Building Unconventional Teams

Putting together small teams that will be effective in specialized mission assignments requires prayer and also sometimes unconventional methods.

I am thinking about the types of situations where we send out small teams of 2-3 people to do evangelism, gather groups to give gospel presentations, scout out an area, or build key community relationships.  We usually keep these groups small for a variety of reasons such as being able to complete more objectives with a larger number of smaller teams, or so that the teams can be nimble in their movements and ministry decisions.  

This type of mission operation might last anywhere from three days up to three weeks.  We typically consider building these teams by joining those who want to work together, or those who are similar in personality or seem to have some common connections.  Sometimes this works very well.  But sometimes there is more to be gained when we take the opposite approach.  

Uncommon Teams 

What if we built the teams using people’s differences instead?  Here are seven differences I consider in team selection.

1. Age range and gender mix.  This can have a clear advantage in engaging a broader range of people.  Clustering the age range of the team or having all male or female really limits opportunities.  The team can end up wasting a lot of time looking for people that look like them.

2. Relationship initiator.  Every team needs one of these people to turn opportunities into quality conversations with ease.  Otherwise the team’s report at the end of the day tends to be filled with wishful thinking about what might have been.  And that is just sad for everyone.

3. Culture mix.  Assuming that the mission work is cross-cultural and among some unreached segment of the world’s population, having mixed-culture teams can be advantageous.  There is broader appeal most of the time, and even the novelty can work for them.

4. Experienced and inexperienced.  Experienced people by themselves can end up doing the mission they way they always have done it.  Inexperienced people by themselves can end up making unnecessary mistakes for too long.  But, together they can be a great combination!

5. Differing backgrounds and personalities.  Mismatched personalities can be a good thing.  Sometimes they turn out to be more complementary than initially expected.  People with widely differing backgrounds will take advantage of widely differing situations.  And then once engaged, the differing approaches can open up new territory. 

6. Christian maturity levels.  New Christians need to be on the mission field early on in their walk with Christ.  They will learn from the more mature Christian, while the mature Christian will re-learn the lessons he or she will be teaching and modeling.  This dynamic is enjoyable and it puts even more joy into the mission for all to see!

7. Theological differences.  Put together Calvinist with Arminian, Charismatic with non-Charismatic, Dispensationalist with non-Dispensationalist, Fundamentalist with Evangelical, and even church traditionalist with a radical.  They find out the value of focusing more on the Gospel itself and less on promoting their particular viewpoints.

Uncommon Results

Such differences on teams can bring discomfort and sometimes a painful amount.  Yet I have found that this frequently works to the teams’ benefit and their results.  It might seem that they will be consumed by working on their differences, but these teams quickly discover that they have to be driven by their objectives and focus their energy.  Working together all day every day these teams actually get more done.

Each team member gets to see and experience, and hopefully learn and appreciate, the glorious diversity in the Body of Christ.  Everyone has to seek to understand their brother or sister in Christ and seek to be understood.  Different people observe differently and provide complementary perspectives in doing the Mission.  This approach assists in the discipleship of disciples as they go out together to make more disciples. 

Get to know the people with whom you will be working.  Ask the Lord who will work well together.  Prepare yourself to see new, even unusual, team possibilities.  Try them and give them a few days to work through their struggles before making any switches.  Watch and be amazed at what the Lord will do with these unconventional teams!

Stop Trying To Be Jesus To People

It started with the cool and the cute WWJD bracelets.

A Poor Question:  What Would Jesus Do? (WWJD)

How valuable are quaint Christian sayings like, “WWJD?”  This particular saying has been criticized from many angles, yet it is still utilized constantly as we implore one another to imitate Christ our Lord.

Surely, they have some merit, and move many to good works.  But is that good enough?  Our purpose in this world goes far beyond gaining public acceptance and like-ability as Christians, building a church reputation or hoping non-Christians see Christians as nicer and better people and want to become one. 

Asking “what would Jesus do?” is such an offensive question.  It is far too personal, too unanswerable, too myopic, and too pretentious all at the same time.  We are not Jesus, and we simply do not know the answer, especially in regards to other people, let alone ourselves truly and deeply.  It is simplistic moralism.  In fact, that is its background.  The idea for the question came from the book “In His Steps” by C. Sheldon.  This book promotes a moral vision in line with a liberal Christianity.

Some have heard the criticism and switched their language.  Instead we hear that we are “to be like Jesus” or “to be His hands, feet, etc.”  Same difference.  Same limitations.    Yet, the worship songs keep rolling out.

Such brief moral musings actually limit our Christian vision and smudge the glory of God.  What if we stopped trying to be Jesus or some lesser incarnation and just let Jesus be Jesus?  And what if we asked instead, “what would Jesus have us do?”  Let’s return to basic Christianity.

A Better Question:  What Is Jesus Doing? (WIJD)

Most certainly we should really start with considering what Jesus has done in His Incarnation (becoming man), His life (revealing God’s truth) and especially on the Cross (redemption from sin).  Even before that there was His eternal glorious existence as the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, and then taking part in the creation of the world.

In fact the opening of the Book of Hebrews does exactly this in 1:1-4 (Jesus Christ In Eight Wonders), but then proceeds to recount the heavenly coronation liturgy given for the Holy Son of God in verses 5-14, extensively.  Did you know that this is what it is?!

Hebrews 1:5–14 ESV “For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”?  Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?”

So, perhaps our focus should be on what Jesus is doing now, in light of what He has done, and of course looking ahead to what He will be doing.  

What about the here and now?  An often overlooked doctrine of great importance is that of Christ Jesus’ ascension (going into heaven), coronation (being crowned as king), and session (reigning as king), after His resurrection and before His yet future return.

Ephesians 1:20–23 ESV “that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ is actively and sovereignly ruling over all the affairs of this world to advance His own glory and to honor and bless His Church.  In other words, He is not just some historical moral religious teacher or exemplary Lord, but the director of all things from His heavenly throne.  That’s awesome!

The WWJD thing hinders us in doing missions because the focus is on ourselves, our morals, our reputation and mundane concerns of this life.   The WIJD concept advances us in His Mission because we now see it, and it is huge!  

Our morality will take care of itself, through the power of the Holy Spirit working His will in us, of course.  But, with the WIJD vision we can lift up our heads and work on larger things because we see the larger glory of God!

So ask yourself and others often, “What is Jesus Doing?”  Wonder aloud together.  Worship, praise and pray.  Rejoice and move forward.

Top Ten Values For My Boys

I recently returned from a four day trip to the Sierra Nevada.  This was a planned manhood experience for my boys, 12 and 13 years old.  We spent quality time together, did tough things together, and had the types of conversations and fun men can only have when women are not around.  

Our Definition

I presented to them a framed copy of our definition of manhood and the top ten values that will get us there and keep us growing as men for a lifetime.  Theirs now hang in their bedrooms and mine in my office.  Our definition of being a man is a definition of action:  

“A man takes responsibility for those around him, and courageously leads them toward a better future, with God’s truth and in His love, all for the glory of Jesus Christ.”

Each of us has memorized this definition, and we even quiz one another to keep it fresh in our minds.

Our Top Ten Values

We have been discussing this definition and the following ten values for a few months.  Certainly there are many more values, but ten is a good number, and from these we are able to touch on many other associated values and issues.

1.  Spiritual Wisdom


Romans 8:5b–6 “Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”

2.  Loyalty


Hosea 6:6 “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”

3.  Integrity


Proverbs 10:9 “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.”

4.  Generosity


Proverbs 19:6 “Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.”

5.  Purity


1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

6.  Perseverance


Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

7.  Self-Discipline


1 Timothy 4:7b–8 “Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

8.  Honor


1 Peter 2:17 “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”

9.  Humility


Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

10.  Sacrificial Leadership


Matthew 20:26b–27 “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Discipleship is Our Work

One of the best lessons I have learned from other men about raising sons is that we as fathers need to commit ourselves both to times of teaching and to living life together.  Neither is sufficient in itself, and both require intentionality.

We can’t just rely on our occasional instruction, or the instruction our sons may get from pastors and teachers, even mothers and others.  Fathers need to do it themselves.  We can’t just rely on our sons observing our lives and hoping they make the right conclusions by themselves.  Fathers need to guide their understanding.

Our discussions take place over breakfast on Fridays.  These are not intense scary times, but intentional honest times, and usually kept brief.  These days we use three simple questions:  

• What is the value and why is it important?  
• How does it help in navigating life for success before God and in the world?  
• What might it look like for us?  


Then, we share stories of examples we have witnessed or experienced, both positive and negative.  That’s it.  Done.  We can encourage and challenge one another from the definition and the values list during the week.

An Enormous Mission Force

When a definition of manhood and a top ten values list is set within the larger context of God’s Mission then they become even more powerful in the lives of men and boys.

It is a huge mistake to think that the goal in all of this is to raise sons with Christian character who love Jesus and will love their families someday.  This is good but far from good enough.  That goal is too quaint, too small, too simple, and just plain short-sighted.  

Many Christian parents believe that raising good moral children who can quote Bible verses will result in great Christian leaders.  However, it is naive to think that a strong personal vision for life and community, and strategic involvement for the Kingdom of God will automatically emerge.  

Many stop at character, but boys need more.  They need a grand vision, a cause with clarity to live and die for!  This would be Christ’s Mission for the world.  They need a leader to follow who will take them places and give them experiences.  They need a man to affirm God’s calling on their lives and their unique gifting from Him.  They need godly mission-minded men to lead them into purpose-filled manhood.  And they need God’s grace to see God’s glory, for which we pray constantly.

The church should take a close look at the mission field and realize that one of the greatest needs is for more, many more, godly but also successful and effective men who are the type of men who can get the mission done!  

How might we raise up an enormous mission force even from our boys?  How might we lead them forward on the path from boyhood to manhood with a mission?


(The ideas of creating a manhood definition and a list of values come from Robert Lewis’ book, “Raising a Modern Day Knight.”)

First Trips Are Forever

A person’s first cross cultural mission trip will impact them for the rest of their lives.  

A First Views of Things

It often begins with the senses.  Sounds of a language they don’t understand.  Tastes of food that can’t be identified.  Seeing people who look and move differently than they do.  Smells ranging from different flowers to different sanitation standards.  And the feel of a foreign bed, as well as the feeling of being the foreigner.  These first experiences are not easily forgotten.

After a few days many will have experienced an expression of Christianity within a different culture.  Some of it they find refreshing, and some of it they question.  They will have likely seen poverty and societal needs as never before.  Possibly they will have seen a vibrant church like never before.  Most become eager learners asking very good and deep questions about culture, Christianity and how to move the Gospel forward more effectively.

Then come the relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ.  These become immediately satisfying by the power of the Holy Spirit.  People begin to exchange the most meaningful stories of their lives with one another.  They will serve together, evangelize together, pray together, even get harassed or persecuted together.  It is a friendship bond that for many forms quickly and lasts for years.

Returning home is difficult for everyone, foreigner and national alike, for every person who has been enriched by new relationships.  Hearts have been changed, enlarged and strengthened by God to reflect His own.  The blessings are cherished deeply and so it is that these first trips are forever. 

Remembering My First View

For me that trip was to Burma many years ago.  I’ll never forget it--the sights of pagodas and monks everywhere, the sounds of propaganda blasting from horns, and the smells of incense and garbage mixed.  By contrast, I’ll never forget the sights of Christians so happy you could see it on their faces all day long, the sounds of passionate worship and prayer, and the aroma of hospitality from the kitchens at our meeting houses.  

Stories have been shared and lives have been changed because of the people, the teams and the amazing eye-opening ministry that God gave us to do!  Like everyone’s first trip it holds a special place in my heart.  

Second and Subsequent Trips

Hopefully the first trip is not the last trip, but just a beginning.  Second and third trips can be hard because we will automatically compare and contrast it with the first trip.  Expectations are running high and disappointment and discouragement come easily.  We must prepare ourselves for this confusion and guard our hearts from unfair judgments.

Each mission trip is unique, even if it is in the same location.  For certainly the people and the situation, perhaps even needs and goals, have changed.  You yourself are different, even somewhat experienced.  Maybe you will be doing different types of ministry.  God has put together a new experience for everyone, to accomplish His glorious purposes in and through all His people who will magnify Jesus Christ as Lord!

First Trips Lead to Forever

First trip experiences can’t be repeated, but their outcome can last forever.  This is what happens when people work together with the Gospel.  Everyone can be changed personally and can grow in knowledge and effectiveness.  Christians become more powerful in prayer, joyful in giving, bold in living, committed to teamwork and humbled by the glory of God.

We all desire our churches to be filled with Christian disciples who live their lives intentionally for the advance of the Kingdom of God.  First trips are the first steps to future mission champions and mobilizers in our churches and more and more missionaries.

If first time mission trips are led well and valuable ministry is accomplished, then results of Kingdom significance will be realized.  They will be realized in all the people, churches, ministries and partnerships involved together for years and maybe even lifetimes to come.  Though it is small at first, something great may have just begun!

Why I Love Hate Mail

I started getting hate mail as soon as I entered the ministry.  

At first it concerned me a lot because I desired to keep good relationships with everyone.  After a few years I realized that not only was it not possible to please everyone, but that some opposition would always be there.

What To Do With The Letters

I didn’t know what most people did with nasty letters, so early on in ministry I decided to keep them all in a file rather than throw them away.  This way I could review them, and pray through them so that the criticism would not demoralize me.

Surely there was some truth in some of the letters that I needed to hear (although this wasn’t the ideal way to hear it).  But, to say there was some truth in all of the letters, though it sounds spiritual, would not be true.  A large number of them were worthless in content and clearly written with evil intentions.  

What To Do With The Authors

Some are mild; some are severe; and they all sting.  Replying in writing is almost never the right response.  Pursuing the relationship to clear up misunderstandings is the right course of action, if it is possible.  Sometimes it works.

Romans 12:17–18 ESV “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

It is a cowardly act by those who write vitriolic letters instead of just getting together in person to talk, listen and seek understanding with self-control.  But, it is not helpful to think too much on this, because there is often little that can be done with such types of people. 

What To Do With Yourself

Opposition and suffering are part of the calling.  Hate mail is a good reminder of this. Have a plan to deal with your hate mail so it doesn’t destroy you, make you bitter or handicap with your work for the Kingdom.  Figure out how to take advantage of these opportunities given to you.

By God’s grace through much prayer, we will come to understand our weaknesses more fully, and as a result grow into a better Christian and servant of the Gospel and the Church.  

More importantly, we will be amazed at how God strengthens us in each situation to keep pressing ahead; and how all the while He is making us even more useful for His future purposes.  

Eventually Throw Them Away

I held on to the letters for a number of years for three reasons:

• To pray for those controlled by anger and refusing healthy godly relationships;
• To remind myself how many people are full of fear and taken advantage of by the evil one to oppose to the Mission of God; and
• For sheer amusement in re-reading the ludicrous things people will put on paper!  

This is why I truly love hate mail!

Recently I threw away the file.  It served its purpose.  Now, I can read these types of letters more quickly, analyze them more easily, pray more clearly and laugh more appropriately. . . . And just for the record, I have received far more letters of encouragement over the years than criticism. 

What Does The Rest Of The Church Do?

I enjoy reading help wanted ads for pastors because so many of them are unrealistic. 

What this Pastor Will Do

Much space is devoted initially to describing the pastor being a mature man of God, spiritually qualified according to Scripture to lead the church.  Then comes forth the list of everything this pastor is required to do.  He is to preach and teach, of course.  But, he must be notably skilled, excellent, relevant and compelling . . . and presumably every Sunday.  

He is to visit those in need, provide counseling, encourage, reprove, rebuke and exhort as needed.  He must lead the board and the staff.  He has to have a proven history of successful leadership at other churches, being a strong leader and a constant builder of new leaders.  He also needs to develop local and global outreach ministries.  

Then comes the list of yet other things they would really like him to do in addition.  He himself must do local evangelism and cross-cultural work.  Not only that, he himself must see people come to Christ.  Like so many job descriptions, the pastor is supposed to do almost everything and be almost perfect.  

Oh yes, while he is doing all of this, he is also to be continuing his formal education, and maintaining an exemplary life of prayer and meditation.  Nothing is mentioned about his family, but assuming he has one, assuredly it would have to be just as great as all the above.

What this Church Will Do

As a pastor reading all of this, my first thought was, “so, what does the rest of the church do?”  Is there anything left of significance.  Perhaps they watch the pastor do it all, encourage and pray for him, even set up committees to keep track of his progress and make sure he does it all.

In this particular position description the congregation is “to grow in grace and knowledge.”  That’s it!  And they seem to be really energized by its possibilities.  Somehow they envision a large expansive ministry resulting from the pastor doing everything and they themselves doing very little.

They say they want to be a real church and not just a place to attend church, but it doesn’t ring true.  This appears to be confirmed by a brief visit to their website.  A moderately sized church but with very little ministry in proportion.

If everyone worked together on all those great things listed above for the pastor to do the church might grow and accomplish even greater things. 

Equipping Everyone to Work Together

I know that I am not being fair to this particular church.  And I know that it is job description for the pastor and not the church.  However, it illustrates what is often a reality--unreasonably high expectations of pastors and unreasonably low expectations of church members--which often leads to a lot disappointment and failure.

Might it be possible to write a position description for a pastor that expresses vision, and one that values leadership and teamwork in the mission?  Notice in this passage how everyone is equipped and then works together to make it happen.

Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

How is your church?  How do the church members view and value leadership?  How do the leaders themselves understand their role?  Does everyone see the whole church as a team working together on the mission?  

Godspeed on the pastoral search!