TEAM SPIRIT PAYS OFF
Many a volunteer has lamented that it's just easier to do church
work yourself. But if a team is set up properly the output is far
greater than the sum of the total workers, and the spirit that is
garnered is invaluable.
Jesus' approach to working with volunteers is the team - even if
that team is only two people. Jesus always sent His disciples out
in ministry teams. "Two are better than one, because they have a
good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can
help him up (Ecc. 4:9-12)."
Benefits of the team approach in ministry:
- Teams provide balance and cross-training. Team members can
build on each other's strengths and learn new skills from
working alongside those with greater abilities.
- Teams improve planning and follow-through. An idea can be
presented and the total abilities of the team can be used to
attack it, probe it, offer suggestions, and complete the
tasks.
- Teams generate energy among volunteers. As volunteers work
together toward a goal, there is a level of "ownership" and
enthusiasm that is a natural outcome of the project.
- Teams provide opportunities for leadership training. Since
leadership is largely a matter of helping others accomplish
their objectives more effectively than they could by
themselves, teams provide the perfect atmosphere for leading
others to do their best.
Elements of a productive team:
- Teams have an accepted leader. It takes time to cultivate
leaders among your volunteer teams. It may not be easy to get
into the habit of regular meetings with team leaders. But by
spending time with your leaders, you encourage them to
develop the same kinds of relationship with their team
members who deserve the same level of time and attention.
- Teams share a common goal. With the common mission or vision
in mind, each volunteer team should establish its goals of
detailed, reachable objectives that advance the ministry of
the church.
- Teams play together. You can build community by planning
regular times when your team can kick back and simply enjoy
being together. Some volunteer teams play a wild game of
Laser Tag, others meet at a trendy coffee shop on a Saturday
morning, and others share a night out with all the spouses.
- Teams make prayer a priority. Prayer helps a team recognize
its dependence on the power of God, and reaffirms the team's
trust in God's miraculous working in and through its
ministry. Some teams pray together, others have developed a
prayer chain, or have prayer partners within their team. Some
select several days during the year for prayer and fasting.
- Teams serve each other in love. Members make sacrifices for
one another because of their mutual caring attitude. Members
who feel cared about, whose talents and contributions are
valued, will show a loyalty to the team. They wouldn't want
to let the team down by failing to show up or failing to
complete an assignment. And they'll more than likely stay on
for another term.
Christine Yount is editor of Children's Ministry
Magazine and leads workshops on effective methods for
teaching children about God and the Bible.
Reprinted by permission from Awesome Volunteers by
Christine Yount, copyright (c) 1998. Group
Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Ave., Loveland, CO
80539, 1-800-447-1070.