MINISTERS MATTER

HURT LEADERS HURT OTHERS 2/3

The Bible teaches us that we are more than physical, mental or emotional beings. We are also spiritual and for help and healing to work lasting change we need to understand how to minister to the spirit, soul and body of those entrusted to our care.

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Pastor Joseph Mattera writes on this subject as he deals with ministers and executive leaders in the marketplace. Here are his comments on this second in the series of three blogs.

VI. Hurt people have the emotional maturity of the age they received their (un-dealt with) hurt.

For example, if a girl was raped by a man when she was 12 years old, unless she forgives that man and allows Christ to heal her heart and allay her fears, in that particular area of her life (sexuality with a man) her emotional growth will stop; even when she reaches her later years she may still have the emotional maturity of a 12 year-old.


VII. Hurt people are often frustrated and depressed because past pain continually spills over into their present consciousness.

In many instances, they may not even be aware of why they are continually frustrated or depressed because they have coped with pain by compartmentalizing it or layering it over with other things over time.


VIII. Hurt people often erupt with inappropriate emotion because particular words, actions, or circumstances “touch” and “trigger” past woundedness.

I have been in situations with people in which there was a gross overreaction to a word I spoke or an action that was taken. Although I was shocked and thought this reaction came “out of left field” it was really the person responding to an accumulation of years of hurt and pain that could not help but spill over in various situations.

I myself have been in situations where I felt hurt, troubled, or overreacted to something because it touched a nerve with what I was still dealing with because of a wound I received in the past. In these situations I have attempted to reason through the situation as objectively as I can with much prayer and introspection so I would not say or do anything damaging to another person or myself.


IX. Hurt people often occupy themselves with busyness, work, performance, and/or accomplishments as a way of compensating for low self-esteem.

Often ministers are not motivated by a love for Jesus but a drive to accomplish. It is important that pastors and ministers be led by the Spirit instead of being driven to succeed. A minister should not preoccupy himself with making things happen. He or she should walk in integrity and humility and allow God to open up doors and provide a ministerial platform according to their assignment for their life and ministry.


X. Hurt people often attempt to medicate themselves with excessive entertainment, drugs, alcohol, pornography, sexual relationships, or hobbies as a way to forget their pain and run from reality.

Until the church learns to deal with and emphasize the emotional life and health of the believer, the church will be filled with half-Christians who pray and read the Bible but find no victory because they do not face the woundedness in their souls.

Tomorrow we will look at the final five.

At Mission O, Ministers Matter!

HURT LEADERS HURT OTHERS 1/3

I am beginning to wonder about the expression, 'hurt people, hurt people' as it applies to those in full-time ministerial positions. What root issues are producing the emotional, sexual and moral bad fruit that makes us all, in ministry, cringe, and those around us in society become more cynical of our message?

It goes with out saying that those who have been abused in their past have the potential to abuse in the future. I've seen so many with alcoholic parents become addicts themselves. This is not always the case but it does seem to repeat itself over and over.

The Bible teaches us that we are more than physical, mental or emotional beings. We are also spiritual and for help and healing to work lasting change we need to understand how to minister to the spirit, soul and body of those entrusted to our care.

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Pastor Joseph Mattera writes on this subject as he deals with ministers and executive leaders in the marketplace. Here are the first of three blogs on this important subject.

Let's do a little personal assessment over the next few days and see if any of these 15 traits are active within us. Better still, ask someone close to assess you.

I. Hurt people often transfer their inner anger onto their family and close friends.

Often those around them become the recipients of harsh tones and fits of rage because they have unknowingly become the vicarious recipients of transferred rage.


II. Hurt people interpret every word spoken to them through the prism of their pain.

Because of their pain, ordinary words are often misinterpreted to mean something negative towards them.
Because of this, they are extremely sensitive and act out of pain instead of reality.


III. Hurt people interpret every action through the prism of their pain.

Their emotional pain causes them to suspect wrong motives or evil intent behind other people’s actions towards them.


IV. Hurt people often portray themselves as victims and carry a “victim spirit”.

Often hurt people can cry “racism,” “sexism,” “homophobia,” or often use the words “unjust” or “unfair” to describe the way they are being treated, even if there is no truth to this. (That is not to say that sometimes there really is racism or sexism in some instances; this is just used as an example.)
Hurt people have a hard time entering into a trusting relationship. Hurt people often carry around a suspicious spirit.


V. Hurt people often alienate others and wonder why no one is there for them.

They often continually hurt the ones they love and need the most with their self-destructive behavior.

Tomorrow we will look at the next five points.

At Mission O, Ministers Matter!

DEVELOPING SUPPORTIVE MINISTRIES Part 3

Every team has slackers. Think of what hockey teams do with players who are slackers, who are not playing up to their potential, you trade em, cut them, or make them free agents. Coaches who do not address the slackers, will eventually lose the respect of their best team members. Morale will be a problem. You will lose momentum.

Great players are allowed to improvise, to make things up as they go. They get to play by their own rules. It is what keeps them great. In the end, it is about results. What has been accomplished?

Great team members produce results wherever they serve.

If someone is serving in a supportive ministry and they’re results are poor, they will continue to play by my rules. If I have someone who produces more than is expected, consistently, I will let them play by their own rules. Why? Results!

If we want to build great supportive ministries, great teams, then let’s affirm that individuals need to be recognized for their efforts especially when there is a common goal.

The Stanley Cup - each year one hockey team wins it.

There are stars in every game even though everyone played. Lesser players get their name on the cup because of these outstanding players. Everyone wins when everyone plays to the best of their ability!

We do more together than we do alone if we are inspiring one another to arise and shine for God, and for the goals set by the leader. Think of this in the context of your local church or ministry.

Who wants to share hard earned success with team members who didn’t contribute? Listen to Joe Christian, “Well Pastor Barry, it doesn’t matter who gets the credit as long as the work gets done.” He says that with a smile. Everyone around him nods in approval. Sounds positive doesn’t it? That is a team buster moment.

That is the message of the slacker. That person has never received credit for anything. If they did, then credit would matter because of the effort put in.

Ever played a team sport and won? That feeling of accomplishment is so wonderful. It spurs you on to greater things.

Let’s make a decision today, that in developing supportive ministries, we are looking for servants not slackers. Let us raise the standard for supportive ministry.

Example: People come late for service that starts at 10AM. We wait until there is a better crowd in the sanctuary. What are we doing? We are punishing those who came early and rewarding those who come late. How dumb is that?

The church is in the state it’s in because we are tolerating slackers, rewarding them instead of replacing them with true servants of God.

The following comments are a reverse on The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni.

What does a healthy supportive ministry look like?

Trust is present. You cannot build a supportive ministry without the foundation of trust. Everyone must be willing to be honest, admit their mistakes, and ask for help - especially when they know they have been lazy. Team members need to be comfortable enough with one another to talk openly and honestly.

No fear of conflict. With trust, we can resolve issues openly. We will not be afraid to confront one another when expectations are missed. Our greatest concern would be gossip, backbiting and team members not willing to help the team be better.

Commitment. Trust and conflict give us the ability to talk through what needs to be done. We go away clear on our decision. That way we know we are committed to the vision and to make it happen. We see ourselves as owners of the vision.

Accountability. Committing to a clear vision means accountability. Clarity in what we are doing enables us to measure our goals, our performance and our results. Slackers are held accountable. Everyone has the same standard to work toward.

Results. Accountability means we are looking for results. Strong teams keep training one another to perform well. We honour one another and become each others best cheer leader.

Let us stop wasting the Lord’s resources and be good stewards of the time, gifts and calling He has given us.
It is time to put away being a slacker in God’s Kingdom. It is time to rise up to the high calling of being a servant of God developing truly supportive ministries and creating highly effective teams.

TOGETHER WE STAND - WE STAND TOGETHER

At Mission O, Ministers Matter!

DEVELOPING SUPPORTIVE MINISTRIES Part 2

How many have every heard the expression, “There is no ‘I’ in teamwork?” Or, “ Teamwork makes the dreamwork.” Slackers like that expression because they can hide amongst the team when it gets credit for a job well done.

Only the other team members know the effort needed to pull it off when the slackers slacked off.

Scripture is filled with the exploits of individuals. Men and women who understood their calling and what they needed to do in their generation. They were servants of God first. Individuals unashamed of being God’s man/woman. They were answerable to Him for their fruitfulness or barrenness.

God wants to profile our calling, gifting, and the results or fruit of our ministry. He doesn’t want us hiding behind false humility - Canadians are good at this.

Ephesians 4:11 - 16 This is God’s idea of Together We Stand!

It looks like teamwork but it isn’t. It is identifiable individuals serving as they have been equipped with others who complement them. It is call to respect, to honour and to value diversity as we learn to appreciate the differences in giftings, callings and results.

Verse 16 says, “When each part is working properly.” Note: Each part! Would you agree, as the Church in Canada, we are not working properly yet?

Wouldn’t you agree that Jesus’ plan for your city is better than your plan for your city? His plan includes all of us, all our churches and ministries working individually yet together to fulfill the Great Commission.

Together We Stand - is about individuals working relationally.

Gregory House, MD from the Fox TV series House is quoted as saying, “There is no I in TEAM, but if you jumble it all up, there is a ME.” The WE in ministry is only as effective as the ME in ministry. The chain is only as strong as the weakest individual link.

Should we honour equally one who serves with excellence and one who slacks off? We need to think differently as we develop our supportive ministries. We need to affirm the servants and hold the slackers accountable.

If you want to undermine your existing teams, don’t hold the slackers to account.

Ministry is about individual men and women, acknowledging before God that He has called, equipped and gifted them to function uniquely yet they can’t do it without the help of others who function as well in their calling.

We are not competing with each other in our ministries or communities but rather completing each other. Each member needs to shines brightly so we all benefit together. Each team member needs to be celebrated not tolerated because of their success. Each wants to have their efforts recognized and appreciated and rightly so.

At the end of the day, we want to put our head on the pillow and know we have given our best to God, His church and those we have served alongside of. We are called to be servants of God not slackers. Sons who delight to serve out of love not legalism.

If everyone gets recognized for giving their best, then we are developing healthy supportive ministries. As leaders, we need to be encouraging everyone but especially our key team players. Remember, great team players get bored easily. They are creative, innovative and will make your ministry better if you give them the recognition they deserve.

“One bad apple can spoil the whole barrel.” While that is true, we need to remember that we must never sacrifice the barrel of apples in favour of the one bad apple.

Tomorrow Part 3: Five strengths of healthy supportive ministries.

At Mission O, Ministers Matter!

DEVELOPING SUPPORTIVE MINISTRIES Part 1

In Matthew 14:22-34 we read the story of Jesus pointing His disciples in a direction He wanted them to go. There were challenges to get to the other side but get to the other side they would. Why?

Imagine if we could get all the people in our ministry to row in the same direction, we would win our cities for Christ against any and all competition, seen or unseen.

Who would I be looking for to play a part on my dream team? My supportive ministry? I’d be looking for a human being. Someone who is fallible, imperfect and potentially dysfunctional. That is what everyone, gathering team players, has to work with.

There is a certain quality I would be looking for after pastoring for 30 years especially when you know from experience that...Teamwork doesn’t work!

Amazon.com has over 46,000 books with the words Team or Teamwork in the title. We have a fatal attraction to teamwork, hoping we can find the ingredients that will make it work because we know, from personal experience, that it doesn’t and we ask why?

We are being called to work together, to develop supportive ministries, but what is happening behind the scenes that makes this process so challenging?

Teamwork doesn’t work just because you have a team like The Parking Attendants Team. The Greeters Team. The Hospitality Team. Ushers. Media. Music Ministry. Prayer. Nursery. Children’s Workers. Youth. Small Groups etc. Teamwork doesn’t work but something that looks like teamwork does.

It works when every player on the team works to his/her full potential. It works when you know why you are doing what you are doing and you can measure the results/fruit and improve.

Teamwork as we understand it today doesn’t work because there are players on every team who won’t work. Every ministry team is a mix of servants and slackers. It doesn’t take a prophet to identify the servants from the slackers either.

Too often, as a team, when you are depending on others the most, they drop the ball. The dream of working together is shattered as someone on the team has to pick up the slack. How do they feel? What if it has happened too many times before? What do you feel like when someone on your team is a slacker?

Most ministries can be run by just a few good men/women. This is a sad reality but not what God intended. He has a whole body He wants to work through.

Next Sunday morning, across Canada, team members won’t show up or they will at best call, or at worst send an e-mail, at the last minute, before you can replace them, to say they won’t be coming in today?

This happens all the time in the programs of the church and because we are often short on volunteers, we don’t say anything or call them to accountability. It never happens when I ask someone to speak or sing in main auditorium? They never call with an excuse. I wonder why?

Tomorrow Part 2: Ephesians 4 reveals the need for teamwork.

At Mission O, Ministers Matter!

EACH PART WORKING PROPERLY

I loved watching Riverdance one night with my late mother because she was from Ireland. As we viewed the performance and waited for the furnace repair man to show up, I thought about the church and how important it is for us to know our place and to function properly.

Ephesians 4:16 says, "from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Watch this performance of Riverdance and see each part working together to make a stunning finale. The local church is the hope of the world. When it functions the way God intended it to, it will make a stunning impact in the community it serves.

PRAYING FOR CANADA'S YOUTH!

On International Youth Day, I found myself in Kolar Gold Fields, India, visiting friends. I had the opportunity to attend an amazing youth event that ended with them praying for Canada's young people.

Please join me in praying for the youth of our land. They need our prayers now more than ever.

TRAINING CHILDREN UP IN THE WAY THEY SHOULD GO...

Here is a short clip from the life of little Sam, a four-year old boy I met in Bangalore, India recently at a home/orphanage. He was a delight and the object of affection amongst the other children.

India is an amazing nation but it has so many children that have no one to raise them. They end up either on the street fending for their own lives or else in an orphanage. Thank God Sam and his brother and sisters found a great home.

Here he is quoting all 66 books of the Bible.

15. VISIONARY LEADERSHIP

In the book, '15 Characteristics of Effective Pastors' Kevin Mannoia and Larry Walkemeyer make a strong argument that pastors are not only called but there are principles that will make them more effective.

I would like to highlight those 15 characteristics over the next series of blogs and ask us, as pastors, to review our own effectiveness, or as Jesus would describe it as our fruitfulness in ministry.

Effective pastors practice listening to God, and collaborating with others to discover the ongoing vision for the church.

They articulate this vision in public and private settings in ways that influence people to help bring it into reality.

Having a vision also involves communicating it. Effective pastors have learned how to share the vision with others. They are great motivators.

Visionary leadership involves inspiring people to walk in unity and accomplish the vision together.

At Mission O, Ministers Matter!

14. A STRONG MARRIAGE

In the book, '15 Characteristics of Effective Pastors' Kevin Mannoia and Larry Walkemeyer make a strong argument that pastors are not only called but there are principles that will make them more effective.

I would like to highlight those 15 characteristics over the next series of blogs and ask us, as pastors, to review our own effectiveness, or as Jesus would describe it as our fruitfulness in ministry.

Effective pastors make building their marriage a high priority. They also enjoy married life apart from ministry and it fortifies all they do.

These pastors cherish, affirm and represent their spouse equally in private and public. This creates a culture of honour and they reap a harvest of good fruit as a result.

Because marriage finds its source in God, and is meant to make us holy not just happy, it is the best place to prove the principles of the Kingdom work.

Effective pastors model good marriages. How they live is not a formula for ensuring good ministry, but it is evidence that they understand the Kingdom and live it principles in a healthy way.

If we can't take care of our family, what makes us think God will let us take care of His?

At Mission O, Minsters Matter!