For many of us serving in church tech ministry, we likely stepped into the role because of the technology component. The idea of working with gear on a regular basis for an organization we loved seemed appealing and exciting.
However, if you’re anything like me, the longer we’re in the role, the more we realize that the idea of “tech ministry” should be more about the latter word than the first.
It’s the “tech” that gets us in the front door. But the reality is that the “ministry” is really the most important part of the process.
... being part of a ministry means that we serve in a people-first business.
Regardless of the area of church, or regardless of what the role and its tasks look like on Sunday, being part of a ministry means that we serve in a people-first business. And even though we may be busy with buttons and gear during the week, it’s the people-based ministry that carries the most weight.
But, this can be where many of us struggle: we may not naturally be “people people,” or we may feel disqualified due to a lack of ministry training. Or we may honestly just not particularly enjoy tapping into a compassionate and gracious side and helping people walk through the struggles of life.
No matter our deficiencies and whether they’re real or perceived, we’re all called to be what Paul describes in Romans as “ministers of the gospel.” It’s not about our roles, but our lifestyles.
As we walk out the reality of ministering in a people-first environment, here are a few thoughts we should all be willing to embrace each day.
1-Embrace our identities in Jesus
Who we are, and our idea of value or self-worth, was all determined at the cross two thousand years ago. Our importance as people and our sense of security aren’t defined by how many hours we work or how talented we are.
Instead, my identity is found in Christ. As Paul points out in Colossians 3:23, my goal should be to work every day for the Lord, not for the approval of men.
Our flesh wants and needs affirmation, applause and approval, and there isn’t necessarily anything wrong with those things at a basic level.
But for those of us who may naturally be wired as performance-minded or task-focused, we can fall into a pattern of believing that our value or identity is rooted in the work we do. So we push ourselves to achieve and accomplish, believing that a feeling of productivity, being seen as an “expert,” or getting a “well done” from colleagues is the ultimate carrot on the stick.
For some of us, our identity or purpose can then become so dangerously intertwined with our role that we struggle to train others, develop replacements, or empower newcomers because we’re afraid of losing a sense of importance, value or contribution. Insecurity ends up driving our lives.
Our goal in ministry isn’t primarily to look good or feel good. It’s to honor the Lord by giving Him the best effort possible because He deserves it.
However, it’s an important reminder every day to stay connected with Paul’s idea that we are working for an audience of One. Our goal in ministry isn’t primarily to look good or feel good. It’s to honor the Lord by giving Him the best effort possible because He deserves it. Staying connected with my identity in Him and my gratitude for His sacrifice for us can help keep us grounded and focused every day. Instead of feeling insecure about our performance, we need to instead remind ourselves of the security that comes from salvation.
2-Embrace our roles as ministers
Whether we want to admit it or not, every role in ministry (yes, even the technical ones) is geared towards people. After all, will there be any machines in heaven?
For the team serving with us, it’s possible that being part of this weekly technical community is the closest they’ll ever get to a small group....
So, while we're training volunteers or directing a service, we must always remember the importance of building personal relationships with the team around us. For the team serving with us, it’s possible that being part of this weekly technical community is the closest they’ll ever get to a small group and is the only environment where they feel the most loved and valued.
We can never overlook the importance of asking people how they’re doing or how we can pray for them. Our teams need to know that we care about them for the people they are, not just the task they perform on the weekends.
It’s the idea that Paul references in 2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV) where he encourages his young protégé Timothy to be prepared both “in season and out of season” to correct and encourage. Are we always ready to be an encourager and supporter for our teams? Are we even in tune with the needs and feelings they have, or are we so focused on systems and service flow that we don’t even notice when people need personal attention?
3-Embrace the responsibility of keeping ourselves spiritually fed
Pretty much all of us understand the importance of the prior point of being ministers. However, there are probably a lot of us that for various reasons feel ill-equipped for that.
The reality is that in many cases, we may want to be ministers to our team, but we just flat-out don’t feel healthy enough to do that effectively.
It’s an unfortunate truth that so many church techs are faced with burnout and unhealthy spiritual climates.
It’s an unfortunate truth that so many church techs are faced with burnout and unhealthy spiritual climates. Maybe they don’t feel encouraged or supported spiritually. Maybe they feel pushed to work so many hours that they don’t have the time or energy to enjoy a Sabbath and keep themselves healthy personally or spiritually.
At the end of the day, that type of suffering is felt across the board by everyone in our circle. When we run down, not only are we incapable of functioning effectively, but our families tend to suffer and our ministry teams tend to get neglected.
That’s why it’s so important for us to fight for our own spiritual health. We must own our spiritual growth and understand that if we don’t prioritize it, nobody else will.
If this rings true, you might need to have a conversation with the leadership to clarify expectations and discuss the importance of setting boundaries for my role. Or, you might need to stop doing things you’ve been doing in order to free up more time or margin. Sadly, the best answer for some of us may be that we simply need to take a step back from responsibilities for a while to focus on getting ourselves healthy.
When we aren’t keeping our spirit healthy and refreshed, our soul (our mind, will, and emotions) end up taking charge, and we’re more likely to be led by our feelings, no matter how unhealthy they are.
Jesus issues a harsh warning about this in Matthew 12:34 (NLT): “Whatever is in your heart determines what you say.”
If we aren’t keeping ourselves spiritually healthy, it becomes easy to fall into a trap of bitterness, cynicism, resentment, and all-out negativity. Not only do we end up poisoning ourselves, but we can unintentionally set unhealthy examples for the team we lead through our words and actions.
But by working to keep ourselves healthy and connected with the power and fruits of the Holy Spirit, we can then bring forth life and encouragement to those around us, bringing an attitude of vibrance and joy to our team each week.
Ministry leadership is all about serving out of the overflow: We're so full of the life of Jesus that when others are around us, those things will naturally pour out and splash on others. Like Peter said to a beggar in Acts 3:6, I may not be able to meet your physical needs, but I can introduce you to the power of Jesus.
When we embrace a ministry-first mindset, we must challenge ourselves to stay on a path of spiritual health and growth.
However, an empty vessel has nothing left to give.
When we embrace a ministry-first mindset, we must challenge ourselves to stay on a path of spiritual health and growth.
Being tech “ministers” is more than a role, it’s a lifestyle we must live and embrace each and every day.