Understanding that the task is immense and that the warfare is unavoidable, you must consider how to put yourself in the best situation possible. Your ministry setting will have enough challenges that you don’t need to accept known unnecessary ones. You know how your past has shaped you, and you should know what circumstances can increase or decrease your chances of success. Consider doctrines, directions, and dynamics to identify the essentials you need on a ministry team.
#1. Doctrines
First, ensuring that you are doctrinally aligned with the team you aspire to join is vital. While it would seem like this part would be a given, it isn’t. Some potential missionaries become moved by a cause that they overlook the catalyst behind such a cause. Does this ministry and team have the Scriptures as the ultimate guide for what and how they do what they do? Within theology, some concepts are primary issues that, if not accepted, reveal situations when even “religious” people are posing as kind individuals but are legitimate heretics. Do not join the team if they don’t hold to biblical foundations.
Outside of the primary issues, secondary issues also exist, such as convictions rather than creeds. These types of discrepancies mean that two denominations see the situation differently, but no one is barred from heaven over it. While there might be charitable allowances regarding such secondary issues, you need to determine if there are any theological stances that you cannot budge on before you join a team. If a secondary doctrine can cause such a passion in you that it will cause division on the team, you may need to reconsider aligning together.
#2. Directions
Second, ensure that the potential team is heading in directions that you can support. While the first category is doctrinal, this category is methodological. Do not join a team where you disagree with their strategy, thinking you can sway the direction once you are with them. As a new team member, you could become frustrated and upset the team’s unity. As Prophet Amos taught, you can’t walk together without agreeing on where to go (Amos 3:3).
If looking at potential assignment opportunities, unearth the strategy that motivates such teams. You should look for some direction you are passionate about and not just force yourself to endure. Pray that as you scan possibilities, you will see descriptions that convey strategies you could have written yourself. If you invest your life alongside people for a significant time in a challenging environment, you should be sure that the direction stimulates a drive to get after it every morning.
#3. Dynamics
Third, prayerfully consider the dynamics you need on a team to thrive. Please interpret this section carefully. You will not find a perfect team, but some teams will prevent you from succeeding. It may not even be over sinful issues. Someone else may flourish on a team that will frustrate you enough to leave the field. This reality is why it is essential to do the hard work of assessing yourself before considering an option.
What type of dynamics must be considered? You must think through if there is anything that you need that they don’t provide. Let’s say you require a lot of community and oversight and the team is built on doing things independently; there’s your warning sign. If the team engages in an activity that’s not sinful but is a stumbling block to you, consider whether you can overlook it. If you think something is important and they feel it trivial (or vice versa), you probably know already that this team won’t be the best fit. In your selection process, pray that God will close any doors now rather than you make a mess when you try to run through it later.
Decide
For you to commit to a team long-term, you need to align with doctrines (what they believe), directions (where they are going), and dynamics (how they interact). These items are what you need not only to survive but to thrive on the field. You and the team will suffer if you fail to know and own these components. Everyone has scenarios they need to have to succeed, but there are also things you need to get over if you are going to be on a mission for Jesus.
While the above components are essential for the entire team, your ability to support the leader will significantly affect your success. While there is no perfect leader you could be assigned to serve under, you must be confident that this potential leader is trustworthy. You should sense a genuine desire to accomplish God’s work in God’s way. If you find an imperfect leader who seems aware of the imperfections but still leads out with an inspiring attitude, you will be ready to charge the frontiers of the mission just one step behind.
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
