gettin' on the same page

How do you bring various people together, so that we work as ONE? As a team, much like a rowing crew with arms and legs strained, striving toward the finish line as smoothly as possible on that river. I have a TON to learn about this. And those close to me could write a book about the times I fail weekly. But this aspect in ministry and life is one that I do value highly. Team.

One element is through the process of Planning. Whether gathering just as a staff or with key students, planning builds a sense of "team." We actually are starting this process, prep-ing for the next college semester already IN the previous semester, as we dialogue, 'tweek,' & figure out things we want to include or change. If your program is more organic, you can make changes super quickly. Like from week to week if necessary (I have found this even more necessary in the catalyst mode-- starting up a NEW group. Or in a culture like Spain). As we toss around ideas (and that's the way my preference works, to think out loud!), I feel we brainstorm our way to "we ALL own this" vision. As we leave the planning process, everyone knows where we're headed. And WHY.

Praise. This is evaluation, and can happen anytime. Give thanks and dish out compliments freely for what is "worthwhile" (depending on your view of "success" for that event, or that character trait or task or attitude... or what have you...). And on the other hand, change, correct and cut out stuff that doesn't help you (your team, your organization, your walk with God, etc.) to go in a positive direction. You may want to take note of Andy Stanley's thoughts for leaders on saying "thank you". I also love what he says in a free podcast about "Clarify the Win." What you praise will become part of this "same page" and vision.

Pause. A key time for preparation is during the semester break-- thankfully in Germany, there are 6 weeks between the 2 main semesters. And coming together is a great time to stoke the larger vision! To get away from the daily rush of having to crank out a program, and stop long enough to plan. If you have the funds & time, it's helpful to get away from your normal surroundings for building team or planning. An overnight at a retreat place is great. Maybe even if you just went to Starbucks for a few hours!

Pray. This joins hearts like nothin' you've ever seen. You can also combine worship, music & a Bible study. You find it hard to be irritated at one another, while praying together. Now, I don't mean to use this as a manipulation tool; but let's be frank-- do we ever go to God enough in prayer? I don't. We intercede for each other personally and for our vision.

Play. Games help you get on the same page, without even realizing it! Laughing. Finding out personalities (who is competitive!). Preferences (like which color you prefer for your "place marker"). We organized 2 events recently with our group -- one for overall semester planning. To start things off, Anja had a cool game where she tore out pages from magazines. Then she cut out just one small block from that photo. In teams, just by looking at that small slice, we had to guess what the REST of the photo (the larger picture) might be!

Afterwards we explained the theme: all over the room we had taped up pictures of puzzle pieces. I shared that life may sometimes seem like a bag of marbles where each one is different. We are all just dropped on this earth or in our city. There is no rhyme or reason as to why we're here or our relation to each other.

"Life seems to be a series of unrelated, disjointed events and experiences."1

(in photo above are: Ollie, Stephanie, Dodo, & Kris)

However, the biblical model of life is that life is more like a jigsaw puzzle. We are unique as individuals. But the pieces have a pattern and we all "fit together" in a grand plan of God's! Even though sometimes things seem random, eventually (at the latest, in Heaven), we'll discover how things make sense. Our goal now is to please God and find out what HIS big perspective is for us, and the world! The verse we used is great:

"Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

- 1 Corinthians 13:12, New Living Translation -

Pizza was enjoyed by all ... (photo below: Anja, Sören, Stephanie, and Nikola). Ok-- you don't need pizza to be a good team, but we all know how valuable it is to stop and drink coffee together, or cook a meal. Sharing ideas over food is great!

We had a 2nd event, a seminar time just for planning our Bible discussion groups, that begin next week in 2 restaurants/ pubs, Alex & Eusebia (click here for photos & menu! :-). Our discussion leaders for this semester are Kris, Marc, Hanna, Christiane, Birthe, and yours truly!

(1 Milt Hughes, "Life Perspective" in The Journey Notebook, 1995, which was published before by Lifeway as Spiritual Journey Notebook. The concept of the bag of marbles versus a jigsaw puzzle comes from his book!)