Most people who get into tech ministry get into it with the expectation that they can combine their love for technology with reaching people for the Kingdom of God. This seems like it can be the best of both worlds. You can do what interests you and you can also make a difference in the world at large. What could be better than that?
However, there tends to be a great opportunity that can be so easily overlooked if you aren't careful. Your team. Unless you are a one-person show, you are likely surrounded by a team of people with very much the same goals and desires as you have. But they also have needs.
It can be so easy to start looking at your team as a means to an end. That they are just there for the value they bring to your team and to the organization. And we forget that they are people who hurt and struggle and are also trying to grow closer to God.
When your team gathers to serve, do you just jump into the mechanics of the ministry or do you take a few moments to pray together?
As a tech director, you are not just leading people to accomplish a goal, you are leading people closer to God. We should be looking at our leadership role not only as a functional role, but also as a pastoral role. One of your primary goals as a leader is to love the people on your team and help them to grow closer to our Lord.
One of the easiest and most effective things to implement into your tech team is prayer. It seems so simple, and yet prayer is the most powerful thing that followers of Jesus can do.
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. – James 5:16 (NLT)
Here are three effective ways to incorporate prayer into your life and leadership.
Pray For Them.
Each day when you spend your personal time alone with God, spend a few moments praying for the people on your team. It may be helpful to have a notebook where you can record their prayer needs and things they are going through so that you can pray specifically for those things.
Pray With Them.
When your team gathers to serve, do you just jump into the mechanics of the ministry or do you take a few moments to pray together? Jesus said that He wants church to be a house of prayer. So praying together for a few moments before you begin serving is a great way to put prayer at the forefront of your time of serving together.
When your team faces tech problems, as we all do, use that opportunity to stop and pray together for wisdom for the solution. You wouldn't believe how many times my teams have had problems almost resolve themselves after taking a few moments to pray for the issues together.
Pray Over Them.
While you are serving together over the weeks, months, and years, it is inevitable that members of your team with go through various crisis in their lives. Resist the urge to say the common phrase “I'll be praying for you.” In fact, on my teams that phrase has been banned! Don't tell someone you will be praying for them, just do it! It only takes a moment.
If someone tells you something they are going through just ask them if it's OK for you to pray for them right there. And then do it. You don't need to have a fancy or eloquent prayer to be heard by our Father. We can just boldly come to His throne and get the help that we need when we need it.
Don't tell someone you will be praying for them, just do it! It only takes a moment.
So, how would your ministry look if you realized that your team is your first ministry and not just an afterthought? Instead of looking at all the tasks at hand, let's first look to pastor and love our team. When your team is healthy and growing closer to God, there is no limit to what you will be able to accomplish.
