Ministry GPS

 

Ministry GPS

When a family gets into a car and prepares to take a trip, there are certain things that are in place. First of all, there will be an agreed upon destination. Few families jump into the car and say, “let’s just see where we end up.” They have a plan for where they are going and usually a purpose for going there.

Additionally, there is an agreed upon route. We live in the day of GPSs, Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze. When you put a destination into your chosen device, it will give route options. Some of these routes are quicker, some are shorter, some eliminate traffic disruptions, but you have to choose a route.

Once your journey has commenced, there are regular check-ins with the route. Sometimes, your device will tell you that there is a faster route. It will tell you how to avoid traffic jams, police officers, and road closures. As you travel, you will frequently check the route to make sure you are on the best route to reach your destination.

Occasionally, you will find that course corrections are necessary. Maybe there has been a traffic accident, maybe weather has forced a road closure, maybe you took a wrong turn or missed a turn, but course corrections have to happen. If we fail to make course corrections, we may not arrive at our destination or we may arrive much later than we had planned.

This reality of travel and devices can serve as a great metaphor for us as it relates to leadership, especially leadership within ministry. In ministry, we rarely travel alone. In fact, our biblical mandate is to develop others for ministry. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:11-12, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (ESV). So how do we accomplish this task?

1.      Have an agreed upon destination. This destination may relate to the overall vision of the church, “this is who we want to be.” It may also relate to a particular ministry within the church, “this is the scope of what we are trying to accomplish.” Either way, if we do not know where we are going, we will not know how to get there or when we have arrived. Establish an agreement as to what the destination is.

2.      Have an agreed upon route. As the old saying goes, “there is more than one way to skin a cat.” However, you cannot skin a cat in two different ways at the same time. Once we have determined our agreed upon destination, we must decide how we are going to get there. Obviously, the route will shift from time to time, but we want to start out with a planned route so that we are of one accord and one mind.

3.      Next, we must have regular check-ins. This can take on several forms. Sometimes, that is us checking ourselves to make sure that we are still on course and have not become distracted or unintentionally rerouted. Another form this may take is the form of accountability. We have agreed on a destination, we have agreed on a route, and I have released you to accomplish the task. However, there needs to be regular check-ins to make sure you are still on track, that you have not met roadblocks, and for me to see what I can do for you in the process. As has been said, “delegation without examination is merely relegation.” Don’t relegate, delegate.

4.      Finally, there will be needed course corrections. Sometimes these course corrections are a result of getting off course and sometimes the result of the course needing to change. Either way, an important part of the aforementioned check-ins is the willingness to make correction. Having to correct others is never fun. However, it can be done in love and with the mission in mind. The discomfort of having to make corrections must be weighed against the cost of not reaching our destination.

Ministry and leadership are complex. No single plan or method will work all the time. However, having some framework to apply is helpful. So, the next time you sit down with an individual or group, as the leader, think in terms of the GPS. Where are we going? How will we get there? How often will check-ins happen and in what way? And, if necessary, how will course corrections be made?