It is important to keep a ministry fresh. We must evaluate and update our programs from year to year. We have the awesome responsibility and privilege of joining hands with God in helping others to be fulfilled in Him.
Our relationship with Him must never stagnate but constantly change, grow, and move forward. In any ministry this means we must be willing to obey God’s calling to develop opportunities for growth even if it’s, “not the way we have always done it.”
Our vision must be God’s vision or it will be on a shaky foundation. We must focus our prayers on changing lives rather than merely creating programs. Prayer must be the thread that is woven into every area of this ministry if we are to stay in tune with God.
When meaningful ministries already exist we should take advantage of networking with them rather than start another. We must ask ourselves the following questions when producing or promoting any ministry: Is it balanced, is it Biblical and is it supportive to the women to whom we hope to minister? We must look for key individuals that can add positive growth and move us forward.
When is it time to train new workers and those who will step into our shoes? Easy answer, “The minute you begin in ministry.” Just like Jesus sought out his disciples we look for and train qualified women to whom we can delegate and share the load. Otherwise we entertain pride and begin to think no one can do it as well. It increasingly becomes harder to let it go.
My obligation and my passion was and is to continue the good work of Ladies Ministries that is in place and to create new ministries that would live on without me. For that reason the ministry could not center on me or any other person. So I have purposely mentored and continue to mentor others to replace me when the time comes. It will come unless the Lord calls us home before then! The good thing about mentoring is that we will have a well trained and capable team. There is no “down side.”I do not feel badly as I watch the Directors of our ministries carry on without me. I am grateful that the ministries I have worked for and enjoyed so much are flourishing! I am continually learning—team members challenge me with their expertise in the areas of what has become their own ministry.
Ladies Ministries is already an established ministry. Our goal now is to find others who will buy into it. We are a team. This ministry is not about me. Visionaries dream of what can be done and work toward futuristic changes—growth, improvement, maturity and reaching above and beyond what one could never do alone.
Jesus equipped a team of replacements. If I am secure as a leader, I will never feel threatened by my team. If we do not have creativity, we may be organized but we will have a very boring ministry. Developing a team that can carry on is going to take time and energy.
I have heard the comment, “I can do it better and faster myself.” That could be true, but then you are not building a future, much less a team. The result could be little or no growth and certainly no new vision because we began to lean on our own abilities rather than equipping those who will follow.
When putting together a team, don’t feel obligated to use everyone who wants to contribute or join. Check them out. Give them something to do, and find whether or not they are capable. It is much easier than promising a part and then finding that they do not fit the need. Pray for God to give you discernment.
Keep your team to a minimum. We often think the more people the better, more ideas, more hands for the work. This is not always true. Sometimes it causes more confusion and distractions and becomes harder to manage. Build your team only according to the needs of your ministry.
A balanced team will have members representing visionaries, willing workers, different ages and varied personalities. Find the people who you think can do the job. Use them on a trial basis by asking them to submit something for a particular purpose, an article, a Bible study, a newsletter—this varies depending on the need you have in your particular ministry.
Give them guidelines, number of words in an article, a deadline, and any other requirement that will be needed along with an example of the work that is being done. If necessary split the task and work with them. Be very plain with them. Let them know they will be proofed and/or edited. Then critique and evaluate the work in comparison to what you expected. Assign additional work until they are able to do the job alone. Watch to see if the work is consistent and continues to be acceptable. If it doesn’t work, thank them for their help and for having been a “guest” writer or helper and then simply move on.
Every ministry should have an understudy. That way there is a replacement trained and ready to do the job in an emergency or if someone steps down for whatever reason.
With these methods in place we will focus more on the good of the ministry than on our own good. Gwyn Oakes |
