Gò0dNews for Ministry Encouragement for Ministry Teams:
You’re change-exhausted and it’s time for FUN!
A
by Amy Eaton
re you a ministry team leader in a church or non-profit?
God. A natural consequence is that we will spend less time in
How is your team doing? No, I am not asking about
prayer and more time trying to survive.
performance. How is your team doing? Are they tired?
A great article titled, “Why Having Fun at Work is
Stressed? Stretched too thin? Overwhelmed with life-things?
Important,” via ThriveGlobal.com, shares why having fun
Many people that I love whom are in ministry are very,
is mission-critical for you and your team (Kumar, 2021).
very tired. They are wonderful people, with hearts on fire for
Pawan, the author, points out that happiness is connected to
Jesus and sharing His good news with those that God places in
healthiness! He also confirms having fun together improves
front of them. However, they—like so many of us—have been
collaboration and communication, increases creativity and
sprinting and pivoting non-stop since early last year. Constant
productivity, and encourages retention and satisfaction. Simply
changes and shifts have cluttered their minds and taxed their
put—you cannot afford not to plan some fun together.
emotional resources. Church is still okay: gather and show your faith! Church is not a building: stay home and watch online! Masks for everyone, masks are optional, masks are required, masks are mean oh wait, maybe masks are kind. Open the church building! Close the church building. And this is all barely scratching the surface of the confusions and the social unrest that we have all been wrestling and processing. I have been in the corporate world for over twenty years, working in fast-paced, frequently changing environments. I also hold a Master’s degree in Psychology, which simply means I have been educated to understand human behavior, specializing in the workplace. The only reason I share that is to encourage you to hear me when I say—your people may not be okay. And, that is okay. However—it is time to focus on your people. How are you pausing to listen to your team(s)?
So, as you are looking ahead and planning for your future as
In what ways are you creating space for them to share their
a ministry team, please set aside and guard time for you and your
challenges and allowing brainstorming to occur for potential
team to rest. Even Jesus created space for solitude and prayer
solutions? And…possibly most importantly, when was the last
(Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Luke 6:12). In addition to planned
time you all had fun together?
sabbaths, I recommend at least one day of fun per quarter if
I genuinely imagine that Jesus was fun. Yes, He is holy and God in flesh—Emmanuel. He corrected the overly-religious
possible, and that you involve your team in the planning since “fun” can be described a little differently by individuals.
and pulled close the sinners, loved well and flipped necessary
You and your team will be healthier, happier, and in a
tables. However, He was also someone children would come
better state to hear from the Holy Spirit and impact your world
to (Mark 10:13-16), and kids love fun people. Jesus came so
for His glory—simply because you took the time to show your
that we could live, and live abundantly (John 10:10). When He
team you care enough to invest in them through prioritizing
called you and your team to serve alongside Him, He never
fun and rest.
you are constantly expected to pivot, it is natural to fall into self-preservation and striving instead of resting and trusting in
40 // August 2021
About The Author
expected you to do it in your own strength. However, when Amy Eaton has a passion for loving people and helping them see their worth and value in Christ. She hopes her writings will be an encouragement and point people to the heart of God (Acts 20:24).
