Today we want to talk about building diversity into a ministry team. A key component of a diverse team is having a group of people that about both dedicated and capable around you.As most regular readers of this blog and site know, cycling is the favorite sport around Team Swap. A surprising thing to many people that do not following cycling is that cycling is really a team sport. Cycling appears incredibly individualist on the surface to those that do not follow it. Most cycling photos and clips are of a single guy, or at most a few guys in different uniforms, climbing a incredibly steep incline or in a small breakaway. Most news pieces have a concluding shot of a lone winner crossing the finish line a few feet ahead of a large pack. In the US this assumption is added to by the fact that US cycling seems to have only one or two faces. Simply put, the teammates and teamwork that make up cycling are rarely discussed by those that do not follow the sport.
The truth is that MOST of those individual moments that make the news occur because the rest of that persons team did what they were called and asked to do. Each member of a cycling team has at least one specific duty, and sometimes perform multiple specific roles on the team. Some have the job of pacing their leaders up hills. Some act as managers on the road being sure that everything is in control and being handled. Others position themselves where the head and cross winds do not wear down their teammates. Some riders pace the sprinter to within 100 yards or less of the finish only to pull off and allow the sprinter to open up and win the race / stage. Other team members have the job of bringing the leader, and other teammates, water, additional clothing, and food during the race. What most great cyclists do is surround themselves with a team that has the capacity to win a particular race, and one that is willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish that task.
Building a team to win a grand tour (Giro, TDF, and the Vuelta), pro tour races, classic stages, and day races does not mean building a team that just wants to win that race, but building one that is capable of winning the race. A successful team is one that does not just have the ability, but the heart and desire to succeed. I would love to ride the Tour De France, but I do not have the ability to ride the Tour De France. That is because I do not have the willingness to suffer the preparation regiment required to be a professional cyclist.
In the same way when we minister we need to be sure that we do not just surround ourselves with people that just want to minister, but ones that have the capacity to minister. That means the person also has to have the willingness to suffer a bit to accomplish the goal. The key to the later is having a leader in the ministry that encourages the others around them to continue on when the tough times come.
In my opinion, that is best accomplished when the followers know that the leader/s are suffering as well. Leaders can do that by being with the rest of the team while the work is being done. A great cycling team leader does not ask his team to climb hills that he does not climb, he does ask them to keep a pace that he is not keeping, he does not ask them descend a mountain faster then he is willing to descend. He suffers along with his team, that is why they respect him and are willing to give their all of his success.
My point in all of this is not to say that you need to suffer more, or labor more, as you may be doing both of those already. I only wanted to share this today to encourage you to surround yourself with a group of people that are both capable and willing to minster with you, for you, and too you. Your support team should be comprised of more then just people that want to minister with you. There are plenty of opportunities to minister that do not require being a member of the leaders ministry team. A ministry leaders support team should be comprised of people that have the capacity to minister beside them, as well as ones that have the capacity to minister to them when the tough times come. A ministry team, including its supporters, must have the willingness to do what it takes to accomplish the goals that God sets out for that group / team / ministry.
I hope this has not been too negative, it is meant to be more of a gut check for you regarding those that help you. I have no idea who exactly your support team is, so I do not have a agenda that a certain person needs to be added or deleted.
I do know that David had his three strong men, and they were men that were battle tested with David. David knew them, trusted them and cared for them. They had the same relationship with David. David and his three strong men had the capacity / ability to accomplish what was set before them and they were willing to do whatever it took for the goal to be accomplished. That is the same model Christ used in building His support team. So, to me it seems logical that should be the model for all of us too us in building our personal support teams, be they directly or indirectly ministry related.
Have a great day, and stay strong and be courageous.
