What does every member of your team have in common? Don't overthink it. They are all people. And because they are living, breathing people like you and me they have the need for community.
Sometimes it is easy for us to think that our ministry exists only to serve the church at large and not that is also exists to serve the members of our team. One of the biggest benefits of serving on a ministry team is not the work that we do but the relationships we build.
What vs. who
For far too long I focused on the "work" of the ministry and not the people of the ministry. I would venture to say that it doesn't matter so much “what” you do as it does “who” you do it with.
Community not only makes life more enjoyable, but it is also where disciples are made.
There is an old story about a contest that was held to find the shortest distance across the United States of America. Many expert navigators submitted their entries detailing the routes that you should take. But the person that ended up winning the competition simply wrote two words, “good company.”
Have you ever experienced that to be true? You can take a long road trip with people you love to be with and it seems like the time just flies by. Community not only makes life more enjoyable, but it is also where disciples are made.
Many churches will launch various discipleship programs where they will have classes and lecture from books on what it means to be a disciple. The truth is that Jesus didn't disciple people this way. He made His disciples by spending time together with them—by caring for them, by offering them wisdom and guidance customized to their lives.
“But I'm just a tech director,” you may be thinking. Yes, but first and foremost you are a follower of Jesus Christ and His commands apply to you just as much as anyone else.
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. - Matthew 28:19
Jesus is telling all of us to go and make disciples. Would your ministry team look any different to you if you looked at them as people you are called to disciple? Many leaders tend to look at their volunteers simply as a body to do a task, and not as a soul that needs community and discipleship.
The true focus
You play a vital role in the Body of Christ. You have been entrusted with leading some of the brightest and smartest minds in your whole church, although they may also be some of the more introverted and socially awkward as well. This may very well be the only connection that they have with other followers of Jesus. What can you do to help them to grow in their relationship with Christ?
Would your ministry team look any different to you if you looked at them as people you are called to disciple?
If you don't know where to start you can just ask them if there is anything that you can be praying about for them. Then pray for them! Many people are facing difficult things but they put on their “church face” on Sunday mornings. Take the time to try to look behind the mask.
Every time you are around those that are serving with you look for opportunities to speak in to their lives and encourage them. Unfortunately, some churches have become the opposite of the old song “Home on the Range.” They have changed the lyrics to “where seldom is heard an encouraging word.” Don't be like that.
Don't be afraid to challenge your team spiritually. If you see people that are struggling in their faith, encourage them to read God's Word, pray, fast, give, serve and whatever else the Holy Spirit may lead you to say. Don't just sit back. Take an active role not just as a tech director but also as a disciple-maker.
