As I have traveled these past few days, I have noticed that our team has really developed over the past year. I have noticed 4 specific things that have characterized us as we have evolved. For us, these are incredible traits and ones that have come natural. I praise God that even though leadership development has not been something that we have had too much of an emphasis on; we continue to grow as leaders. It is incredible how the Lord has brought great leaders to our team and how well we seem to gel together and learn from each other. Here we go…...
1. Flexible
Over and over again, I see all of us working together for the common good. It is obvious to me that you are flexible with your lives for the sake of the mission. We step up for each other when we need it. We carry the weight of others when necessary. We do things that are not fun and are ok when we are pushed out of our comfort zone. When things don't go as planned, we work together to press on and don't get too carried away or overly frustrated. I am so grateful for how flexible our team has become. I know that being in a growing ministry isn't easy. Our responsibilities at times grow and we have to re-alaign our lives in order to stay ahead. However, we have always stayed flexible and worked together as a team.
2. Communication
One of the most frustrating things that we have had to go through over the past 2 years has been communication through technology. We don't have office space, many of us have other jobs and family responsibilities; yet everyone has worked extremely hard to keep good and clear communication. Beyond that, I have notices when things have not been communicated well, we go the extra mile to address those things. We communicate respectfully to each other and think the best of one another, which is hard when you are reading a screen. One day I pray that this won't be as difficult as it has been, but we are doing a great job with our communication.
3. Humility
One of the sad things within teams is power trips among the players. At Netcast it is obvious that we are not dealing with these issues. I have seen us serve each other, take the lower role for the sake of others, honor opinions that are different than ours and pursue humility. Of all the great characteristics that our team has, this is by far the greatest. God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. This week while in Cali, I was confronted by a very proud man. He was asking me questions by making statements. This man was well versed, theologically sound and bold. Yet, his proud persona was extremely ugly. At the end of my meeting with him, he said he was both excited for us and frustrated. Excited at how we were being used by God, but frustrated because he wasn't being used in similar ways. Pride was seeping out of every sentence he spoke. And in the end, his own personal confession was clear…"God isn't using me." Here is a man who is intellectually solid, but his character was flawed. Pride will hinder God's favor and hand on our lives and ministry. Lets continue to look to the cross for our humility. He must increase, we must decrease. Lets continue to honor each other and fight for righteousness rather than fighting to be right.
4. Responsible
Being gone for two weeks for most church planters and pastors would be a terrifying things. Not for me. I could not be more confident in our team. I know with all my heart that you love our ministry, our God, our mission and each other. You take responsibility for the things that you commit to. You work hard and you work unto the Lord. I can always trust that if we say we will do something, it will get done. I never have to worry about people pulling a no-show, neglecting tasks, or blaming others for mistakes. You have shown incredible responsibility in your efforts to see Netcast become a Kingdom minded influential ministry. When you see things broken, you fix them. When you notice flaws, you work on them. I am so bless to have this team with me. I am so blessed to serve along side of you. I am so blessed to be counted as one of you.
I love you all more than you could ever know. I love your families more than you could ever understand. Thinking of you reminds me of Paul's words to the Philippians when he wrote:
Philippians 1:3-7 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace.
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