The task of leading children of all ages to Christ is enormous and requires a large group of people with a variety of gifts and strengths. But where are you going to find those people and how are you going to get them to make the journey with you?
Bill Hybels from Willow Creek in Chicago once said, “The first rule of building a team is affinity.” I was new to ministry, sitting in an audience of thousands when I wrote this down in my notes and I wasn’t even sure what it meant. But over the years, I’ve come to bank on this statement. When building a core team, always think affinity first!
AFFINITY FIRST!
Affinity is defined as having a feeling of identification with; a likeness based upon connection; a kinship; a similarity.
Imagine ministry as a 3,342.4 mile car ride from California to Maine in a Honda Fit. You know where you’re going and you know your mode of transportation is trustworthy although a bit lacking in comfort. You’re inviting companions to join the adventure and travel with you; companions to keep you awake, take turns driving, and help decide where to eat, where to sleep and when to stop for gas. Hopefully you won’t encounter car trouble, but if you do, your companions will help with decision-making and extend the boundaries of your personal resources. You’re pretty sure that along the way you’ll encounter the expected, the extraordinary, the bizarre and the mundane. It’s the shared experience inside that car that will give you camaraderie, create memories, provide entertainment and keep you moving forward in the right direction. From time-to-time constraints of space, finances or other needs may cause frustration, but they will push you toward collective creativity, teamwork and opportunities to extend grace.
So who should be your travel companions? Who do you know right now in your circle of friends and acquaintances with whom you share a kinship in ministry? Who would be enjoyable on an extended journey? Who would bring fun to the adventure, help make good decisions, offer added resources, and endure the restrictions while keeping you on course? Who knows your heart, believes in you, is faithful in times of adversity and will speak truth and bring wisdom?
MAKE A LIST RIGHT NOW!
Make a list right now. These are the people you should be inviting in to be a part of your core team. They are the people with whom you share affinity. They are the ones you’ll look forward to seeing at meetings, the ones who will be resourceful with you and share in the experiences of the journey. They will keep you from feeling alone and help you stay on track as you move forward. In time, they are the ones who will own ministry with you, share in your failures and be there to celebrate the successes.
HAND-SELECT THEM
PRAY ABOUT THEM
INVITE THEM IN PERSONALLY
Don’t let anyone else decide who these members should be or invite them in for you. Hand-select them. Pray about them. And then meet them individually to discuss the opportunity. Most of your waking/working hours will be in close proximity to these people. They are the ones who will receive most of your text messages, read your emails, answer your phone calls, attend conferences with you and gather ideas. For heaven’s sake, be sure you like them; feel connected to them and share a kindred spirit with them. That’s affinity.
When I was a new mom I found myself dreading the return to work because I didn’t feel great about my childcare situation. It seemed like a good plan before our second child was born, but after meeting him and seeing the new dynamic in our family, it didn’t quite fit. A friend suggested that I think about the best person I knew who would be great at watching my children and begin praying about them specifically. Immediately a name popped into my mind, but this mom was super busy in ministry and homeschooling. After days of praying, I decided to go ahead and ask her if she would be willing and available to watch my kids. She was thrilled! She and her husband were feeling some added financial pressures and we were going to be the answer to their prayers and allow her to stay home. She cut back on other obligations to meet our needs and we had a sweet deal for a long season.
You never know how God is working in a life until you ask. You will find some people primed and ready, others surprised that God could use them, and some, just not interested. Leave the outcome to God, but do your part and look for those who would be perfect, pray about them and then ask.
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