I was teaching about the importance of teamwork on the last preparation class in my church before the new congregration members start serving in our church ministries. I taught the importance of having a goal, trust, communication, initiative, humility, and being submissive. These “simple” traits are often overlooked and can become a disaster in your ministry & others.

No matter how skillful you are, no matter how good you think you are, your ministry is never bigger than your character. God always choose a person with a good heart, a good character. He never choose someone because he/she is capable.

Important traits that you must have in the team

1. Goal
   When you are in a team, you must have a goal. Although a general goal is to serve God with all your heart, a team normally has a specific goal. For example if you are in a Christmas celebration team, then your goal is to make sure that everything is running smoothly and the church can have a great Christmas celebration (how to outreach the newcomers, organizing the events, practice sessions, prayer sessions before the celebration, etc). You’ve got the idea. Each member in the team has to share the same goal, the same vision.
2. Trust
   Trust each other. Everyone has strength and has weaknesses. It’s important to trust others to complement your weakness, and vice versa. Don’t feel that you are the better member who knows much more than the others. Let the others work with you together, don’t be a “Rambo”.
3. Communication
   Miscommunication even occurs in a team. A miscommunication can be devastating both as a team and as an individual. When miscommunication occurs, the effectiveness and productivity of the team suffer. At times, it can also create conflicts because of a simple misunderstanding.
4. Initiative
   As a team member, often we play the “waiting game”. We wait for our leader or coordinator to give us tasks, to be “ordered around”. At times, your leader can be very busy that he/she may forget certain things that he/she overlooks. We wait anxiously and at times we then complain to the other members in the team. We are a team! We need to encourage one another and help each other. Take the initiative and remind your leader or help each other out. Don’t just sit there and wait for something to happen.
5. Humility
   Be humble and don’t judge other people. Don’t look down at others especially if you know more in a certain area than the others. Don’t discredit other people as if you are better or can do better. Remember, we are all sinners and we are nothing without God!
6. Submissive
   Submit to your leader. Your leader is already appointed to be responsible for the whole team. When we disagree with our leader or coordinator, as long as it doesn’t go against the Word of God, submit to him/her (assuming you’ve expressed your concern or opinion on a matter). What you think is right doesn’t mean that it’s always right. Sometimes, your leader sees far ahead than what you see at a given time. Being submissive doesn’t mean that you become a “Yes man”. Being submissive doesn’t mean to say “Yes” and complains to other people afterwards.