It's almost too obvious to say, but missions is about ministry! Most staff that came into missions came because they had a heart, even a passion, to minister. Many staff say they didn’t want to return from DTS outreach because they wanted to keep ministering! Part of staff development is “building up the saints for the work of the ministry” (Eph 4:12). We will really touch the hearts of our staff if we help to develop their ministry aspirations.
Barry Austin (2004) suggested that shepherds nurture sheep to produce wool, meat, milk, and lambs. Leaders too must nurture their staff to be fruitful, by helping the staff to “grow in their gifting and minister in situations where their gifts are used to the maximum” and to “help their people to multiply their ministry.”
Early in my missions career, one staff member asked me what my spiritual gifts were. I knew I was called to teaching, but had only taught young girls in my church. This staff member opened up regular opportunities for me to teach Bible studies and gave encouraging feedback. As a result of the frequent opportunities and his encouragement, I grew in the teaching that has become the foundation of my present ministry.
Developing ministry skills requires first of all that we help staff to identify the skills that staff need for their ministry. Take a few moments to write down the names of five staff under your care, the ministries each is involved in and the specific ministry skills that are required for each ministry. If possible, meet individually with each staff member and ask each to identify the ministry skills that they think they need for the ministries they are involved in. Compare your list and then ask the staff member to evaluate what skills he thinks he needs more development in and whether he would like some help in those areas. After this discussion, take some time to write out how you or someone else on staff could help this staff member to develop his ministry skills.
Often, we have depended upon Bible schools or even YWAM secondary schools to train in ministry skills, but there is much that we can do on an informal basis to help our staff now. Using informal training, modeling, coaching, and reflective learning are excellent cost-effective ways to develop ministry skills. The key to successful development is planning.
Ministry skills are learned behaviors that require a theological foundation, sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, opportunity for practice, and reflective learning. As staff developers, we must model desired behavior and have times of learning and discussion. Providing opportunities for ministry and reflective debriefing are vital to our role as leaders. Jesus is our prime example. For example, he modeled casting out demons for the disciples, talked with them about the authority he had to do so and at the appropriate time sent them out to preach, teach, heal the sick and cast out demons. Several times we observe Jesus doing debriefing with disciples by evaluating their experiences together. On one occasion, they failed to cast out demons and he instructed them about the necessity of fasting, on another, he corrected their “excitement” about wielding authority over demons and pointed out the joy of seeing Satan cast down (Luke 10:18).
Some staff have more well developed skills. These staff may need more specialized training to hone their skills, more challenging opportunities, increased level of responsibilities in using their skills, and opportunities to nurture others in the same skills. Our prayerful planning can help them be even more fruitful! Paul reminded us that the gifts of the Spirit are given to us to equip others for the work of the ministry (Eph 4:11-12). May we stir up our own gifts as we develop our staff!
By Randy and Jane Rhoades