Ep. 005 | 6 Essential Team Members for a Thriving Church Revitalization Team
5 Big Rocks of Church Revitalization | #3 - Teamwork
Unleashing the Power of Team in Church Renewal
September 1, 2024
Episode 5: Show Notes
In this episode of the Revitalize My Church podcast, hosts Bart Blair and Nathan Bryant discuss the importance of building a strong team when working to revitalize a church. This topic is the third of their "five big rocks" of church revitalization, following unity and leadership.
The conversation begins by emphasizing the biblical foundation for team ministry. Nathan points out that even Jesus sent his disciples out in teams (Mark 6:7, Luke 10:1) and the Apostle Paul always worked with a team in his ministry endeavors. The hosts also cite Proverbs 11:14 and 15:22, which highlight the wisdom and success that come from having many advisors.
Bart and Nathan then dive into the specific roles and gifting needed on a church revitalization team. They identify six key positions:
1. Visionary Leader: This person has the ability to develop, communicate, and inspire others with a compelling vision for the church's future.
2. Administrator: Not just a detail-oriented person, this team member can break down the vision into meaningful tasks and executable plans.
3. Shepherd: The shepherd ensures that the needs of the congregation are considered and cared for as the church pursues its vision. This role provides balance to the visionary and administrator.
4. Teacher: The teacher has the spiritual gift of teaching (Ephesians 4:11) and can help the team develop plans for discipleship and spiritual growth. The hosts emphasize the importance of transformational teaching that goes beyond head knowledge.
5. Gatherer: Often confused with an evangelist, the gatherer has the ability to bring people together and mobilize them around a common goal. While they may not be the most relationally-oriented, they bring energy and enthusiasm to the team.
6. Translator: This team member serves as a missionary to the church's target audience, helping the team understand the culture they are trying to reach and effectively communicate the gospel message.
Throughout the discussion, Bart and Nathan stress the importance of recognizing and valuing the unique gifts each team member brings. They caution against expecting everyone on the team to be "elder qualified" or have the same level of spiritual maturity. Instead, the focus should be on building a well-rounded team with complementary gifts that can work together to achieve the church's vision.
The hosts also share personal experiences and examples to illustrate the value of each role. Bart recalls how the church Nathan planted years ago benefited from having a strong team with diverse gifting. He also shares about a friend who exemplifies the gifting of a gatherer.
As the episode concludes, Bart and Nathan reiterate the significance of having a team that can bring different perspectives and help the church effectively reach its community. They encourage listeners to download a PDF profile of each team member role from the Revitalize My Church website and to subscribe to the podcast for future episodes.
Key Takeaways:
1. Building a strong, diverse team is essential for church revitalization success.
2. The Bible provides examples of team ministry, from Jesus sending out his disciples in pairs to Paul's missionary teams.
3. A revitalization team should include people with the gifting of visionary leadership, administration, shepherding, teaching, gathering, and cultural translation.
4. Each team member's unique gifts should be recognized, valued, and utilized for the benefit of the church's mission.
5. Not every team member needs to be "elder qualified" or have the same level of spiritual maturity, but all should be committed to Christ and the church's vision.
6. Personal experiences and examples help illustrate the importance and practical application of each team member's role.
7. Building a well-rounded team allows the church to effectively understand and reach its target audience with the gospel message.