Through the years, many people have traveled for the purpose of international and domestic missions and evangelism. Therefore, we are able to draw from much experience. Having seen the very best team members and some not so effective, let us offer some suggestions to help you be more effective. Here is our practical advice for any team ministry.
1. Be prayerful. When we pray, we find out what God can do through us. If we don’t pray, we find that we can do nothing for God. Pray for the team’s leadership, the co-laborers in the host country, those to whom you will minister, and of course, for yourself and your family.
2. Realize the significance of the moment. You have been privileged to live during one of history’s greatest periods. Therefore, expectancy and faithful anticipation should characterize our lives. Every life you touch, either personally or as part of a team, has untold significance in the sight of God.
3. Make adjustments willingly. The key in international ministry is to realize the breakdown of infrastructure in many parts of the world causes things not to work efficiently. Also, people have a mind-set that was created and influenced by the political and social systems (communism, socialism, dictatorship) in which they live. These systems, processes, and ways of thinking often seem illogical to those from the United States. Be prepared for the need to adap and be ready to make adjustments willingly and without complaint.
4. Often encourage. When we have a setback, a frustration, or even a crisis, stand with the leader and with the team and stay true to the original vision you had in mind when you joined the team. Encourage the leaders. Show a spirit of support with a pat on the back or a timely word. Find something good to say; be positive and talk up the ministry.
5. Think for yourself. Ask God to lead you even while you use the abilities of reason that He has given you. Your leaders do their very best for you, yet you can often help them best by thinking through situations and questions. After thinking things through, if there are still questions or any uneasy feeling at all, talk to your team leadership. Unanswered questions simply lead to more stress.
6. Serve with a humble spirit. Realize we are servants. We are to be consumed in service. Serve with gratitude and humility. Do what you do for the glory of God. During your time on the team, show you know how to obey directions and follow instructions with a right spirit.
7. Look at the big picture. We should realize we cannot be effective if we are self absorbed. Think of the whole team. Think of making your contribution. Help develop a team spirit and then realize our team is only a very small part of a much bigger team. Realize how big the work of God is in the world, and we are not the only people serving Christ. Therefore, appreciate other people with different gifts and ideas. 8. Contribute. You have a big contribution to make. You have gifts, and you are part of the solution for evangelizing the world. Be open to all God has opened to you. Show faithfulness and dependability in your attitude and by your actions.
9. Learn everything you can about the sending organization and its international operation. Get to know your leadership personally. Ask questions. Get to know the history of this ministry and those who work in it. Look and listen and make positive suggestions. Don’t be afraid to suggest an idea or offer an insight for improvement.
10. Be controlled by love. Ask God to fill you with love for others, especially those that in human terms are unloveable. Because of His dynamic love in action allow your life to be the most convincing proof that there is a God that loves and cares.
11. Trust your leadership. Experience has been a great teacher for those in leadership positions. Have confidence in them and avoid asking premature questions. Everything will be explained as the days of mission progress. Trust their wisdom, their sense of direction, and their maturity.
12. Guard the integrity of the mission. Remember, in most of the world, relationships of trust are far more important than in the USA. Slowly and sincerely build relationships characterized by truthfulness and integrity. Be very sensitive to cultural differences. Avoid boasting about how wonderful it is to be an American or speaking unkindly about the country in which you are serving. Make sure reckless promises are not made.
13. Think of two-way communication. Seek first to understand and then seek to be understood. Look deep into the eyes of people and listen intently. Make your reply sincere and brief. Let other people see respect, humility, and real interest in them. Let them talk to you, and listen with much patience.
14. Prioritize. Keep putting first things first. Make all major decisions during the mission trip with this in mind. Remember, anything less than a conscious commitment to the important is an unconscious commitment to the unimportant. The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.
15. Keep the passion. Share Jesus Christ through your actions and with your words, but leave the results up to God. Keep as your goal to lift Him up and let Him draw people.
16. Rejoice. You have been chosen and selected by God, so keep rejoicing and keep an attitude of thanksgiving. Rejoice in the small things as well as the big things.
By Jody & Trisha Kennedy