Teamwork is critical for survival. In ministry, high performing teams are built through intentionality and love. Leading up to the well-known chapter on love, the Apostle Paul takes time to explain how the Body of Christ is one body with many members. All parts of the body must be intentional in recognizing the need for each part—those thought to be less honorable as well as those counted as beautiful. Think about what The Message says:
The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don’t, the parts we see and the parts we don’t. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.
– 1 Corinthians 12:25-26 (MSG)
In cross-cultural ministry, the Body of Christ is reflected through an effective team that not only survives but also thrives. Even though the Lord intends for His body to be one, it does not change the fact that intentionally building a mission team is incredibly hard work. This is why my family’s training at the Center for Intercultural Training (CIT) this past summer spent significant time on team dynamics and conflict resolution.
One aspect of team dynamics that was emphasized: the need for a common purpose. In Thailand, where less than 1% of the nearly 70 million people are Christian, there is much to be done, and teams can struggle with the pursuit of a unified purpose. The most effective teams are committed to both a common purpose and to one another. They define the task, agree on the approach, and clarify the roles and responsibilities of each person on the team. As new members are added, the common purpose needs to be revisited and adjusted. For example, when my family and I arrive in Thailand, the team we are a part of will need to engage in an onboarding process and in some ways may have to start over.
Another facet of team dynamics is the importance of being a courageous follower. Usually, the main focus for teams is leadership, but an often overlooked role is followership. Courageous acts by followers improve the team and its ability to work together. I was reminded that as my family and I become part of our new team, the quality and courage of our followership will impact the team and its leaders.
No matter how effective the team, conflicts can arise due to a difference in opinion or purpose that frustrates an individual’s goals or desires. The Bible does not teach that all conflict is bad—some conflicts are natural and beneficial. Our response to conflict often makes all the difference. CIT guided our family through various resolution methods, but the undergirding question was, “How can I please and honor God in this situation?”
Teamwork is challenging, especially in a cross-cultural context, but its effectiveness is crucial for survival and for our ministry to bear “fruit that will last” (John 15:16). You may not be relocating to a foreign land for mission work like my family, but think about it—you are probably involved in several teams each day. Maybe you serve on a board or committee, as a volunteer, or are simply dedicated to your family or church. Consider how God might want to use YOUR team(s) to bear fruit that will last.
by Pastor Su Kim
Pastor Su Kim and his family are preparing to serve as missionaries in Thailand. This past summer their sending agency, United World Mission, required extensive training in Union Mills, North Carolina at the Center for Intercultural Training for six weeks.
