Leadership Series: Part 3. Building a Team

I believe Jesus is very concerned that we understand the world does not revolve around us. In The Salvation Army, the founder William Booth, got that and taught us well with his famous "Others" telegram (a one word message to all soldiers around the world). In fact I am told the world's smallest package is someone all wrapped up in himself!

Satan did not get that, fought God vehemently over this very subject, and has caused one third of God's "leadership team" and much of humanity to side with him in focusing on "Numero Uno." He still trips many of us up with this in a variety of nefarious ways.

How this fits into leadership is in the way a leader chooses to work with the people God has placed around him/her (notice I didn't say "under" him/her? We'll get to that in part 4). An apostolic leader will always understand that the church is made up of a body- a team. No one person can do it all by themselves. They NEED other members of the body if they expect to actually accomplish the mission God has for them in their area of ministry. Paul talked about this as a body working together. Let's try another analogy.

Imagine a baseball team- each player has a specific role to play on the team. They "specialize," if you will. One may catch, one play infield, one outfield, one pitch, one coach. But there is even finer specialization- An outfielder may play left, center or right field. An infielder may play short stop, second, third or first base. A pitcher may be a starting pitcher, long reliever, set-up man, closer, left-handed reliever, etc. There are first base coaches, pitching coaches, batting coaches, et al.

No one person does it all. To get the job done and win the game, they work together as a team. Each person plays their specific role in which they are specifically trained.

Now place a superstar on that team. Imagine them coming to spring training camp the first day and expecting to do it all. And it doesn't take much imagination to see the manager promptly kicking them off the team! It is simply impossible.

While the baseball analogy is easy to see, we still sometimes miss the concept in the church. True, the manager/leader leads all of the players on the team, but he ultimately gives them their job, steps back and lets THEM do it. You never see the baseball manager on the field pitching, fielding or hitting for his players.

I've had employees who worked with me. I hired employees who knew their job and after training, I trusted them to do their job. Some of them are trained very specifically and often in areas I knew little about. I did not do their job- I had my own work to do. I coached and managed- sometimes even getting in there to work specifically with them for a time, but ultimately, it was their work to do.

When each employee did their job and I did my job, a team developed. I didn't own that team (the owner does. Hmm, who might that be?), I was merely a manager of that team.

Apostolic leadership develops a team, by getting the right people in the right jobs (based on how they are gifted and trained) then manages alongside of his team. He is not above his team, he is alongside them.

I am reminded of Jesus and how he worked with his disciples. Certainly he was the leader, but he actually washed their feet to prove this point. Often he sent them off on their own to do their work. In fact, he ultimately placed his entire mission in their hands and left them to do it on their own.

Well, not really on their own . . .