'A Christian minister has three basic roles or functions - preaching, pastoring/ counselling, and leading. No one is equally gifted in all three areas, and yet we must do them all. The greatest factor in the long-term effectiveness of a Christian minister is how (or whether) the gift-deficient areas in his skill set are mitigated by the strong grace operations in his character. The leadership literature advises us to know our weaknesses, our gift-deficient area. It usually tells us to surround ourselves with a team of people with complementary gifts, and this is certainly wise if you can do it. But even if you can, that is not sufficient, for your gift deficient areas will undermine you unless there is compensatory godliness. What do I mean?
You may not have strong public-speaking gifts, but if you are godly, your wisdom and love and courage will make you an interesting preacher. You may not have strong pastoral or counselling gifts (e.g., you may be very shy or introverted), but if you are godly, your wisdom and love and courage will enable you to comfort and guide people. You may not have strong leaderships gifts (e.g., you may be disorganized or cautious by nature) but if you are godly, your wisdom and love and courage will mean that people will respect and follow you.'
Timothy Keller, Preaching, p.196.
