Building Strong Ministry Teams that enable churches to thrive An ACTS Workshop by Don and Daryl Page May 31, 2014

SERVANT LEADERSHIP DEFINED Intentional stewardship of one’s influence to enable and empower other people to identify and achieve the goals of the community. The servant leader asks not what is in it for me, but what is in it for the well being of the people being served.

THE RPR FORMULA -- LEADERS PRODUCE RESULTS THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS THAT DRIVE PROCESSES.  < RESULTS = DISCIPLES, CONVERTS, GROWTH, ETC.  < PROCESSES = ETHICS & MORALS  < RELATIONSHIPS = PEOPLE SERVED

What is a Team? “A TEAM is a highly effective cohesive group of individuals who work together with commitment to reach a common goal.”... Lesley Bendaly

T-E-A-M-S means T – TOGETHERT – TOGETHER – How – through collective input and action, not individualistic.– How – through collective input and action, not individualistic.

E – EVERYONEE – EVERYONE Who – everyone is included in order to strengthen the whole.Who – everyone is included in order to strengthen the whole.

A – ACHIEVESA – ACHIEVES Why – there is a specific goal to be achieved by the team.Why – there is a specific goal to be achieved by the team.

M – MOREM – MORE What – More than they could as the sum of a group of individuals.What – More than they could as the sum of a group of individuals.

S – SUCCESSS – SUCCESS When – Success comes by reaching the goal within the specified time limit.When – Success comes by reaching the goal within the specified time limit.

T-E-A-M-S means T -- togetherT -- together E -- everyoneE -- everyone A -- achievesA -- achieves M -- moreM -- more S -- successS -- success

Teamwork is a principle-based value that drives human connectedness among team members. The team’s interests come before that of any individual. It requires a “we- opic” vision that supersedes the traditional “me-opic” mindset of individuals.

Why HaveTeamwork in Churches? 1. Teamwork is the Biblical basis for all ministry. The Bible recognizes communities of believers working TOGETHER. Eccl 4:7-12; 1 Cor. 12:14; Eph. 4: 11-13

The Biblical Basis for Team Ministry The Biblical Basis for Team Ministry

Why HaveTeamwork in Churches? 2. Jesus came to serve, not to be served. For SERVANT LEADERS to serve the well being of others, they need to stay connected to those people and good teamwork best provides that collective means.

““In just three and a half years Jesus established a movement that has lasted twenty centuries and inspired billions of people.... He didn't succeed because he recruited a team of superstars, but because he passed on to his team the character traits and skills they in turn would need to pass on to others.”... Bill Perkins, Awaken the Leader Within You

Why Have Teamwork in Churches? 3. Teams involve more people, thus affording more resources, ideas, perspectives and energy than would a group of individuals. Individual insight is seldom as broad and deep as a team’s when a team takes on a problem. Teams produce more than the sum of the individuals involved through synergy. No one individual can know everything about leading a church of diverse individuals in the information age.

Why Have Teamwork in Churches? 4. Teams maximize a leader’s potential and minimize her weaknesses. Strengths and weaknesses are more exposed in individuals. Serving team leaders look for complementarity when hiring.

Why Have Teamwork in Churches? 5. Teams share the credit for victories and the blame for losses. This fosters genuine humility and authentic community. Individuals take credit and blame alone. This fosters pride and sometimes a sense of failure.

Why Have Teamwork in Churches? 6. Teams keep leaders accountable for the goal. Individuals connected to no one can change the goal without accountability.

Why Have Teamwork in Churches? 7. Good teamwork reduces the stress on individual leaders trying to do everything and supervise everyone themselves.

Why Have Teamwork in Churches? 8. To experience the joy of working collaboratively rather than competitively in reaching desired goals that brings meaning to what is being accomplished.

Why Have Teamwork in Churches? 9. To develop a sense of oneness in that we share the burdens and the victories through united vision, purpose, and direction.

Why Have Teamwork in Churches? 10. To enable people to learn new things more quickly through close contacts with each other.

Chuck Swindoll on Teamwork "Nobody is a whole chain. Each one is a link. But take away one link and the chain is broken. Nobody is a whole team. Each one is a player. But take away one player and the game is forfeited. Nobody is a whole orchestra. Each one is a musician. But take away one musician and the symphony is incomplete. You guessed it. We need each other. You need someone and someone needs you...

Chuck Swindoll on Teamwork... Isolated islands, we're not. To make this thing called life work, we've got to lean and support; relate and respond; give and take; confess and forgive; reach out and embrace; release and rely. Since none of us is a whole independent, self-sufficient, superbly capable, all-powerful hotshot, let's quit acting like we are. Life's lonely enough without our playing that silly role. The game's over. Let's link up."

Committees are not TEAMS!

Teamwork takes practice