I recently took a Saturday night off. Usually I don’t enjoy it when I take off from a service. One, because I am missing church and two, because I somehow think that maybe they can’t make it without me. (Come on – you know you think the same thing too.) This time was different. I came in earlier in the afternoon to see what needed to be done before our team arrived. I stood in awe as I saw that everything and I mean everything was done. I can’t tell you how absolutely blessed and honored I felt at that moment to be a part of an amazing group of people that love God, love the House and surprisingly, love me. Our teams had everything covered, with excellence!
Here is the principle: Find capable people. Pour into them and empower them to lead. Let them lead. And, always inspect what you expect. Our teams know I will inspect and they know what I expect and they delivered! I am not alone. I don’t have to do everything myself. Today I am thanking God for our Volunteers as they continue to rise above my expectations! They amaze me.
The one scripture that I have tried to pattern our team building process after is:
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Gather before me seventy men who are recognized as elders and leaders of Israel. Bring them to the Tabernacle to stand there with you. I will come down and talk to you there. I will take some of the Spirit that is upon you, and I will put the Spirit upon them also. They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone.” Numbers 11: 16-17
As leaders in our church, God gives us instructions on how to build a team. The reality is that so many of us focus on the tasks, putting people to work, that we lose sight of the vision, the big picture of what building great teams is all about.
Ask yourself: “Am I in the way of our teams growth? I am a barrier that is holding people back from being all that God has called them to be?” If you answer yes, or maybe, then it’s time to listen to Jethro’s great advice to Moses.
