The Importance of Teamwork in Missions – On the Same Team

The importance of teamwork in missions seems like it would be a natural thing.

But unfortunately, that isn’t always the case.

I’m compelled to write about the importance of teamwork in missions and missionary life.

At one point in our first itineration, we had just finished a few days at a pastors’ conference.

These conferences are when missionaries set up display tables and pray that pastors will come and say hello.

The missionaries hope to interact with pastors and board members and missions leaders who have the ability to book them for a service or sign a pledge form.

Lots of missionaries.

All trying to do the same thing.

Stand out. Attract attention and make meaningful connections for future support raising opportunities.

{Sometimes we bring our kids along to smile and say hello too.}

We all have to raise a budget. We all need the help of churches and pastors.

So at this pastors’ conference, a pastor came up to our table.

He loved missions and wanted to get to know us.

We shared our story and he took our information. Then, Jeremy asked the pastor for his story…

It was a precious story of adoption and fostering. A deep heart for kids and for family.

I said, “Do you see my friends over there at that table? They have a similar story to yours… they would love to talk to you. I know your church would love their story too!”

He looked at me blankly. “You are sending me to talk to another missionary?”

I stopped.

“Yes, I am… I think you would love them and their story would mean a lot to your family. I know you would appreciate talking to them.”

He smiled. “Not too often that a missionary tells me to go talk to another missionary. I will do that. Thank you.”

I don’t know if he ever talked to those missionaries.

But I do hope that I changed popular perception that day… We are all on the same team.

It is important for each table to get visits from pastors and churches and people who can help them get to the field.

Looking in at this room of missionaries and tables, you would think it was a competition. Unfortunately sometimes it is.

But it isn’t. It should never be a competition.

It should be a beautiful display of the importance of teamwork. The body of Christ working together for a common goal.

We are on the same team. When one succeeds, we all succeed.

The importance of teamwork is incredible. valuable. worth working for.

We must work really hard to make sure pastors and churches know that we are ALL on the same team.

After all, we are each doing our part to fulfill the great commission. We are all in the business of spreading the Good News.

We are all on the same team.

 

I want our friends to get to the field of their calling as much as I want to get to our field of calling.

I want to see pastors connect with them as much as I want to connect with pastors myself.

I want missionaries to cover the globe with the gospel message.

There is no competition here.

We are all on the same team.

When we get to the field, the same thing applies. What one missionary is doing is not more valuable or important than another. We are all working together.

I want to see churches support missions and missionaries. I want to see missionaries who are fully funded and able to do what God is calling them to do.

Us. Them. All of us.

We must remember the importance of teamwork in what we do.

Same team. Same goal. Same heart.

God will take care of the rest.

You can see a whole series on this topic at Velvet Ashes

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