DIY

Today, I received a notice, again, from the dealership where our last vehicle was purchased.  It was reminding me it was time for routine maintenance for our vehicle.  It was already done, so I verified the maintenance was up to date and dismissed the notice.  But it caused me to think about ministry leadership and its maintenance.  I know it is a shock to all those who know me that I would think of leadership and ministry by getting a vehicle maintenance advertisement.  Okay, so you weren’t shocked at that, but maybe you were shocked it took me until the fourth sentence to get to the topic.

It really is a direct relationship and natural flow of thought.  Ministry is the vehicle whereby we serve God and others.  Without it, how would we serve?  If it isn’t in proper maintenance what kind of service will we provide?  Wouldn’t it be nice to have a Ministry Leadership Garage where we could just drive our model of Ministry Leadership right into a bay and say, “service it please”?

With a vehicle, it is relatively simple.  First, there are those things to be watched and maintained all the time, fuel level, tire pressure, safety devices, and convenience functions such as a heater, air conditioning, all the gadgets, and keeping it clean.  If attention is needed in one of those areas, it gets treated promptly and thoroughly.  Second, there are the routine regular maintenance items, like oil changes, filters, lubrication, tire rotation, tire tread wear, windshield wipers, driving lights, signal indicators, and don’t forget the tag renewal.  Sure, it can be scheduled for a convenient time, but it must be done, or the vehicle will soon begin having issues.  Then there are those things that do not receive treatment often and are taken for granted they will keep working anytime they are needed.  That list includes things like the brakes, transmission flushes, coolant refresh, suspension components, steering mechanisms, cracked windshields, and the like.  Even later are maintenance items that are essential for the long-term use of the vehicle such as the timing belt, engine tune-ups or overhauls, and transmission treatments and rebuilds, the very power and driveline components of the vehicle.

We have an older vehicle with over 350,000 miles.  The outside has gotten a little rough from some teenage drivers and sun causing the paint finish to not be so new looking.  But mechanically it is still dependable.  Recently, it found itself on a superhighway where speeds of 80 and 85 miles per hour were legal.  It handled the drive with the normal ease of a much younger vehicle, because it had been properly maintained.

Now is the time for the big question.  Do you maintain your Ministry Leadership with the same care you provide to a mechanical vehicle?  I hope you do.  Or, maybe you are wondering what that might look like?  Or, what things do I check on my Ministry Leadership to see if it is road-worthy condition to do service?  That is an excellent idea for a book or an owner’s operations manual.  Perhaps you will write one.  However, today’s blog post is much simpler.  It is a reminder to take care of your Ministry and Ministry Leadership with the same and better tenacity a common vehicle would receive.

First and foremost, check the wellness of your Ministry, Ministry Leadership and the Ministry Leader (Operator).  That is you, you know.  I’ll put a check list for this one below.  Do you remember why you chose this specific Ministry and not another?  Likely it was because God had called you to do a job and you chose the best vehicle to get the job done.  Is your vehicle still operable?  Does it still “fit” the task before you?  Has the task or circumstances changed sufficiently that you need to change Ministries?  Assuming all those things are a go, meaning you are indeed in the right Ministry, doing the right things God has called you to do, and the Ministry still fits the calling, then it is time to do some regular observation and maintenance of your Ministry and its Leadership.

Check it over.  Is the need for the Ministry still evident?  Are there people being served by the Ministry?  Does the Ministry have fuel in the tank, energy enough to take it through the task?  Is the Ministry functional, are the tires okay, do the necessary appointments still all work?  Does one or more need replacing or repairing?  In other words, will it get the job done for today?  If so, use it.

It is also essential to do a closer examination of things in your Ministry and Ministry Leadership to see what care it needs soon.  Does the Operator need to be reprogrammed or updated?  What about the technologies of the Ministry are they old and outdated and in need of replacing?  Is it time to consider investing in a major upgrade on the Ministry vehicle, increasing staff, adding some key feature, or moving operations to a larger venue or additional venues?  Or, maybe it is needing some new goals?  It is amazing how much a high-quality set of goals can do for the improved operation of a Ministry and Ministry Leadership.

If your Ministry or Ministry Leadership is getting some age on it and has had high usage, it might be time to think of some major driveline work on it.  It is imperative your Ministry and Ministry Leadership stay in tiptop shape ready for any eventuality that can come your way which should be glorifying to God, edifying to the Church or serving the cause of the gospel in Christ Jesus.  At this level, it is time for engine tune-up or overhaul, or maybe a transmission upgrade or rebuild.  In Ministry and Ministry Leadership these are paramount to inspecting your Purpose, Vision, Mission, and Core Values.  Have those changed over time, perhaps almost imperceptibly?  Or, more likely, have those needed changing for some time, but it seemed like too much to do for this old well used and loved Ministry?  To attempt to continue using a Ministry or applying Ministry Leadership that needs to have its Purpose, Vision, Mission, or Core Values upgraded is a fatal accident waiting to happen.

Attempting Ministry and Ministry Leadership that has been poorly maintained is a gamblers delight.  Will it make it one more trip?  Will this be the time it explodes in a cloud of smoke?  Or, will this be the time it quietly dies and coasts to the side of Kingdom road, never to be heard from again as the saints and sinners continue on their journeys beyond its shadows?

You know your Ministry and Ministry Leadership capabilities.  Or, maybe you don’t and need a coach to help you better prepare and become all you can be in Christ Jesus.  If it is the later, try contacting Artios Christian College’s Center For Vibrant Leadership.  If you contact Artios Christian College of the General Conference of the Church of God (Seventh Day), you will be guided to the Center for Vibrant Leadership upon your request.   https://artioscollege.org/   No, I won’t be there, so this isn’t a personal commercial as some Ministry Leaders do.  I serve as a District Superintendent, whose job it is to guide you into becoming all you can be in your Kingdom calling.  Therefore, you can review earlier blog posts on Leadership and consume books by great authors who will help you identify key components of your leadership development.

But this blog post is about operating your Ministry Leadership.  Therefore, first and foremost, do an evaluation of the Operator and then do a critical evaluation of the Ministry.

Oh, yes, you were promised a short checklist for Operator Maintenance.  So, here it is.

The following is loosely, perhaps too loosely, based off the work of The Health and Wellness Educators (HAWES).  There are five main aspects of personal health: physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual. In order to be considered “well,” it is imperative for none of these areas to be neglected. 

Physical

• Exercise! Even walking 30 minutes a day three times a week will greatly improve your health and consequently your Ministry.
• Eat Healthy. Avoid fried foods, soft drinks, processed meats, and sweets.
• Don’t skip meals. 
• Get at least 6-8 hours of sleep every night.

Emotional

• Recognize you control, for the most part, the emotions you allow to be affective in your behavior.
• Discover your personal stress reliever.  Manage your time wisely because it will help lower stress.
• Find someone that you trust, someone with whom you can openly share your feelings.
• Seek professional help when you need it.
• Smile and laugh, “a merry heart does good like a medicine”.

Social

• Get involved.  If whatever you are doing is interesting only to you, you might want to reconsider whatever it is you are doing, especially if you are doing a Ministry or serving in Ministry Leadership.  To attempt to do Ministry and Lead without others is an oxymoron.  It cannot be done.  I know of no Ministry Hermits. 
• Know who your best friends are.
• Recognize when you are in unhealthy relationships and use boundaries to manage them so they do not manage you.
• Balance your social life with your Ministry responsibility.

Spiritual

• Find a quiet place and spend time there every day.
• Contemplate the meaning of your life.
• Study and practice your faith in Jesus Christ.  Your Ministry and Ministry Leadership are part and parcel to your discipleship in Jesus Christ.
• Spend time appreciating why, what, and how the Almighty designed you to do what you are doing.  (Or, discover what that is and do it.)

Intellectual

• Keep abreast of current affairs.
• Take your Ministry and Ministry Leadership seriously and spend time improving your craft.
• Seek counsel from those you respect.
• Become a life-long learner.

Blessings and peace, dear friends.

Until we meet,