanity, develops soldiers, and preaches the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. I was busy, but busy with the wrong things. I consulted my daily calendar more often that I did the Bible, I gave out more business cards that I did the news of Jesus Christ.

One of the solutions to this “multiple personalities” problem was to hire a secretary. But when I mentioned this I often encountered the surprised faces of DHQ officers. They were quick to inform me that administrative and financial matters are part of the ministry and comprise some of the responsibilities of an officer. They were my responsibilities, they told me, and I was expected to take care of them.

During my officer review I am questioned not about the people, but about programs. And I realize that this issue lies far beyond delegation of administrative and organizational tasks. For some reason statistics seem to be more important than people. Quantity exceeds individual participation. In other words, I am encouraged to be a corps manager rather than a corps officer leading soldiers.

But I continue my struggle to have more time to spend with people. What is most peculiar is that my struggle is not against this world, but against my fellow officers! But I follow Jesus Christ. He was not a manager. He was and is the Good Shepherd.

Writer: Captain Vadim Khurin was born into a family of circus artists. He joined The Salvation Army in 1995 and is now an officer serving in St. Petersburg, Russia. He loves music, sports, reading and learning. He has a beautiful wife - Inna - and three children. He likes to ask hard questions and find different ways of helping people get back their wholeness and integrity.

2 Comments to From Russia with blogs | pastor or manager?

1. Thanks, Vadim. I think I know what you’re talking about. I was talking to our DC a few months ago and I made the comment that I feel like I’m just like every other soldier. I have my weekday job, where I go to an office and do management type activities, and then I go to the Army on Sunday.

   It’s a really sad thing—my Sunday life is completely disconnected from my ‘normal’ life. If I worked at DHQ I could understand it. But I’m the CO!
Cameron on May 16th, 2009

2. Thanks Cameron!

   For me it is every day remind to myself what is important and what I am called to. And some days I can admit it is easier for me to be a manager and get the job done than go and do my things. But then I realize that if I go this way I hear God less and more quietly.
Vadim on May 19th, 2009

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