How churches can use

Jan Adventure.indd 11 16/12/12 8:56:28 PM

1. Try this with your team to get them talking about how they work together. It’s not as easy as it sounds!• Askyourteamtolineupintwogroupsfacingeach

other,andpointthefirstfingerofeachhandoutinfrontofthem.

• Placealongpieceofbambooontopoftheirout-stretchedfingerssothatitisbalancedalongthetopofeachperson’sfingersinastraightline.

• Asktheteamtolowerthesticktothegroundwith-outholdingontoitinanyway,orlosingcontactwithitwiththeirfingers.

• Makesurethestickstaysbalancedoneachperson’sfingersatalltimes.Ifanyonestopstouchingthestick,theteammuststartagain.

2. Discuss the following:• Whatwasdifficultaboutthechallenge?• Howdidyourespondinthebeginning?• Howwelldidyoumanageasagroup?• Whatskillsdidtheteamneedtosucceed?• Whatwereyourstrengthsandweaknesses?

3. Here are some key signs to help you know if your team is going well.*• Youhaveavarietyofskills,personalitytypes,

gifts,etc.• Thereiscreativityflowing.• Peoplehaveenthusiasmforthetask.• Peoplehaveclearvision.• Mistakesviewedasopportunitiesforgrowth.• Problemsarefacedtogether.Aproblemisseenas

achallengeforthewholeteam,notthefaultofanindividual.

• Goodrelationshipsexistoutsideteam.• Peoplehaveopencommunication.• Peoplehavefriendshipsatalltimes.• Theteamknowswhentouseoutsidehelp.• Theteamhaveregularreviews.

Discussthesesignswithyourteam.Whichonesmatchyourteam?Whichonescanyouworkon?

4. Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 together and pray.

*TheseideascomefromTeamwork: how to build relationships byGordonandRosemaryJones.Readingtheirbookwillhelpyouthinkaboutwhyteamsaresoimportant,howtobuildaneffectiveteamandwaysoflearning

tocommunicatebetter.

Wehaveacopytogiveawaytothefirstpersonwhoringsupandmentionsthismagazine.Ifyoumissout,it’savailablefromwww.sunz.org.nz for $29.99

3. Train and model

Thinkabouttheskillsthatyourteamwillneedandhowtohelppeoplelearnthem.Usea

mixtureofteaching,modellingandmentoring.Includetrainingasaregularpartofallyourmeetingsandmakethemostoftraining

eventsrunbyothers.

2. relaTeYes,thetaskisimportant.Butitisthedepthoftherelationshipsthatwilladdqualitytothelifeoftheteam,andmodelapositivefaithcommunitytothechildren.Itisveryimportantforpeopletofeelyouconnect

withthemrelationally.

4. TrusTSupportandmentor

people,thentrustthemtohaveagoforthemselves.Butmakesureyougivelotsofappreciationandencouragement,andhelpthemevaluatewhattheyaredoingagainstyouroverallaimsregularly.

These 4 elements are worth doing because having a good team is a vital component of an effective children’s ministry.

Thinkaboutthose12disciplesthatJesusworkedwithandhow,afteranunpromisingstart,theywentontochangetheworld.MayGodblessyouandyourteamasyouworktogether,

andmayheworkthroughyoutochangetheworldofthechildrenwhoyouworkwith.

Hilary Hague Team leader, Children and Families Ministry

I have clear memories of the first time I ever led a team. I planned, I prepared, I produced lots of ideas. I worked very hard.

But after a few months, I realised something – my team had disappeared.

ItookgreatcomfortfrommyBibleasIreadaboutJesusandhisdisciples.Thingsdidn’talwaysgowellforhimwithhisteameither.Ilearntalotfromreadingabouthim,andIcametorealisethatbuildinghealthyteamstakestimeandskill.

These days, there are 4 elements I like to think about as I work with teams:

leadinG a Team

1. PrayThemostimportantthingistorelyon

Godinyourleadership.Prayforyourselfandprayforyourteamregularly.Askthe

HolySpirittohelpyouandthem.

THE FLOATING STICK

Jan Adventure.indd 12 16/12/12 8:56:28 PM

1. Try this with your team to get them talking about how they work together. It’s not as easy as it sounds!• Askyourteamtolineupintwogroupsfacingeach

other,andpointthefirstfingerofeachhandoutinfrontofthem.

• Placealongpieceofbambooontopoftheirout-stretchedfingerssothatitisbalancedalongthetopofeachperson’sfingersinastraightline.

• Asktheteamtolowerthesticktothegroundwith-outholdingontoitinanyway,orlosingcontactwithitwiththeirfingers.

• Makesurethestickstaysbalancedoneachperson’sfingersatalltimes.Ifanyonestopstouchingthestick,theteammuststartagain.

2. Discuss the following:• Whatwasdifficultaboutthechallenge?• Howdidyourespondinthebeginning?• Howwelldidyoumanageasagroup?• Whatskillsdidtheteamneedtosucceed?• Whatwereyourstrengthsandweaknesses?

3. Here are some key signs to help you know if your team is going well.*• Youhaveavarietyofskills,personalitytypes,

gifts,etc.• Thereiscreativityflowing.• Peoplehaveenthusiasmforthetask.• Peoplehaveclearvision.• Mistakesviewedasopportunitiesforgrowth.• Problemsarefacedtogether.Aproblemisseenas

achallengeforthewholeteam,notthefaultofanindividual.

• Goodrelationshipsexistoutsideteam.• Peoplehaveopencommunication.• Peoplehavefriendshipsatalltimes.• Theteamknowswhentouseoutsidehelp.• Theteamhaveregularreviews.

Discussthesesignswithyourteam.Whichonesmatchyourteam?Whichonescanyouworkon?

4. Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 together and pray.

*TheseideascomefromTeamwork: how to build relationships byGordonandRosemaryJones.Readingtheirbookwillhelpyouthinkaboutwhyteamsaresoimportant,howtobuildaneffectiveteamandwaysoflearning

tocommunicatebetter.

Wehaveacopytogiveawaytothefirstpersonwhoringsupandmentionsthismagazine.Ifyoumissout,it’savailablefromwww.sunz.org.nz for $29.99

3. Train and model

Thinkabouttheskillsthatyourteamwillneedandhowtohelppeoplelearnthem.Usea

mixtureofteaching,modellingandmentoring.Includetrainingasaregularpartofallyourmeetingsandmakethemostoftraining

eventsrunbyothers.

2. relaTeYes,thetaskisimportant.Butitisthedepthoftherelationshipsthatwilladdqualitytothelifeoftheteam,andmodelapositivefaithcommunitytothechildren.Itisveryimportantforpeopletofeelyouconnect

withthemrelationally.

4. TrusTSupportandmentor

people,thentrustthemtohaveagoforthemselves.Butmakesureyougivelotsofappreciationandencouragement,andhelpthemevaluatewhattheyaredoingagainstyouroverallaimsregularly.

These 4 elements are worth doing because having a good team is a vital component of an effective children’s ministry.

Thinkaboutthose12disciplesthatJesusworkedwithandhow,afteranunpromisingstart,theywentontochangetheworld.MayGodblessyouandyourteamasyouworktogether,

andmayheworkthroughyoutochangetheworldofthechildrenwhoyouworkwith.

Hilary Hague Team leader, Children and Families Ministry

I have clear memories of the first time I ever led a team. I planned, I prepared, I produced lots of ideas. I worked very hard.

But after a few months, I realised something – my team had disappeared.

ItookgreatcomfortfrommyBibleasIreadaboutJesusandhisdisciples.Thingsdidn’talwaysgowellforhimwithhisteameither.Ilearntalotfromreadingabouthim,andIcametorealisethatbuildinghealthyteamstakestimeandskill.

These days, there are 4 elements I like to think about as I work with teams:

leadinG a Team

1. PrayThemostimportantthingistorelyon

Godinyourleadership.Prayforyourselfandprayforyourteamregularly.Askthe

HolySpirittohelpyouandthem.

THE FLOATING STICK

Jan Adventure.indd 13 16/12/12 8:56:29 PM

Jan Adventure.indd 14 16/12/12 8:56:30 PM