I'm not a sports guy, yet I have tried on several occasions to become one. I've been to football and baseball games. Watched soccer, golf, and hockey. You name it, I've tried to give it a chance. I even tried Nascar because there wasn't a whole lot to understand, they just turn left for several hours. However, my ADD just couldn't do it and I was off to something else before the 7th mile stretch (that's a thing right?). When I broke my knee cap in the fifth grade I was so excited because I got out of gym class during basketball season.
Even though there isn't any sports blood in my veins, the concept of teams hasn't been lost on me. It seems I am surrounded by teams in the church, we have the greeter team, usher team, worship team, and production team just to name a few. Then because that's not enough we have sub teams within those groups like the camera team and audio team. While I have never had a locker room pep talk, I have seen the movie Rudy. I dream of one day getting to pull off an inspirational halftime speech to everyone between services.
God's togetherness
This idea of teams has been stuck in my head lately. As humans, we thrive on being a part of a team. We were not created to be hermits, but to work together. Right after God made Adam he said, "It is not good for man to be alone." I know God was referring to a spouse, but I believe it is also true as a general fact for life.
In my role at churches over the years, I have overseen the production staff and volunteers. I guess you could call me their coach if you're following along with the sports concept of which I know very little. I do know that a coach is a leader and I have seen two types of leaders: those who lead as dictators and those who lead as team members. The first way gets the job done, I will say that, and can be the easier approach for the leader. I would love to have "Production Dictator" printed on my business cards instead of production director, but the higher ups keep putting the kibosh on it, (I have also tried Production Wizard with no avail). The sad thing about a dictator is that those under him/her are serving out of fear and obligation. There is oftentime heavy turnover and low morale.
I look at how Jesus led the disciples: He was humble, He was vulnerable, and most of all He had their trust.
The leader who acts as a member of the team, however, who is in the trenches and is vulnerable with their team is a leader whose followers will walk through fire for them (not that you should ask them to). I look at how Jesus led the disciples: He was humble, He was vulnerable, and most of all He had their trust. He was a king who didn't act like one, He didn't call attention to his status, and instead, He served his team. He trusted them and was real with them. In the garden the night He was taken into custody, He called on his teammates to stay and pray.
Keeping perspective
I think we incorporate our churches too much, especially the larger they get. We begin to function as though volunteers are employees, forgetting that they are giving of their resources to be there. As someone who works with volunteers everyday, I am not naïve to the fact that there is still structure and "business" that has to happen. What I want us to remember--and fear that we have forgotten in our pursuit of excellence--is this human element. We're in the business of caring, and the moment we begin to care more about people, excellence will follow --- and it starts with vulnerability from you. Your team will open up to you when you open up to them. Before you tune up your acoustic guitar and build a campfire, or plan a trust-fall exercise from the balcony, this really isn't a difficult or scary thing to implement.
We're in the business of caring, and the moment we begin to care more about people, excellence will follow.
Do you share things with your people beyond weather updates? Do you pray for them regularly and take an interest in who they are? It doesn't matter if they're staff or volunteers, because either way you're a leader. I don't carry the title of pastor, but I want to walk with my team beyond just the few hours they serve on a weekend. As I pour into my team spiritually, they begin to reciprocate and suddenly people I have been praying for are coming to me asking what I need help with.
So, while I have never really been a part of a sports team, I have found a family that I can call a team and I would do anything for this team.
