It happened again. I was on the phone with a leader from another church and found myself sharing a few words of encouragement:
“You're not crazy. You're not alone. God is using you to impact His Kingdom.”
Those words are a good reminder. They mean a lot to me and they seem to resonate when I share them. I've shared those same words with church technical leaders over phone calls, at events I'm privileged to be a part of, and even social media. While I believe they are some of the most encouraging words for a church technical leader, they are a good reminder for anyone serving in ministry.
You're not crazy.
Really. You're not. It may seem like it after spending hours upon hours on a set design or new system install. You may feel crazy each weekend with the amount of stress you carry to help your volunteers execute the worship services. You may reach the point where you wonder if this is all worth it. Let me assure you, if the reason you do what you do is to serve God, then you are not crazy.
God has wired you in a unique way as an important part of the Kingdom. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12 (The Message):
Even though it may go unnoticed by others, God is in every little detail that fights your sanity. He entrusted you to help communicate the Gospel. What an incredible privilege to be serving Him in the ministry where He has called you.
You're not alone.
Ministry is a unique profession. We're often put into situations where the information, details, process, or denominations can isolate us, even as we work with others. It can be a lonely job.
I encourage you to find and reach out to others that share your heart for ministry. The church tech community is stronger and more Kingdom-minded than ever. We're a growing and thriving community that offers many resources and networks. We have Church Technical Leaders [link: www.churchtechleaders.org] and church tech and media Facebook groups, and we attend events like CPM Live, WFX, Salt Nashville and LeadLab.
You can pick up the phone and call your counterpart at the other church down the street. Invite other tech leaders to grab coffee. Make a connection with other tech leaders on social media. All of these outlets are in on what we're called to do in Hebrews:
“Let us consider how to inspire each other to greater love and to righteous deeds, not forgetting to gather as a community, as some have forgotten, but encouraging each other, especially as the day of His return approaches.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (The Voice)
God didn't intend for you to go it alone. It's easy for church technical leaders, or even senior pastors, to be consumed by responsibility and to feel like everything is on their shoulders. Build your team by adding people who have skillsets you may lack.
By doing this, you will not only have help to get the job done, but it will also help you become a better leader. Most importantly, it deepens the community in which you are called. Allowing others to step into His story with you and helping them use their God-given talents will benefit everyone.
God is using you to impact His Kingdom.
And finally, it's easy to lose sight of the person God's called you to be when you focus on what you're called to do. We're not human doings; we're human beings. Being in ministry is often mistaken for making church “happen,” and we tend to lose ourselves in the tasks instead of His story.
I encourage you to protect your heart. Keep consistent with reading your Bible and finding time to be quiet. Find stories of how God is working in the community you serve. It's important for you to hear the stories of how God is moving within your church community.
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23
You are an important part of the Kingdom. How you serve God and why your serve Him starts with having the right heart to serve. As church techs, technical artists, or technical leaders—whatever title we wear—God needs our hearts in the right place.
