Building Christ-centered Community
This article is part one of a four-part series, based on the following: An effective ministry leader (1) builds Christ-centered community, (2) focuses everyone on the purpose, (3) ensures everyone understands what’s happening and why, and (4) encourages everyone to grow.
People—that’s what ministry leaders lead. They don’t lead projects, they don’t lead processes, and they don’t lead organizations. They lead people.
Effective ministry leaders know this. And because they know this, they intentionally build Christ-centered community. While keeping Christ at the center, effective ministry leaders intentionally help individuals transform into a community—into a connected, caring, collaborative group of like-minded people (Eph. 4:16, Matt. 22:39, Heb. 10:24, Romans 12:2, I Peter 2:9).
Why do effective ministry leaders build Christ-centered community? Because they want the body of Christ to function well. Because they know that within Christ-centered community, individual Christians thrive and are empowered to use their God-given gifts for ministry.
“That sounds good,” you think to yourself, “but next Tuesday, I’ve got that meeting with the new ministry team. I need to know how to build Christ-centered community. What can I do?”
Good question. Reflect on building Christ-centered community, and then use your reflections with your ministry team. To get started, use these five questions:
1. What helps you center on Christ? Five things I’ve found helpful are reading God’s Word, praying, gathering with colleagues for devotions, talking about how a given ministry activity promotes the cause of Christ, and discussing a book like Paul Miller’s Love Walked among Us: Learning to Love Like Jesus. How could doing one or more of these five things with your team help you build Christ-centered community?
2. What helps you connect with others? I connect with others when I hear about where they are from, what they like to do, and their testimonies. I connect with others when I see their photos, become friends on Facebook, or have shared experiences (by going hiking, out to eat, or on a ministry retreat). What helps you connect with others? What would help your ministry team connect?
3. What helps you care about others? Hearing others tell stories about challenges they have faced helps me care about them. Praying for others helps me care about them. And serving others (by lending a listening ear, providing advice or practical help) helps me care about them. How could doing things like this with your team help you build Christ-centered community?
4. What helps you collaborate? Four things that help me collaborate are having opportunities to collaborate, understanding the workstyles and strengths of my teammates (see gallupstrengthscenter.com), knowing the group values (for example, focus, flexibility, empowerment, best practice, or growth), and learning about the style of teamwork a given group uses. What helps you collaborate? What would help your ministry team collaborate?
5. What helps develop shared understanding? Extended interaction with others. A facilitator leading a discussion on key questions like “What does Christ-centered community look like?” or “What helps us build Christ-centered community?” Reflecting on the ministry purpose statement and values. How could doing one or more of these things with your team help you build Christ-centered community?
Bottom line? Be an effective ministry leader. Build Christ-centered community.
What about you?
- What two to three words describe those involved in your ministry?
- What’s satisfying/unsatisfying about building Christ-centered community?
- How can you help others center on Christ, connect, care, collaborate, and be like-minded?
- How will you further build Christ-centered community?