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The beauty of team by Stephe Mayers

Together

          Everyone

Achieves

More

Together

We’re not called to be isolated but to relate.  Before sin came into the world, God said to Adam, “its not good that you are alone”.  God has made us with the inbuilt need for relationship. “Together all alone” – an old song title.  I remember being in the underground train in London during rush hour.  Hundreds of people squashed together not saying a word!  You may be in a team but it needs to be a functioning relational team, where you have fun, share your lives and are “together” in friendship, values, calling and body life.  Jesus called the disciples to be “with him”.  Together.

Everyone

A basic small group principle is “everyone in ministry”.  I was brought up in the brethren where they believe in the priesthood of all believers.  Everyone was involved – no spectators but all participators.  I just had an accident and bent my finger back and sprained it.  It’s amazing how hindered I am without that third finger.  It doesn’t seem as important as the thumb or index finger but it makes writing, dressing, doing anything with my hand more difficult.  We need every member of the body to take an active part – make room for all the gifts.  Our teams need to have all gifts at the table.

Achieves

A team exists for a purpose.  We’re not here just to enjoy ourselves and have fun, although that’s part of God’s plan.   We are to accomplish, to have output, to reach goals and targets, to extend the kingdom.  I was asked one day to share something I’ve done that I am proud of.  The more I thought, the more I realised that everything I have done has been achieved with the help of others.  People have influenced me, mentored me, helped me, worked with me.  I’m not sure there’s anything I’ve truly done on my own that I can be proud of.  When we’re in team, all rejoice when one rejoices because it’s a team achievement.  I can’t rejoice in “my” achievements because it’s the team working together that makes it happen

More

“More for less” – isn’t that what we hear.  Trouble is its often more communication in less time, more hours for less money, more production with less staff, etc.  Team should be more fruit for less effort.  It’s not “no” effort but it’s the right team effort without burnout without that drivenness, without hurry sickness that demands NOW.  Synergy is the story of the geese travelling 71% further when they fly together in formation.  That’s more!  It’s the principle of 2 putting 10,000 to flight when alone we can only deal with 1,000.  There’s a multiplication factor.  If we are in missions for the long haul we need team.  We can travel the distance.  We can see more happen and keep it happening when we work in team.  I have enjoyed fifteen years of national leadership without any hint of burnout because of team!

Remember God’s a team!

I’ve tried team you say:  Perhaps you need to check these issues out:

w        If we’re not together in harmony then team will be a pain and people will me more encouraged to go it alone.  Lets not throw the baby out with the bath water.  Team is God’s idea.

w        If everyone’s not pulling their weight, the team becomes lopsided and bad feeling emerges when some are having to fulfil others roles

w        If there are not clear targets, goals, achievements being met, the team can easily get disillusioned.

w        If it seems to be taking more effort to stay in team and the fruit isn’t evident, its time for an inventory.  Who’s on the team, what gifts are lacking, what gifts are dominating, are we sharing the same values and pulling in the same direction, are there clear definable goals and targets, are we committed to God and one another as well as the task in hand?