Teams that work – pt 3. Are we accomplishing our goals?

Equipping, Team
Let's score some goals! A team must know why it exists and where it is going. When a football team takes to the pitch there is no doubt in any of the players' minds why they are together and what their intention is - to get the ball into the goal more times than the opposition! In the last blog we saw, under the heading of Mission, the importance of a team knowing where they are going. But teams can take different forms. For example, two teams I have been involved in are 1) the Management Team for Together on a Mission, the annual leadership conference of Newfrontiers (the final one was held in July this year), and 2) the trustees of Church of Christ the King, the church of…
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Teams that work – pt 2. What is it for?

Equipping, Newfrontiers, Team
As we continue to consider some of the features of working as a team we must start by knowing what we are aiming to achieve. The word ‘Mission' sounds very biblical but it is also widely used in the secular world, often quite loosely. ‘Mission statement' is another term widely used in the corporate world. ‘Vision' is sometimes used almost interchangeably with ‘mission' as, occasionally, is ‘purpose'. So rather than trying to get into the minutiae of semantics let's agree that I have used the word here because it fits my mnemonic of TEAM rather than because I am going to define it tightly! Know where you're going... Mission implies that we know where we are going, that the end point or direction is defined. Jesus' ‘Great Commission' (Matt 28:19,…
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Teams that work – pt 1. Team in the Bible?

Equipping, Team
Recently I was in India and was asked to speak on the subject of Teams in ministry. I have never done this before and am aware that much has been written about teams by others. I was not sure that I could add anything. Nevertheless, as we prepare to close the Newfrontiers office in Hove at the end of this year as part of the re-definition of Newfrontiers for the new season, and the team that has worked here for many years will be disbanded, I realised that there probably are some things I have learned from which others could benefit. So here goes! Team in the Bible The word 'Team' is not overtly a Biblical word in the way we would tend to use it. It is used only…
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Helping foreigners and strangers – pt 3

Asylum seekers, Equipping, Poor
Having been introduced to the ministry in practice, and having discussed some of the elements related to care and support, the team from Boaz Trust now share some of the lessons learned over the 7 years since the ministry began. Lessons As a charity pioneering a completely new work, we have had many lessons to learn: We have had to reinforce the initial aims of Boaz with measured procedural planning which must facilitate rather than replace a flexible compassionate response to emergencies. We must stay focused. Our chief aim is to accommodate those who are without accommodation or means of support. Whilst many other needy people come to Boaz for help, they must not take priority over our long waiting list of truly destitute people. Volunteers, as well as clients,…
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