The foundation you lay will determine the structure you can build. Strong churches depend on committed people. Initially, you will people who are more curious than committed. It is important to decide early what your criteria for ministry leaders will be. Having character and the ability to care for people are essential. Chemistry helps. Competence can often be developed. Your plan for developing these leaders needs to be thought about even now.
Comment about your strategy for developing people? What methods have you used and why? Share your successes and failures.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
What would be a reason someone would not want to build a team. I believe in one sense I've seen this in a Pastor that is insecure with his position. Perhaps he feels intimidated and afraid he will lose his control over the flock.
ReplyDeleteThe risk of going it alone are many. One idea I am sure is true, you limit how far your ministry can go. One person can only do a limited amount, but when we bind together and share the load. The God factor comes into play and much is accomplished. I don't want to build a kingdom around ME. if one does this, when he is gone the place falls apart. If we lift up others and share in the team effort. The cause will go on after we are gone!
ReplyDeleteIf your pool looks slim at the moment. Perhaps you are thinking too far down the road. Anyone in your group can start doing even small tasks and bringing them along to much higher ground. I just thought about the time I tried to make a horse get into a trailer. It didn't work, so I asked a man at a gas station with a horse trailer and horses in it how do you get them to go in for the first time. He told me about a small rope around the backside that gently pulls them into the trailer. They are moving away from the rope and go where you want them. We can't drag some people into service, but gentle nudging can go along way.
ReplyDeleteJohn R - I think another reason some people may not build teams is because they may feel insecure in their ability to effectively lead a team. They don't necessarily fear losing control (although that is prevalent), they simply fear not being able to do a good job at building and guiding the team.
ReplyDeleteI think are greatest churches are a testament to their great teams. When I consider the great and effective churches I have observed, one common element in ALL of them is the fact they operate as a team. The pastor doesn't try to do everything himself, he surrounds himself with people who can assist him the building of a church.
ReplyDeleteI am glad Bro Deckard covered the challenges and threats that teams face as well. Teams don't work simply because they are a team. They must be focused, constantly growing, and always reaching toward a clear objective. The only thing worse than no team, is a terrible team. I hope to see our church develop an effective team that will help to reach our city!
ReplyDeleteMy wife and myself arrived in our called city of Elliot Lake alone, we were the team.When ever a new person is born into the kingdom its like a breath of fresh air.Team work, unity, and one accord is the key to building a work for God's glory.What one member lacks the other supplies,Lev.26:8 And 5 will of you shall chase a100 and 100 shall put 10,000 to flight.In whom the building fitly framed together growth unto an holy temple in the Lord.Developing team players is the only answer for growth, a team player never shoots on his own goalie.
ReplyDeleteOur strategy is to find strengths and spiritual goals of our new people.We hand out our church questionnaire. What are the persons present desire to accomplish something in the church, and there perceived strengths and spiritual goals in the future.I endeavor to find something meaningful for them to do, use them or loose them.We understood from the start we can't do everything ourselves.
ReplyDeleteTo comment on both Brother John R and Brother kennethoconnell I agree with both your assessments of a new pastor's fear he will lose control, and fear he won't do a good job.This is a person at the edge of a cliff close to a mental break down. Perfect love casts out fear.If we made our calling and election sure we have no need to fear. Jesus is on our side. Praise God.When we go through problems and trials our God will never leave us.Jesus is working with us and confirming the word with signs following.
ReplyDeleteBro. John R, another risk that came to my mind of "going it alone" is, if we're not careful, we will be more vulnerable to feelings of resentment and bitterness. When we're isolated and things arn't happening the way we wish it was, or the way it may be for someone else on the the other side of the country, we can get resentful becuase of someone else's success. We came to Columbia as a "go it alone" also. I am constantly on guard to make sure my focus is on the long-term future. Any step of progress is still progress! And each step takes us closer to the vision I have for this city!
ReplyDeleteI am all about building a TEAM and not recruiting a TEAM. My wife and I came a year ago by ourselves. With the exception of one we have sought out the rest. We were blessed with a college aged young man that came to our church the right way and he is growing daily. The rest of our team has been work... building. Too many are recruiting from other church and then going.
ReplyDeleteReg Harwood, your comments blessed me.
ReplyDeleteBro. Deckard spoke of equipping... This is so crucial. Many sit on our pews waiting for guidance and to be equipped.
ReplyDeleteConerning Bro. Deckard's question (#1 for break 2), "team approach being superior to solo" ... this may be an old illustration but the example of a team of Clydesdale horses. I read that the female horse can pull 9,000 lbs. The male can pull 12,000 lbs. When they are harnessed together as a team, they can both pull 32,000 lbs. Obviously, we can accomplish much more when we don't try to go solo!
ReplyDeleteI feel that one consideration of "why" teams fall apart would be due to the neglect of the leader. There's always the possibility of someone being self-centered, or has a personal agenda, but when there is confusion, in many cases it could be because of a lack of leadership. This leads to the next question, "When do teams become counterproductive?" This usually happens when the team has lost sight of it's purpose, or also because of the lack of vison from the leadership. According to the lesson, one possible remedy is "new blood." However, I feel that a fresh vision and passion for the purpose ... conveyed by the leader can also go a long way in revitalizing a team. As John Maxwell says, "Everything rises and falls on leadership." The leader can't do it alone, he needs the team to be more effective; however, the team can be so much more effective with the focus and vision of leadership.
ReplyDeleteThe team approach, by far, makes most sense. To think that I can or have to do everything by myself is exhausting to even think about. I understand that there are some things that only I can do as Pastor. However, there are other areas where I'm not nearly as gifted in as others. I only frustrate myself when I try to take on something that somebody else is better equipped to do. Right now, I have a team of four that has helped tremendously in our approach.
ReplyDeleteI have been inspired by the whole idea of building a team. I do work with a team here at our church, but after listening to some of the ideas, concerns and strategies for building a team, I see much room for improvement. Thank you Bro. Deckard.
ReplyDelete(aka The Sanctuary) Having a team approach to ministry allows for the idea of multiplication rather than simply trying to do everything alone. Such an approach allows for more individuals to be involved in reaching the harvest that the Lord is attempted to save. Teams are a biblical approach to reaching our cities, and it takes planning and being intentional to create and develop teams for ministry.
ReplyDelete(aka The Sanctuary) Placing someone in a leadership role prior to them being ready can be a huge set-back in church. We have attempted to be very careful in giving out any titles while we are still in this developmental stage of the church. While we try to get everyone involved in various facets of ministry, we try not to allow just one person to be the “leader” in a small setting until he/she has proven their spiritual maturity and personal commitment to furthering the vision of the church.
ReplyDelete(aka The Sanctuary) Ed Gann: Thanks for sharing your thoughts about “why teams fall apart”. I too found the session helpful when considering the “purpose” for why the team was initially established in the first place. Does the team serve a function? Is the team stagnate or “fresh blood” needed to bring about creativity? These are important considerations and elements to consider about building teams. If a team loses sight of the big picture, it can become toxic. Thanks for the insight!
ReplyDeleteI think this was a great session on some practical things that can help the church succeed. He mentioned gathering and building a team is essential to growth. This allows not only myself as the pastor to focus on different things, but also raises the commitment level of those being brought onto the team.
ReplyDeleteI like how Bro. Deckard mentioned to beware of putting people in the wrong position they may not be ready for. His statement that it is easier to put someone in a role than to remove them is spot on. It seems to be far better to allow someone to grow in their responsibility as they mature spiritually.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Bro. Gann: I agree that bitterness and resentment is an easy trap to fall into with the solo approach. Without a team, there is the temptation to fall into the mindset that things would be better if you had the resources of so and so or such and such church.
ReplyDeleteI wholeheartedly agree with Bro Deckard... The solo approach is the exception not the rule in the bible and should be the same in church planting. The synergy involved in people coming together to plant a church in Detroit has been awesome. We had a team of folks from our home church come out to help us with street evangelism when we first started. I maintain contact with my previous pastor as coach and mentor.
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome to hear the fact that it's everyone's job to be involved in the church plant and the revival of our cities. We must ask the Lord to give us people as well that have a willing mind to be involved and share the work.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the information about the different types of teams that we need. That is very helpful so that I can make sure that these teams are in my life and apart of our church plant so that we can be more effective.
ReplyDelete@ John R - The risk is great. I agree that we should not build a kingdom around us, because of the affects it has on the future generations of the church. The work of God that we establish must be strong and built to last.
ReplyDeleteComment about your strategy for developing people? What methods have you used and why? Share your successes and failures.
ReplyDeleteOne of our failures early on was to only pour into one or two people when there was really a handful that wanted to help.
The strategy really depends on the pastor. Our personalities are different. For some, it is easy to have a weekly staff meeting or seminar, for others it's the "one on one" discipleing.