Working at TEAMWORK

TEAMWORK TAKES WORK But it's worth it

Lately my concept of working with, on, for, and through a team has been stretched. My collaborative skills needed expanding. I've never been anti-teamwork. It's just that: I come from an individualistic culture. Back in high school, while I enjoyed being on a team, the wrestling team is really a collection of individual achievers. Most of my life was spent in a career when I was the only full-time worker at the church where I served. In other words, I've had a lot more experience with go-it-alone, than I have with go-team. Now, I find myself in a situation where a lot of what I need to get done is stuff that I can't do. I am surrounded by people both way more capable than I am, and yet people who need something I can contribute to make their work more effective. Sometimes it is collaboration; They bring A, I contribute B, and the resulting C is far bigger than either A or B. On other occasions I am a catalyst; very little of what I have done is seen in the final product, but something from me has made that end-result possible. I'm impressed with the power of cheering, or encouragement. I'd say I'm the recipient of more of that team-spirit than I give out. It's not as much fun--on either end--but challenge is a powerful part of working together. Others around me will get in my face. "I don't think that's right," or, "I don't think that's your best." When you combine all of that with the fact that I'm surrounded by folk who live and breath a lifestyle much more community oriented than the one I'm familiar with, you can see why the concept of team is growing in me. I'd suggest that working as a team is a paradigm you should give more attention to. If you do think about it, it'll be the result of one more element of teamwork in action. Teammates help one another consider . . . . It's STTA (Something To Think About).  Here is a different presentation of the Good News in Christ.  You can find several ways to explore the Message of Grace here.

Equipping Others for Greater Impact

Don't ask someone to dig a hole without giving them a shovel.

One of the ways that Pacific Islands University seeks to serve the communities around us is to have an annual Ministry Equipping Conference. (Hopefully, we'll soon have news about the 2017-18 M.E.C.) Our intention is to do what the name implies--provide God's people with some tools that they can use in accomplishing the tasks God has called us to. It's an endeavor that shouldn't be limited to institutions of higher learning. In Ephesians 4 we read, And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; (Ephesians 4:11–12, NASB95) The Lord didn't give these gifted individuals to do the work--at least not all of it--He sent them to equip the entire body for the mission. Hebrews 10:24-25, talks about the people of God, the church, assembling together. It may come as a surprise to some to read that the purpose of this gathering together is not to enjoy the awesome music or be dazzled by the production. It is to "provoke one another to love and good works" (King James). According to 1 Corinthians 12 the church is like a body--various parts functioning in cooperative unity, each part enabling every other part to function more effectively. Leverage: It's a term that high-rollers use. I invest a little bit, but use my insignificant contribution to gain access to a whole lot, so my small investment has a much larger impact than it possibly could by itself. It has been said  that rather than trying to do the work of five people one is wise to find five people to do the work. Equipping others to serve. It is a task of teachers, pastors, parents, leaders--really all of us. It's STTA (Something To Think About).