People Aren’t Cars: Stop Trying to Fix Them
You’re not the Fixer. You just work for Him.
Pastor, have you ever found yourself trying to “fix” people?
You see a struggling couple in your church, and your instinct is to solve their marriage issues.
You notice a member making bad choices, and you feel the urge to correct them immediately.
You encounter someone battling doubt, and you want to provide the perfect answer to restore their faith.
This approach feels natural. After all, you’re a leader. Leaders solve problems, right?
But here’s the hard truth: People aren’t cars. They don’t need a quick fix.
When we treat people like projects, we end up managing issues instead of ministering to souls.
The “Fix-it” Mindset
Think about how this “fix-it” mindset impacts your ministry:
People feel like problems, not persons. They come to you with burdens, but instead of being heard, they’re handed a solution.
You carry unnecessary pressure. You were never meant to be everyone’s answer—you were meant to point them to Jesus.
Spiritual growth gets stunted. Quick fixes don’t lead to transformation. Real change happens through discipleship, not drive-thru solutions.
When you focus on solving instead of shepherding, you miss the power of presence.
Imagine if Jesus had treated people like broken machines.
Would He have rushed to “fix” Peter’s denial, or would He have restored him over breakfast (John 21)?
Would He have simply commanded Lazarus to rise, or would He have wept first (John 11:35)?
Would He have given the woman at the well a list of steps to change, or would He have engaged her with love (John 4)?
Jesus didn’t just fix problems—He formed people.
From Fixing to Forming
Here’s the framework:
✅ Listen before leading.
• Instead of rushing to provide answers, ask questions.
• Give people space to share, struggle, and process.
• Resist the urge to speak before they feel truly heard.
✅ Love before lecturing.
• People don’t change because of correction alone. They change because of connection.
• Lead with compassion, not criticism.
• Instead of “Here’s what you need to do,” try “I’m with you in this.”
✅ Walk with, not ahead.
• Transformation is a journey, not an event.
• Discipleship happens over time, not in one conversation.
• Commit to walking with people, even when they’re slow to change.
Ministry isn’t about fixing problems—it’s about forming disciples.
People Aren’t Cars. Pastors Aren’t Mechanics
Pastors are shepherds, not mechanics.
Stop rushing to provide answers and start focusing on presence over pressure to perform.
The results?
• Your congregation will open up more when they feel truly heard.
• Your stress level will drop when you don’t carry other people’s burdens.
• Your church will grow in maturity because discipleship—not just quick advice—becomes the priority.
When you stop fixing and start forming, ministry becomes healthier for you and those you lead.
What if you stopped trying to fix people and started truly shepherding them?
Keep Shepherding. Stop Fixing.
Here’s how:
1️⃣ The next time someone shares a struggle, resist the urge to give a solution right away. Just listen.
2️⃣ Pray for wisdom before offering advice. Ask God, “Do they need a solution, or do they need support?”
3️⃣ Commit to long-term discipleship. Growth takes time. Be patient.
You weren’t called to be a mechanic.
You were called to be a shepherd.
Eric V Hampton
Whenever you’re ready, there are 5 ways I can help you:
Coaching. Transform your core leaders into a high-performing team that increases creativity, productivity, and profitability.
ChurchLeaderOS. My leadership development “operating system” equips every member to become a high-capacity leader.
The Healthy Church Leader Annual Review. My annual review guides you from celebration (remembering past wins) to expectation (planning future wins) as you pursue your Christ-centered mission.
The Real MVP. I wrote and designed this book to invest in your leadership. Become a person of mission, vision, and purpose in 60 minutes.