1. As a group come up with a mission statement for your team. If I had a team, our mission statement would reflect an outward focus. Something about reflecting God’s glory upon others in such a way that they wish to get up and join. Not sit and consume. But reproduce through their gifts and talents … Something about making passion contagious.
2. As a group write down your team’s code of ethics or marks of professionalism. You might want to write at the top of a flip chart, “This is the way we do things on the (insert name) team” and pool ideas from the whole team. If I had a team, punctuality would be important. Rehearsals and meetings would be mandatory. And we would have to have an outward ministry together as well as an inside one. Something that brought us together so we could learn to trust and rely on each. An annual mission trip. And no interruptions or outside business except at times set aside at the beginning and end. No phones or other such gadgets. Everything turned off.
3. Can you think of something your team has done recently that would be an example of coming together to do what no one of you could do alone? The perfect example is the bell choir. There are few who can play many bells. There are some who can play several. There are many that can handle a couple. We can know the song well, but if we are not directed, we become lost. We look to our director for the language of the notes. I rely on the person to my left for unusual rhythms. I rely on the person to my right for page turns. When we are all together, we play glorious music to God that fills and uplifts us.
4. Do you feel, as a team, that you encourage each other enough? I think we put ourselves down a lot. We lift others up by demeaning ourselves. There is a lot of sarcasm and jokes. Even encouragement comes across as a joke. Is this what society has become? Can we be honestly sincere? Do we know how to be close? Do we know how to appropriately read people? If I’m not getting something, and I’m apologetic, and I need more time, I get a “you’ll get it,” Which doesn’t instill much confidence. Is that their confidence in me?
5. How do you best receive encouragement? (For example, verbally or written, how often, etc.) I’ve been stumbling around this question for a year maybe. How does one affirm someone, who doesn’t take praise well? Especially when that person’s love language is affirmation. I see the same problem with encouragement. I desperately need encouragement. And I receive it. But I don’t seem to accept it. I’m too hard on myself. I think I need encouragement daily at this point in my life. I would probably accept it better written, but I probably need more practice with human interaction.
6. Why is it difficult for most people to bring a healthy self to the team? Well, gosh, isn’t hard to bring a healthy self to your family? How about yourself? If you cannot bring a healthy self to those you love, how can you possibly bring a healthy self to your team, those you love a little less? I think a lot of times, being a part of that team, is what sets you over the edge of healthy. That’s the one thing you add to your already busy and hectic schedule out of obligation and commitment. Taking the time is stressful, even though the reward is soothing and/or joyful. Because you aren’t paid for it, perhaps you don’t put as much into it. Or it’s your opportunity to just get by?
7. How can we keep each other accountable about being healthy physically, spiritually, and emotionally? We can be more than just a team. We can be a family. We can do more things together to take care of our health. We can be more than a team for an hour once a week.
8. Besides their artistic abilities, what other gifts do your fellow members bring to the team? There are people who bring laughter, empathy, prayer to the team. I don’t think we know each other well enough. I know myself, but I don’t always know how to use my other gifts together. Some get seen, others don’t. Sometimes I just keep quiet rather than risk being too stubborn or talkative or saying something that could be construed wrong.
9. It has been said that fellowship, or community, is the art of knowing and being known. Are you better at one than the other, or are you pretty good at both? I’m obviously horrible at something. I think I’m pretty good at the art of knowing, but I don’t put it to use much. I’m probably good at being known, although I don’t feel like it. I feel pretty invisible, which is probably where I belong.
10. How can your team become even more effective in ministry this next year? I think I need to choose a team to sink myself into. I kind of float between teams and it’s not working. But I don’t really feel like I’m part of a team other than bells. I feel alone. And multiple people have been put in charge of multiple things, but they don’t utilize their assets … Some people are allowed to do much. Others aren’t. And talents aren’t being utilized. Some people always do the same thing, but it’s not really their gift … Other’s who are greatly gifted in a certain area, seem to be sidelined. It’s almost as if they want consumers. They talk big, but no follow through.
What then brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
1 Corinthians 14:26 (ESV)
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