Like the Core Values enable individuals to personally further the mission of the church, Ministry Values facilitate ministry success. They are important, but a little more subjective than Core Values. Their purpose is to aid in ministry effectiveness and promote teamwork. The Ministry Values are a tool designed largely for staff and leadership.
Never violate the core values
Our core values are foundational to who we are. Be intentional about the core. Weave them into your life and ministry. Look for evidence of the values lived out in your life and ministry.
Fight for focus
Distraction is a top enemy of effective ministry. Fight against it. Do everything within your power to achieve and maintain a precision laser focus. Your focus must always support the mission of the church.
Invest in apprenticeship
Jesus modeled apprenticeship with the 12 disciples. Follow His lead. Develop others to lead. Teach others the art of apprenticing. Work yourself out of a job. Create vacuums that new leaders can grow into.
Think people and process, not programs
Programs tend to be event-focused and rarely contribute to life transformation. Take people on a journey. Engage them in a life-changing process. Remember
Take calculated, faith-filled risks
Fear of failure should never be a barrier or determining factor in a leader’s life. Taking risks and living a life of faith go hand-in-hand. Seek God, create your best plan, calculate the costs, make your best decision, believe, and step out. And if you do fail, realize that there is usually significant growth and benefit in dealing with and cleaning up a failure. Failure is often the bridge to success.
Press for progress
Leaders move the ball down the field. They don’t make excuses. They get the job done…one day at a time. Take risks, be decisive, but whatever you do, move the ball down the field.
Write it down and create visual aids that clearly and accurately describe the ministry and its functioning.
Create sustainable structures and systems
Keep it simple. Complicated structures and systems slow down progress. Complicated is not the same as wise or excellent. Make your ministry easy to communicate and fluid enough that you could redesign it in 48 hours if needed. Design what you do in such a way that a first timer sitting in the back row would get it.
Think ahead
Creativity can’t always be scheduled – but we cannot blame poor planning on lack of creative time or what others have not accomplished. Pray, Dream, Plan, Anticipate – Think Ahead.
Guard your words, actions and attitudes
Be loyal to the call of God and the mission and leadership of the church. Your success can be measured in the attitudes of those you lead or who serve under you. Remember your words, actions and attitudes reflect not only on you but also on the organization, leaders you serve, and ultimately on Christ.
Make it fun
Ministry isn’t easy and is guaranteed to present significant challenges and hard times. Your attitude, however, can and will make a difference. Choose joy. Smile. Bring laughter and a light heart to the mix. Live life in such a way that others want to be around you. Look for ways to make it fun for you and others.