Stop the Bottleneck: A Response

Do you ever feel like the phrase “jack of all trades and master of none” describes you? That is what came to mind when I read this week’s articles by Kurt & Josh and it reminded me of how I felt when I first got started in youth ministry. Feeling the need to be good at everything and be all things to all people became very tiring and in all honesty as I look back: foolish. Who was I trying to kid? I couldn’t be good at everything and not have weaknesses…there is only one Jesus and you or I are not Him!

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This was a great reminder that the team approach to ministry is what always will be more effective than doing ministry alone. As was stated this week we cannot be good at everything and we need to find others around us that when put together will make us better. Understanding the Spiritual SHAPE (Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experience) that each person on our team has is essential in making an effective team.

There are many tools or resources that can help with identifying these with you and your adult team. SHAPE is one from Simply Youth Ministry that I have used along with LeaderTreks assessment tools that help to get you pointed in the right direction. Strengths-Finder is another one that identifies people’s strengths and then encourages you to put them in situations where they will thrive in their strength area. Too often these tools or assessments have been used to identify strengths but also weakness areas and instead of pursuing our strengths we look at how we can improve our weaknesses, which is exactly the last thing we need to do.

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So how has God wired you? Do you know what your SHAPE is? Who is it that you need to invite to be part of your team? It is extremely helpful to know how God has wired you and your team. What are the things that you love to do and what are the tasks or activities that just totally drain you? Is it that Annual Report that you always procrastinate to get done? Start making those lists and maybe pick up some resources that can help you understand who you are and your team. Then take the time to train and equip leaders around you that have the strengths needed and put you and your team members in their “sweet spot” of ministry. The payoff will be watching how God uses each person to build His Kingdom!