I love sharing the load. With a church of 700, there is no way I could pastor everyone. Aside from the fact that I have a life, a wife and 2 kids – it is unreasonable for anyone to personally pastor everyone. Jesus himself had 12 that’s all he can handle.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

Jesus knew on the onset that He has to replace Himself. It was going to be 3 years of ministry and somebody has to take over.

He would slowly get the disciples involved in the ministry

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. Matthew 9:35
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Matthew 9:37
Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:38
¶ He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. Matthew 10:1

Another verse shows us how Jesus would share the load.

The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. John 4:1-2

Have you multiplied your ministry by training leaders to do the works of the ministry?