TEAM PLAYING - A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME
I grew up in a church where the same minister was in the pulpit
teaching and preaching every service. I have fond memories of the sound
of my grandfather's voice coming from the "altar" (the raised area, or
stage) in front of the church - proclaiming the Word of God with
boldness, faith and conviction. I grew up in and was saved by this
faithful ministry and for that I am eternally grateful. I would not be
here were it not for that faithful man and his steadfast heart.
Now
that I am a pastor, however, I am grateful that I am not the only one
expected to carry on the work of the ministry each week - it is a new
game that I am in, and I wouldn't have it any other way. In our church
family, the spiritually mature saints work together to minister. Just as
there are two parents in a healthy human family, so more than one
spiritual parent functioning fully in a household of God makes a world
of difference in the health of a church. This is a hallmark of organic
church life and growth. No one branch bears all of the weight of the
smaller branches, leaves, and fruit. Many strong and aged branches bear
the weight of the new life of the tree. Each branch (mature saint) does
its part as it draws its strength from the trunk and root system
(Christ) and bears a reasonable weight of smaller branches, leaves, and
fruit (the good works, the new believers and developing saints).
It
is all too easy when planting an organic church family to fall into the
rut of one or two branches bearing all the weight. Unless strategic
effort is made by the initial leader or leaders of a church to share the
ministry and raise up others like him or herself from the start, this
rut is nigh unavoidable. One leader shouldering all the responsibility
stunts the growth of other capable leaders, dwarfs the growth of the
church as a whole, and only burns out the leader. But how do we avoid
this trap if we don't know any other way? What must a leader do to truly
share the ministry with his fellow spiritual moms and dads in the
group?
A few suggestions from our experience:
-Don't make any decision in the church family without engaging your fellow spiritual parents in the decision-making process.
Whether the decision is small (whose house to meet at, what time to
meet, how to handle the food) or large (what to do during the meeting,
what direction the church is heading, how to care for the saints) make
the decision together. This commitment takes time and effort - calling
and chatting about issues, patiently sharing differing opinions in
effort to come to consensus, and being willing to give up our own way in
favor of one-another's. But in my experience it is a worthy investment
of time and effort that will not return void.
-Share the facilitation of the gathering as soon as possible.
Any group where the same individual is being looked to for direction
and guidance over and over again during each meeting is a group that
will not be able to sustain its growth. The longer one individual is the
leader, the harder it will be to break that habit. Much better for a
leader to equip others in the group to take turns facilitating from the
start. A pattern of shared ministry, equality under Christ, and
reproducing leadership within the body is set and brings forth much
fruit. Plus, when no one person is looked to week after week for
guidance, Christ can better be the functional head of the house.
-Share the care of the saints.
Usually the visionary leader of a group is the one who holds it
together week after week and acts as the magnet which draws the group
together. He or she makes the phone calls, sends the invites, and
encourages the others during the week. How much better if each spiritual
parent in the group shares these responsibilities and this magnetism.
Each magnet is drawing the younger ones in Christ to the group, and
Christ is glorified as the ultimate magnet, drawing all to himself.
Time for me to share my first practical tool for shared ministry: A weekly powow for the care of the church and saints. What
if the main leader of a church family invited a fellow spiritual parent
in their household to join them in a weekly prayer and share time which
focuses on the group as a whole (where is the Lord leading our church?
what is He doing? what is working and what is not? what should we be
doing when we come together?) as well as focusing on each individual
(where is each individual within our household of God in their spiritual
formation? what tools do we have in our ministry toolbelt to help these
saints at differing levels of growth to develop further? what practical
actions should we prayerfully take with each to join the Lord where He
is working in them?)
Get together once each week - for
coffee, dinner, a long walk in the park, or on a focused phone-call with
the other spiritual parents in the group for this vital powow. If you
are a church leader already deep into the rut of your church family
depending on you alone for leadership and ministry, ask the Lord for
help. Then invite any willing leaders - even one other - to get together
to discuss and help you pray and listen on behalf of the church. Even a
leader and one other person working together to lead the church family
is better than one. This group will grow!
Team playing - it makes spiritual parenting a whole new (more joyful and effective) ballgame.
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