Yesterday, the staff spent some time affirming fellow staff members during our weekly meeting. This was a really cool time to see God work. We went around the circle and took turns telling our coworkers how they have positively influenced our work environment. After we went around the circle, we prayed for that person. It was really powerful.
It was very interesting that it was one of the first times that I had ever seen this done, and I have been in ministry for close to 15 years. That’s sad. How is that possible?
It’s true though. How often do we in ministry affirm our fellow coworkers? I know that I don’t take the appropriate time to do so. We get so bogged down with the daily grind of “doing work” for God that we often forget that we are working together to accomplish the same goal.
No matter what our job is on staff whether it’s a worship leader, senior pastor, children’s ministry director, finance ministry, etc., we’re all working together to accomplish the same goals. But we often get so distracted with what we’re doing in our own ministry that we forget that nothing gets done without the “team” effort.
Where would I be as the contemporary worship leader without the finance ministry? How about the children’s ministry or the traditional music director? Do I just tuck myself away in my closet sized office and hibernate?
Here’s the question that we have to ask ourselves: other than our job titles, what role do we play on the team? Comic relief? A shoulder to cry on? A good ear? That not only goes for ministry workplaces but also in the secular work place. What role do you play? Are you the “sports guy?” are you the person that people can talk to when times are tough? Are you the voice of reason in a hectic situation? No matter what role you play, it’s an important one.
“The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.” 1 Corinthians 12: 12-26
