I was recently sharing with the team that is putting together Thriving Churches International about the importance of teams. While I was sharing, I used an illustration that seemed to impact several team members, so I'm going to share it here as well.
The basic point of my illustration was that teams need to have a common goal, unity of spirit, and healthy relationships. But even if all that works, there is still (especially in ministry) a HUGE God-factor that is responsible for any measure of success we ever experience. So when you get to be part of a team that experiences the movement of God in powerful ways...don't ever take that for granted; celebrate His goodness and the amazing privilege it is to serve Him.
My prime example? The Apollo space teams which got to participate in a moon landing as the ultimate fulfillment that came from the promise of a President several years earlier. Think about the joy of the Apollo team. Now think about the Challenger space team. Imagine the years of hard work, the effective team principles they lived with. Now think about their pain and loss as they, and the nation, experienced tragedy together. Was the Challenger team less committed? NO WAY! I'm betting the Challenger team was made up of hundreds (thousands?) of dedicated people all pulling for a glorious launch. And yet that team had to confront pain, loss, difficulty, defeat, and probably despair.
The lesson for all of us? There is an amazing God factor whenever we do work (alone or in teams) in His kingdom. We pray for Him to use us and our teams. But whenever we do get to experience the joys of ministry that works and seems miraculous...let's not forget that HE is the source of any success and impact we have...and let's remember to celebrate the miracle that He inhabits.
