TVB 27:2. THE RIGHT TIME TO SERVE
TVB 27:2.
CHURCH WORK TRAINING:
THE RIGHT TIME TO SERVE
The issue of 'time to serve' should not be ignored or glossed
over. It is a major factor in who will be available to do what in the church...
Next to money, the most important thing to the discerning man or
woman is Time. It is interesting to note that it is those who understand the
value of this much wasted asset who usually fall within the mark of valuable
workers in God's vineyard. The seeming 'unavailability' of time also poses
challenges for spiritual service for both 'Appointer' and Appointee. The truth,
however is found at the beginning of the appointment process. Do you take the
diligence to find out if they can give the time you require? My advice usually
is, "Before you appoint, check their time!"
Jesus said in Matthew 20 verse 28, "I came to serve",
but in this jet age we find ourselves, spiritual service is suffering from benefits
of development. The computer age has made so many things possible, and in the
same stride made the time for spiritual service almost not feasible. While
personal savings and investments grow, so do worries about the survival of the
serving believer. Pastor Taiwo Odukoya once said, "Ministry is about
people" But the fact remains that if no one serves, needs will not be met.
it is the responsibility of church leadership to find ways around the problem
of time for spiritual service. The issue of 'time to serve' can not be ignored
and should definitely not be glossed over. It is a major factor in who will be
available to do what in the church, when it is required.
A pastor asked at our Leading Leaders workshop, "How do we
keep things running when traffic and time seems such a challenge to most of our
unit leaders?" According to William Feather, "We all find time to do
what we really want to do." I think to myself, "What do those same
persons do in the same 'time-challenging' circumstances when they have to
perform on their secular jobs?" They'll either find the time or make the
time! And there are structures inplace to ensure they perform, but not so in
the church. People are usually not held responsible or accountable for the time
they volunteer to be involved in spiritual service. But this is a misnorma, and
a harbinger of ineffectiveness in spiritual service.
Usually two factors are considered by most leaders when
appointing persons to duties: 1) Desire [zeal to serve]; and, 2) Ability. In
some cases however, only one is considered. But the pivotal issue of
Availability [in other words, can you make the time?] is not usually seriously
thrashed out, especially when it's not on a 'paid-employee' basis.
Delegation suffers in principle when work is committed to
persons who can't be there to do it.
A Leader owes it to his vision to
give those he intends to appoint the opportunities to respond honestly and
truthfully about their availability for spiritual duty. Failing to do this will
lead to you either chasing your 'helpers' around or you having to do the work
you've appointed others to do. Delegation suffers in principle when work is
committed to persons who can't be there to do it. Giving them an opportunity to
freely respond with a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ if necessary opens the leader to identify possible areas
of help to his people. A 'No' from a person who lacks delegation skills is a
cry for help not a turn-down of 'divine opportunity'. It might mean a need for
some mentoring, training, re-assignment or simply building up on a waiting
list. He may not be ready today, but what about tomorrow?
Consider this scenario:
Bro B works a 9am to 7pm,
Monday to Saturday executive job. He gets appointed as the Unit's secretary and
is expected to be present at most meetings. Practically, he has just Sunday
afternoons for himself and his family.
So naturally, the
'Secretary-ship' begins to suffer, slow the unit down and his unit head begins
to feel held back because Bro B is not usually available when he is needed.
This problem may flow to other areas of the Unit's activities, and even affect
any further administrative considerations of Bro B for other areas of duty in
the church. You see, without getting to the root of his problem, Bro B may be
labelled as 'not committed to the work', but that really is far from the truth.
To resolve the logjam a
cooperative re-arrangement between the Unit head and Bro B is required. Let's
consider some 'damage control' options:
1. Present the problem of
unavailability for duty and discuss with Bro B on moving him to another area of
duty that fits his time schedule OR
2. Help Bro B work out the
practice of delegation, by getting others involved with him in fulfilling his
assignment [if he really wants to do the job!].
3. In the future, AVOID THIS
PROBLEM. Ascertain the availability of persons you wish to appoint.
The truth is, leaders cannot
justifiably blame a lack of commitment on their appointees if they never gave
them a chance to willingly accept the job. The principle here is: take the time
ascertain Desire, Ability plus Availability. While some cases will be
exceptional, most situations will work on this principle with proper planning,
sensible organization and smart strategies. The hours invested in helping that
person get a grip of time to serve will yield fruit in the results to be
produced.
Leaders should constantly devise
workable strategies. A head-minister once said, "When things don't go
right, I am responsible." As a leader, take responsibility for the
structure you set up. If sacrifice and living for others was the underlying
principle of Jesus' life, today's leader must be quick to find solutions to
time-challenges in spiritual service instead of blaming his appointees and unit
members when things don't work out.
Ensure your system looks out for
your people. Solve their problems as much and as well as you can. You will be
the happier for it.
GET TRAINED TO DELIVER EFFICIENT RESULTS
IN YOUR CHURCH DUTIES @ Church Work Training
Best Regards
TOPE A. BANJO,
Business Trainer and Author
Trains you to Enhance Your Church Work
Enjoy Tope’s Church Work Training Services and Church
Work Training Books available for purchase as: i) Epub Version @ Okada
Books OR ii) PDF Version @ Vision Builders Resources
Tel: 0803 3075 969
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