The Dynamics of Team Ministry

As we saw from lesson two, the following is a carefully constructed definition of Team:

"A team is a group of people who are laboring together in an organized or coordinated way to accomplish a common purpose that is greater than what the individuals could accomplish by them selves."

We looked briefly at five of the key concepts of effective teams derived from the above definition - ACTION, UNITY, PURPOSE, ORDER and SYNERGISM. Now we will take a deeper look at these and other factors found in effective teams.

The Cohesion Factor

An absolute essential for productive teams is the ability for the team to maintain cohesion. Cohesion in the dictionary is described as "the act or state of cohering, uniting, or sticking together." Also, "the molecular force between particles within a body or substance that acts to unite them." Cohesiveness speaks of the ability of a thing to unify, harmonize and be consistent.

There are several components that contribute to the cohesiveness of any team. These are vision, purpose, order and unity.

1. VISION

Vision is necessary for purposeful labor. It is vision that has the unique ability rally to the cause of the Kingdom. The Lord spoke to the prophet Habakkuk and said: "Write the vision, and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that reads it. For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hastens toward the end, and shall not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay" (Hab. 2:2,3).

It is vision that motivates us to run. Prov. 29:18 states: "Where there is no vision, the people perish by casting off restraint". In other words, vision motivates and controls our action. Without it we wander aimlessly with no purpose or sit in apathy with no motivation. Vision gives us reason to redirect our actions into something productive. Vision is what moves us forward into the purposes of God. For the sake of the vision we are willing to work out our relational issues that sometimes arise in a team, and overcome what ever hurdles to unity we encounter.

An example of the power of vision and the envisioning work of the prophet is told in the story of Ezra, where the work had come to a halt. In the time of Ezra, the temple that had been torn down and was in need of repair. The people though, had become apathetic toward the things of God and were content to live in a self-absorbed condition with no thought toward God's house. The people were not cooperating with one another nor participating with the leadership in the rebuilding of the temple. Then arose the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. They were successful in stirring the people to arise and fulfill the vision. In the midst of this dilemma the prophets arose declaring what God intended for His glorious temple; and the people, re-envisioned for the work, arose and built.

Ezra 5:2

So Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them, helping them.

Ezra 6:14

And the elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel.

We see here not only the power of vision, but the teaming up of the prophets with the government to accomplish God's will. In this day, it is essential for the prophetic portion of the Church and the governmental portion of the Church to recognize their need of one another and to come forth as a foundational team for the building of the church. Eph 2:19-21 puts it this way, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord."

Also, set their eyes on the future when they have vision. We all have three blocks of time in our lives... yesterday, today, and tomorrow. What sets some apart from the others is where we set our focus; how we choose to deal with three blocks of time... the past, the present and the future. Most people begin with the present and then spend their time comparing it to the past.

People with vision are focused on the future and then look to the present, and view it in light of the future. They are more likely proactive; they readily see opportunities and have a willingness to move forward in faith. The essential thing for us as individuals as well as teams, is to see with the eyes of a visionary. And out of our vision comes our purpose.

2. PURPOSE

Purpose speaks of the reason for which something exists. A purpose is an intended or desired result, aim or goal. Clarity of purpose breeds determination and resoluteness. It is the subject in hand; the point at issue. Once the vision is clear, a team must know what their purpose is in the overall vision of God. The vision is the overall picture. The purpose pertains to our particular contribution to the accomplishment of that vision.

With these key components in place, we then move into some relatively practical areas that facilitate cohesiveness. One of these components is order.

Proper order facilitates the work of a team, and without it there are various unnecessary problems that must be overcome for the team to work smoothly. However, since there are numerous kinds of teams that are being addressed, I will refrain from proposing organizational order and stick to components that need to be in place in most team settings.

• Procedure - Answers the question "How should we function?"
• Structure - Answers the question "Who does what and where do we each fit?"
• Authority - Answers the question "Who is in charge and who makes the final decisions?"
• Accountability - Answers the question "Who do we answer to?"

It is important to understand that God Himself established government in the church. Sometimes there is an inclination for us as prophetic ministers to consider our "ministry" of "proclamation" most important, but God also set in the church, apostles, pastors, administrators and other forms of elders who's "ministry" is "government." It is important for believers to properly relate to that government. The following scriptures speak to the issue very clearly.

Rom 13:1

Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

Heb 13:17

Obey your leaders, and submit to them for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

Of course this issue of structure, order and accountability in team ministry is difficult because there are a broad variety of kinds of teams, situations, levels of maturity and forms of church government within the Body of Christ. Readers here may also range from budding prophesiers to internationally recognized prophets or prophetess. We may be addressing numerous versions and structures of team ministry and government within the Body of Christ. However, the Christian who is humble and submitted to God will recognize the value of submission to spiritual authority and look for legitimate spiritual authority to relate to in a proper way.

If we desire to minister to the church but we find ourselves despising or resisting a structure of authentic spiritual authority, we need to stop and take a look at our motives for ministry. The first question we need to ask ourselves is "What are the motives and attitudes of our hearts?" Are we operating out of an attitude of rebellion, independence and pride? Or are we humble, teachable and willing to be correctable? After we settle that in our hearts, we must consciously and deliberately decide to yield to the structure of authority that find ourselves in.

Finally, we know that cohesiveness in only possible where there is unity.

If we want to preserve unity, we must work at it from both within and without. It is facilitated by structure without, but also from our attitude within.

I call it the "Three Essential COs". Structural unity requires COORDINATION, while relational unity requires COOPERATION. And both require COMMUNICATION. Coordination is accomplished through a well "oiled" structure, cooperation requires a well "oiled" heart. And communication has been called the oil that keeps the engine running.

It is necessary to have the right heart attitude to facilitate a unity that pleases God and serves His purposes.

The Attitude Factor

This is very important and I am going to discuss it in detail in a future lessons (lessons 5 to 7). I want to give an overview here, for completeness of discussion. We will explore it in greater depth later on.

Here are a few of the key characteristics that comprise our attitude, which effects how we relate to others on our team. Our character (heart after God, maturity, etc) determines some of our attitudes. Lessons 6 and 7 will discuss the character traits of effective team members. Here is a subset of them that I consider key attitude factors - people who have these traits and attitudes tend to work effectively with others on the team.

1. Faithfulness - Luke 16:10-12
2. Loyalty - Prov 20:6; Prov 20:28; Hos 6:4-6
3. Humility - Rom 12:3; 1 Peter 5:5-7; Phil 2:3-9

The Accomplishment Factor

A team is only as good as its ability to fulfill its purpose. In other words, its ability to accomplish its tasks.

"Ability" speaks of the power to perform the task. In most cases, teams can be viewed as "task orientated" versus "relationship orientated." (I am not trying to imply that it is not necessary to maintain relationship within the team, but relationship is the the primary purpose of a task orientated team.

Team members and team leaders need to take an honest and objective look at the issue of ability within the members of the team. We must realize that all the members of a team are not gifted the same, nor do they operate on the same level of faith and grace. (Rom 12:6)

Yet it is still important that each person recognizes the importance of teamwork. A team's ability to accomplish its task is greatly enhanced over what a single gifted individual can do because of the synergy factor. Therefore it is important to recognize and appreciate each individual's contribution. "Synergism", as was mentioned before, is a term that means that the team can accomplish more together than the sum of what each individual could accomplish on their own. It is defined as "the interaction of elements that, when combined, produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements, contributions, etc."