Building ministry teams can feel a lot like moving. It’s the perfect combination of work that’s exhausting, exhilarating, and often expedited at the same time. Speaking of moving, I recently moved from the country to the suburbs. Despite enjoying the convenient access to civilization and coffee shops, one unexpected frustration arose. Our new townhome, just outside the capital city, was nearly designed for us. It was well-kept, conveniently located, and my favorite color – blue. It seemed perfect, except for the challenge of navigating eight flights of narrow stairwells from the front door to the top floor. Moving in, we encountered the daunting task of fitting furniture, especially bulky items like sofas and mattresses, through these tight spaces.

I vividly recall standing at the foot of the stairs with a brand-new sofa wrapped in plastic. Excitement turned into frustration as, after an hour of struggling, it became evident that the couch simply wouldn’t fit through the stairwell. Determined, we assembled a team for a couch-moving party. With eight men and two children, creative solutions were explored, eventually leading to the successful hoisting of the sofa onto the second-story porch and through a sliding glass door.

The lesson learned? Most tasks aren’t impossible; they just require teamwork.

As pastors, we often face seemingly impossible tasks. How do we help numerous families? How do we keep sermons fresh and relevant? How do we manage our busy calendar? The key, as seen in the sofa saga, lies in assembling a team. Jesus, too, started His ministry by building a like-minded community, emphasizing the importance of collaboration.

I know that team-building can be one of the most exhausting expectations of the job. Pastors love putting insane pressure on themselves, don’t they? Now, the desire to do it all stems from a good heart. You don’t want to burn anyone out. You don’t want to keep asking the same family for help. You disqualify people that you never asked because you don’t want to be a bother or have a strong opinion about exactly how the task should be done. Next thing you know, you are doing everything in isolation. However, that’s not God’s design for his Church. He created us to do ministry within the context of community.

So how do we make our work more manageable? How do we rediscover the joy that is vocational ministry? The answer may be found in a ratty group of fishermen by a shore in ancient Judea. Let’s explore a beautiful Bible passage that shows how Jesus approached His ministry. When he was kicking everything off, what did he do? It wasn’t a marketing campaign, launching a newsletter, or purchasing a building. Not at all. Jesus started his ministry by creating a like-minded community. He built a team first, then built the Kingdom second.

Mark 6:7-13

“Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits…They went out and preached that people should repent.  They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.”

NIV Bible

Give People Community.

Interestingly, Jesus began recruiting his team even before his ministry was even off the ground. He recruited then got to work. Not the other way around. Why is that important to see? We often believe that every single detail must be ironed out before we start building teams. But here’s a thought — Jesus formed his team first and then allowed them to work alongside Him. Furthermore, Jesus didn’t just send out His disciples alone; He paired them up in teams of two. This is a great example for us as leaders as well. Having a partner or small group within the team can provide accountability, support, and encouragement for one another. This is the heart of Christ. He doesn’t want burned-out managers; He desires co-laborers. He knew that work was far more effective when people can see that they are part of something bigger than themselves. Community makes that reality concrete. So, if you want to get ministry done, be sure to minister with others.

It doesn’t just make your work easier; it also makes it better. Community naturally invites collaboration and a successful team thrives on collaboration. We must foster teamwork to get closer to our goals. This requires enabling playing off the strengths of the others and overcoming the weaknesses of the rest. As pastors, we should cultivate and nurture an environment where everyone feels valued and respected for their unique contributions. Are they different than you? Yes. Do they look different? You bet! Do they make decisions distinctly from how you would? Almost certainly. This is not bad; it’s fantastic. When your teams are diverse, they’re far more dynamic.

So, if you want to see the beauty that comes from community effort, you need to make the intentional decision to build community within your serving teams just like you would within your congregation. Despite what our kids or spouse may say, we are not superheroes. We cannot do everything ourselves, and trying to do so will only lead to burnout. Instead, we need to identify the strengths and skills of each team member and delegate tasks accordingly. However, there is a crucial step within that delegation. We must delegate authority when we delegate tasks. That brings us to our next point.

Offer People Authority.

When Jesus called His disciples, He didn’t just give them a job description; He gave them authority (Mark 3:15). By giving them authority, Jesus was showing His trust and confidence in them. As leaders, we need to follow Jesus’ example and empower our team members with both authority and autonomy. This means giving them the ability to make decisions and take action without always needing your approval.

When we constantly micromanage and control every detail, we can accidentally hinder the personal growth of our team members and the overall growth of our ministry. So how do we empower our team members? It’s by clearly defining their roles and expectations under the umbrella of their authority and autonomy. This gives them a sense of direction without taking away their unique perspective. However, it’s crucial to teach that “with authority comes responsibility.” (I think this is a quote from Spiderman.) We must hold our team members accountable for their actions and ensure that they are using their authority wisely. This requires open communication where feedback is given both ways – from leader to team member and vice versa. Why is that important? Because everyone’s diverse perspective matters, which brings us to our final point.

Encourage Diversity.

Yes, authority was important to Jesus, but so was diversity. He gathered some of the most unexpected and unqualified men you could imagine on the shore that day. They were not from seminary. They were not rabbis. They may have not even been able to read or write. That didn’t stop Jesus. He privatized building Jesus also individualized His approach when empowering His disciples. He recognized each disciple’s unique strengths and talents, allowing them to use these gifts in their ministry work. As leaders, we must also take into account the individual strengths of our team members when delegating tasks and giving them responsibility. Doing this well required intentional focus being put on diversity.

These disciples came from drastically different backgrounds, cultures, and skill sets. Peter was a fisherman, Matthew was a tax collector, and Simon was a zealot (Matthew 4:18-22; Luke 5:27-28; Matthew 10:4). Despite their distinction, they carried the gospel forward in lock-step. I love that. As church leaders, we must also learn to prize and prioritize diversity within our teams. By creating a culture of diversity, we can tap into the unique strengths and perspectives of each team member for more effective ministry work.

On your ministry teams, you need young people, old people, extroverts, introverts, creatives, administrators, and even a few people who love cooking. A diversity of skills cultivates a diversity of opportunities. However, gathering the group is only half of the process. Then, you need to give them safety to express their perspective. After the team is built, it’s our responsibility to create an atmosphere where every team member feels safe to express their opinions and ideas without fear of judgment. So, when someone offers you their diverse opinion, be thankful! That is God helping you see the bigger picture. Embrace that beauty and opportunity.

Hands down. Working together makes ministry more meaningful. So what is one of the best things you can do this year? Build your teams like Jesus. He built community, so everyone had fun. He offered authority so everyone felt heard. Lastly, he prioritized diversity so that they could minister to the masses. Be sure to build your teams in the same way. When you do, you are setting yourself free from exhaustion and you are setting your people up for transformation.