How to be a good ministry leader and reach people. Characteristics for thriving in missions and ministry as a leader can be natural, learned and practiced so you can reach those you are serving with the message of love and hope no matter where you go.
I have worked in ministry for thirty years and almost all of those were on the mission field. Living in 7 countries. I’ve led teams from Mega churches to churches of just 50 people. Traveling to over 27 countries.
From short-term missions to years on the mission field, I received teams, sent and led teams, and organized outreach from my home state.
After all of that experience, I noticed certain characteristics or character qualities that really helped the outreaches be successful and reach the community.
I will share them with you so that if you are in ministry or mission, you can develop these characteristics to help connect with those you are serving.
Key characteristics for thriving in missions and ministry are to,
Be flexible
This might be one of the most important characteristics for missions. And one you might want to develop before you start in ministry. Flexibility, for some this is really hard and for others it’s easy.
Here is my personal example of the need for flexibility. I was leading a team in Thailand to teach job and life skills to survivors of exploitation. I created a schedule and gave it to the team members. When handing out the schedule, I explained that in the culture, this might be more of a suggestion than a schedule, and everyone would need to be flexible.
Sure, as the sun rises, the schedule changes, then changes again. It was a bit frustrating for some, and I just explained again the need for flexibility.
If you are not flexible in the mission field, you will likely live in a state of frustration.
So learn it before you go, practice it before you leave, and remember the lives of those who went before us.
Exercise mental flexibility
If you consider physical flexibility, you know you need to exercise and stretch to be more flexible. Well, mental flexibility is the same. Sometimes, need to practice it.
Do something you have never done before, try something different.
Challenge yourself to become more flexible.
The following characteristic for thriving in missions and ministry as a woman,
Be joyful with a sense of humor.
When the Bible says the “joy of the Lord is our strength” on the mission field or in ministry, it’s necessary.
Cultivating an attitude of joy in your life and missions can help you face the challenges of culture shock and adapt to a new life.
Joy: Pray for it, seek it, and choose it.
Life in missions can be hard, but choosing joy can help you in difficult times.
When I started working with victims of human trafficking, the oppression was so great. It was awful what these young girls had been through, and as I heard their stories and tried to get them to help in a broken system, it was an uphill battle.
Then, I felt the Lord speak to me to see the cross before I see them and their challenges and problems.
Seeing what Jesus could do in their lives, no matter what their circumstances might be.
For a while, I had to constantly remind myself they were in a safe place now, that they could get through the current struggles, and they could live healed and free.
I also made choices to help me.
I wouldn’t watch anything related to injustice after work. I stopped reading and watching anything violent. If I watched something, it would be “no drama” or really funny.
Most importantly, I would be grateful and choose that as my perspective.
Another aspect of having joy in the mission field is
A sense of humor.
Looking back, the teams that were funny and had a good sense of humor always had a better response from the community. Teams that could take a joke and didn’t let the language barriers stop them from sharing Christ’s love always left an impact.
Those who would jump in for games and laugh at themselves if something funny happened. Anywhere I have led or received teams that did this, they were always received with open arms.
Another great characteristic of missions is to
Be Empathetic
Understanding another person’s point of view. Relating to them in some ways without having to be in the same situation helps to share God’s love.
Here is an article about developing empathy.
Most people I know in ministry and missions are empathic. Being called to both of these fields means you already have a level of compassion and mercy in your life, as Paul says in
“To the weak, I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.”
This verse is about being empathetic to those we serve and are around.
As you live in missions or ministry, don’t let your empathy run out because of the life, stories, or difficulties you might face. If at any point you feel you are getting tired or burnt out, then it’s time to change things.
If you are already in ministry or missions, here is some signs to watch out for from Positive Pyschology
The next characteristic for thriving in missions and ministry is,
Be vulnerable
The importance of vulnerability in missions and ministry is the key to really impacting the lives of those you serve.
Sharing honest testimonies of the things God has changed in your life is important. If you want to learn more about sharing your tesimony here is a article about how to share your story.
When training teams to teach programs for the prevention of human trafficking with children and teens aged 10-18 in inner-city Dallas, the only way to reach them was through showing up and being vulnerable.
The girl in the program could tell when the teams were being vulnerable and being phony.
They couldn’t just say, “Don’t go out with older boys. You are only 10 and shouldn’t date!” Well, this is what happened.
Our wonderful volunteers, who didn’t date till 18, taught girls in areas where many girls already had a child by 19. The cultural difference was vast.
But God is good.
The way to bridge the gap of culture is to be honest and vulnerable. So I had the team share stories of their struggles and how with God’s help they overcame. If they dated someone they shouldn’t share that story and what happened and how God used it. This made it relatable.
If the teams were vulnerable they would be respected. I am not saying to over share about you sins or past but to share what God has change in your life.
Ways to be vulnerable in ministry:
- Share personal stories of struggles
- Include what God taught you through the struggle
- Don’t be judgemental of yourself or those you serve.
- Don’t try to change people; share and let God know.
- Apologize when needed.
I hope this article can help you reach those God wants you to serve. And I will leave you with the most important thing to love, like Jesus. If you love those you serve in ministry, then you will reach them.
And now these three remain faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
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