Leadership Requires A Team Ministry Perspective

God still expects his people to operate from a kingdom perspective. Knowing our roles and purpose as leaders is vitally important to see it from God's perspective. Hiebert (2008) notes that being in covenant with others acknowledges worldviews as the organizational foundation of those cultures. Team ministry is the vehicle by which God uses various individuals' skills, personalities, and abilities to carry out the mandate of Matthew 28: 18-20. 

The overarching question throughout focuses on one question, "Why team ministry" (Temple, 2019). One response is that team ministry is biblical. God reveals biblical examples of effective and ineffective team ministry throughout the biblical narrative. Focused on teaching leaders today what composes a biblical team. It is essential to distinguish team ministry purposed in mission and methods. VanEngen (2018) stresses a biblical worldview is God-focused, as expressed in the Genesis account (VanEngen, 2018). As a leader, this writer recognizes the importance of a Biblical-based approach that is God-driven and meets God's approval. In particular, team ministry is a biblical ministry, which characterizes God's plan for authentic community in building and increasing trust among teams working with diverse communities locally and in other countries (Temple, 2019).  

For example, throughout the Old and New Testaments are effective leadership teams and ineffective leadership teams observed from two models, Moses and Aaron and Jesus and the Disciples (Temple, 2019). Other examples are seen in how Paul trains and instructs his leadership team. Objectively, leaders lead others, but they also must model Christlikeness. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul writes to the Christian church at Corinth, admonishing his followers to "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (New International Bible, 2011/2021).

Greater still, the book of Genesis 1:26-27 declares that man was made in God's image and in His likeness, pinpointing a view about human behavior (Erickson, 2013). Yes, Jesus is one's excellent example in modeling positive behavior and positive relationships. Furthermore, leadership is about relationships, and administration operates on the knowledge that leaders lead others by example in their commitment to God, self, and others. This writer understands the importance of biblical leadership focused on God's purpose for team ministry. The words expressed by Jesus to His disciples in Matthew 28:18-20 are team-focused, "Then Jesus came to them and said," (New International Bible, 2011/2021). 

Lencioni (2002) discusses five negative attitudes that will produce ineffective team performances, noted as "inattention to results, absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment and avoidance of accountability" (Lencioni, 2002, p. 97). The easiest way to forfeit one's leadership calling is to give up as a team leader. This writer clearly understands that leading people requires an understanding of self and others.  

As leader and manager, Paul provides three foundational principles, which serve the Christian leader or a leader/manager in other environments. Cited are a clearly defined mission (1 Corinthians 1:17, a consistent confirmation of the fundamental values and communication (1 Corinthians 11:23-26), a leader's ability to communicate effectively to all team members (1 Corinthians 9: 19-23) (Howell, 2003).

Practical Applications That Will improve Your Leadership of Teams 

The quest of leading effectively in team ministry is equally biblical and practical. This writer agrees with the statement. Why? Because the combination of the two approaches creates a strong bond toward improving leadership teams. One example, practical measures to ensure that all team members will be a part of the totality of the group. Secondly, individuals on the team must be recognized for their particular skills and abilities. In essence, practical approaches are approaches anyone can implement. Too many times, leaders harbor biases against certain people and use these cultural differences to disrupt the team goal. 

Steven Covey the author Seven Habits of Highly Effective People once said, “Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.”  

References

Erickson, M. J. (2013). Christian theology. 3rd. ed. Baker Academic.

Hiebert, P. G. (2008). Transforming worldviews: An anthropological understanding of how

people change. (Wordsearch Version). https://app.wordsearchbible.com

Howell, D. N. (2003). Servants of the servant: A biblical theology of leadership.

            Wipf & Stock Publishers.

New International Version. (2011). New International Bible Online.

 https://www.biblegateway.com

Stephen Covey. (n.d.). AZQuotes.com. 

Temple, T. (2019). Biblical principles for team ministry. [Video]. https://libertyuniversity.

Temple, T. (2019). Why team ministry? Part 2. [Video]. https://libertyuniversity.

Van Engen, R.  (2018). Presentation: God created organizations.  [Video].

https://learn.liberty.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/

Solid Relationships...Leadership....Effective Team Ministry (PT. 1)

 Greetings,

Relationships are important to God as evidenced by God (the Father), Jesus, (the Son) and Holy Spirit. According to the scriptures, each function according to the role and responsibility established by God the God Head. MacMillan (2001) notes that solid relationships are one of the characteristics of effective team performance (MacMillan, 2001, chapter eight).

Temple reminds that the goal of teams in ministry is to make disciples and that without goals and a valid mission becomes a social club (Temple, 2019, part 2).

In consideration of MacMillan and Temple's discussion, this writer's value statement promoting the value of solid relationships among team members believes that an effective team ministry requires an intentional development of team members submitted to working together in commitment to each other, communication that is positive and respectable, and collaborative relationships not solely as individuals, but through a team effort objectively geared toward a common philosophy of winning souls for the Kingdom as mandated by God for the Church in Matthew 28:18-20. This value statement is in effect the ministry team’s way of staying focused on what is important to the team and what is not important to the team. 

Some key essentials undergirding this writer’s value statement is that building the ministry team is:

·         Intentional and effective in what the team believes.

·         Teams achieve greater goals as team members rather than as individuals.

·         A Team is on body with diverse talents and skills.

·         Teams have specifically geared skills that help enrich and build the team united in

·         its scope.

·         Team building is positively grounded in one body, with one common philosophy (Temple, 2019, part 1).

The question asks can teams be effective without solid relationships? This writer says no because, as the name states, it is team ministry, not solo ministry. Lowe and Lowe (2018) research discovered patterns of mutual submission are witnessed through ecological systems, growing not in isolation but rather thrive in "interconnectedness" (p. 37) and communal models of "interrelationships" (p. 37), results-producing assigned "nutrients and resources" (p. 37) benefiting the whole system (Lowe & Lowe, 2018, p. 37).  For example, the parable Mark 4:26-29 illustrates the teaching by Jesus that each person plays an active role in the growth of the Kingdom; however, through the collaborative efforts of a man working with God that produces a harvest (Lowe & Lowe, 2018, pp. 42-44).

Secondly, are teams limited by the level of genuineness and depth of relationships, or the lack thereof, among team members? Yes, teams restrict their potential to create healthy relationships when cultivating healthy relationships is not the team's value. For instance, Temple (2019) stresses that teams that lack relationships among groups produce weak areas in the team's building. Moreover, cultivating healthy relationships should be the objective all Christians seek equally in their individual and working relationships. Understandably, working with others is not an easy task, but with God's help and willingness to forge forward, success is achieved.

Bountiful Blessings,

Minister Sylvia Joyner 🎕

References

MacMillan, P. (2001). The performance factor. Unlocking the secrets of teamwork. Broadman &

Holman.

Temple, T. (2019). Building the ministry team part 1. [Video]. https://libertyuniversity.

Temple, T. (2019). Building the ministry team part 2. [Video]. https://libertyuniversity

Lowe, S. D., & Lowe, M. E. (2018). Ecologies of faith in a digital age: Spiritual growth through online education. IVP Academic.

 

Rebellious Spirits...God's Judgement: Numbers 16: 1-14; 23-35

 Greetings,

Learning from one's mistakes is one of the hardest lessons learned. One lesson is sinning against God and continuing to sin again and again in the same fashion. To do so will undoubtedly get God's attention! Learning and doing requires intentional attention in stopping patterns of disobedience, rebellion, and unbelief from taking up residence in our lives. The narrative journey of the children of Israel is a timely lesson of the importance of learning from their sinful nature and the development of a gracious heart toward God. 

Case in point, Korah's rebellion. Korah was a descendant of the tribe of Levi, the third of Jacob's sons, and a first cousin of Moses and Aaron. According to the Biblical narrative, he experienced the Exodus and the journey through the Red Sea. In fact, he was with the Israelites as they received the Torah (Law) at Mount Sinai (Altein, "Korah: The Rebel of the Bible," chabad.org). 

Despite his personal and intimate fellowship in the experiences shared with the Israelites, Korah decided to incite a rebellion against Moses, the leader of the Israelites. Harboring and acting on actions to derail God's leader and His people never ends well for the inciter of the action and those choosing to follow as well. Critical to analyzing and learning from Korah's decision of insurrection is understanding the word apathy. What is Apathy? According to Mirriam-Webster dictionary, apathy is "the feeling of not having much emotion or interest in things or something." Our decisions, beliefs, and actions point us toward belief or unbelief. The choices one makes in life either suggest confessing Christ entirely or living a life of apathy. Apathy is a word all Christians should familiarize themselves with. 

Matthew 5:37  reminds us to “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”

Apathy is rebellion!!!

Remember, Satan used the same rebellious actions to influence a third of Heaven to see him as God. Apathy is one of the most effective tools because it can deceive individuals into believing it is a neutral position they can take. Apathy is not neutral!!! Furthermore, it is a severe offense to place one's desires in things God has not called us to or even equipped us for. Each member of the Body of Christ is essential and plays a vital role in fulfilling the mandate of God.

Point of Wisdom: Be satisfied in where God has planted you, and watch God bless you immediately.

However, go ahead and read what happens as a result of his rebellious spirit in Numbers 16:23-35 (it doesn't end well for him). Hopefully, Korah's story will not be your story.

Blessings and Assuredness,

Minister Sylvia Joyner

Hello...This is the Complaint Department...How May I Help You?

 Greetings,

One of the strangest behavior all humans have in common is the tendency to complain. In most cases of human complaining, the complaining about a matter is not true to the facts, but instead, the events are contrived romanticisms. True to form, our failure to remember the details accurately undermines the real issues that may be an authentic list of wrongdoings.

A case in point is the wilderness account of the children of Israel after leaving Sinai as they proceeded to the Promised Land (Numbers 10: 11-12). However, true to human forgetfulness, they continue in their behavior of complaining. Exposed is their complaining against God (Numbers 11:4-6), complaining to God (Numbers 11: 10-15), and God as the solution (Numbers 11:16-23). 

What were they complaining about-Manna provided by God (now you will have to read the story).

Their behavior teaches two lessons: complaining distorts the facts, leading to a romanticized view of past events, as well, embellishes past hardships, and provides no articulate distinction for the present. Essentially, complaining, as seen in the Israelites complaint narrative, provided them with a false sense of the past and blinded them to the present blessings of God.  

However, the beauty of their story is that Moses, although displeased and frustrated with their complaining, reveals God's provision, patience, and promises to a nation of people that complained and were unappreciative for His blessings.

Overall lessons for us today, remembering God's goodness is the antidote to complaining. 

Joyful Blessings,

Sylvia Joyner