BUILDING A WINNING TEAM
My name is Jeff Chong and I serve in Hope Singapore. I came to have a p e rsonal relationship with Jesus when I visited Hope in February 1992. I w as a univ ersity engineering student then. My life has so been radically turned upside down for Jesus since then. I love the relevant and practical teaching of the Scriptures. The wonderful examples of the leaders also inspired me to live a God-honouring life. The vision of our Movement to fulfil the Great Commissi on teaches me to live for a purpose bigger than myself or any man-made endeavour. I am very grateful to God for bringing me to this family.
Currently, I oversee the pastoral side of our church which supervises all the various grou ps in our church including Hope Kids, Youth, Tertiary, Adults, Families, Filipinos, Mandarin and Indonesians. I work with the different pastors and leaders so that through them, our church continues to grow in quantity (outreach) and quality (discipleship)
My key role, as I see it, is to empower and serve my team to be the best that they can be in Christ. In doing so, I am also building up the teams around them so that they too can move their groups forwar
d for God’s purpose
I am blessed to work with a great team that has inspired and encouraged me over all these years. In our team, we celebrate our differences while working towards a common goal of fulfilling the Great Commission in our part of the vineyard.
I have been happily married to Claudia for more than 10 years. Claudia supports me greatly in my pastoral work. She complements me with her strategic planning ability and wise counsel.
Hope Singapore Video
By Pastor Jeffrey Chong
Introduction:
The first time I heard this teaching was during our Hope Singapore church camp in 1996. It was a sermon that moved and united many of our hearts. It was a teaching that created a quantum leap in our church life.
It may take a talented preacher to captivate the audience for a whole hour. It may take a very gifted singer to wow the listeners. But it takes a team to build a church that will grow and prosper season after season.
To have a team is one thing but to have a team that works is quite another thing. We need to learn to build teams well if we are to fulfil the full potential that God has placed within us. In our churches, the concept of a David’s Mighty Men (DMM) team is probably not new to many of us. Let’s remind ourselves of what being a part of a DMM is all about.
Text Scripture: 1 Chronicles 11:10
These were the chiefs of David's mighty men-- they, together with all Israel, gave his kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the LORD had promised--
1) They Have Different Level Of Hierarchy
“They were the chiefs of…”
We love everyone but we do not invest our lives in everyone. Our lives are short and as leaders, we need to invest our lives in people who in turn, will invest their lives in others so that the Kingdom advancement will be maximised.
Jesus did not spend his limited time here on planet earth equally with every one that he encountered. He spent more time with his 12 and the most time with his inner core of 3 (Peter, James and John).
So for our DMM, we do not include just any warm bodies. We only include people that firstly have the character. Character is of first importance. They must also have the desire to contribute as part of the DMM team.
Another very simple acronym to help us in looking out for potential team member is F.A.T.
- F aithful
We look out for people who are faithful with whatever that has been entrusted to them. As the bible tells us, when we are faithful with little, God will entrust us with much. No amount of talent can replace faithfulness.
We can test these people by giving them task to accomplish. If they are faithful with little things, then they are now more prepared to take up greater Kingdom assignments.
- A vailable
We must always avail our time, talent and treasure for God’s usage. Personally, I have seen many able and talented people not leveraging their God-given gifts for the Kingdom.
When you read the bible, God does not always seek out the most able person but He will use those who are willing for the task
- T eachable
Teachability is a very important element to look out for because none of us have got it all. Teachability is actually an expression of humility.
We are all learning and growing. To build a strong team, we must look out for people who are teachable; people who are willing to learn as well as contribute.
Everyone in the Kingdom can and must serve. But not everyone will be given authority. We need to know that there are different levels of servanthood leadership in the hierarchy in the Kingdom.
2) They Have To Be Qualified
“…David’s mighty men..”
Not only must they have the character, they must also have the competence as well. Character and competence are not mutually exclusive.
David’s men were mighty because they have brave hearts and skilful hands. If we only emphasise character without the competence development part of leadership, two things will probably happen.
Firstly, it will frustrate the followers. Due to incompetence on the leader’s part, things may not get done as they should be or even done at all.
Secondly, it will discourage the leaders. Hope deferred on a long term basis can indeed cause the heart to become sick.
That is why it is imperative that we provide proper coaching and training for the DMM team. To win the war, we need to give the soldiers the proper equipment and training. There are many different types of training courses in our movement. We should plan ahead.
For example, if we know that we need at least 2 new Care Leaders to contain the growth for next year, we should identity and send at least 2 of our present shepherds to attend the Care Leader Training Course. Planning for numerical growth without planning for the leadership base expansion would not be sustainable.
As leaders, we need to also constantly learn and improve in our own lives and at the same time, bring our team up along with us as well.
We must ensure that every one of our team members has a training and developmental plan to bring themselves up to the next level of knowing and serving Jesus.
3) They Have To Be Under Authority
“… David’s mighty men…”
These were not just competent men who have been given authority. They were also men who WERE under authority. They were David’s mighty men. In the final analysis, none of us can have any ounce of heavenly authority on our own accord. All authority comes from God. It flows from God down through different levels of leadership that God has instituted.
Our level of authority comes through our level of submission to the authority set over us. Leaders who do not follow the leaders set over them will have their authority removed by God.
The real test of submission is during times of disagreement. When our opinion differs, we must be willing to submit to the direction set by our leaders. This does not mean that we do not voice our point of view or our thoughts on the matter.
Authority, when properly exercised, creates a sense of freedom and empowerment in the team. Authority, when properly exercised, creates a sense of security and acceptance in the team.
4) They Are Good Supporters
5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. 6 The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Genesis 11:5-7
Although this is a negative example, the take-away principle is no less powerful and true.
When a team works together in great synergy, great things awaits for the Kingdom!
