Over the course of this series, we’ve explored a range of Ministry Priorities that help us lead with greater purpose, clarity, and effectiveness. We began by focusing on the importance of Keeping the Main Things the Main Things, before unpacking a set of priorities under the banner of Action-Focused Leadership.
My last post focused on the fifth of the priorities in this second group, reflecting on the importance of building Strong Support Structures that ensure nobody has to lead alone.
As we move into the final group of priorities – Equipped to Advance – we turn our attention to another essential leadership principle: EXPANDED TEAM.
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“The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
Luke 10:2 (NLT)
“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9 (NLT)
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The Ministry Was Never Meant for a Few
Many BB Companies are blessed with committed leaders who faithfully serve year after year. These leaders organise programs, communicate with parents, manage administration, prepare devotionals, mentor boys, plan camps, coordinate events, and often do a hundred other things that nobody sees.
The problem is that, over time, a ministry can become dependent on a handful of people carrying most of the load.
While this often begins with good intentions, it rarely ends well.
Eventually, people become tired. Capacity becomes stretched. New ideas become harder to implement. Succession becomes uncertain. In some cases, ministry effectiveness starts to decline, not because people stop caring, but because too few people are carrying too much.
Healthy ministries are rarely built around a few heroes … Healthy ministries are built by teams.
One of the most important responsibilities of leadership is not simply completing tasks ourselves. It is creating opportunities for others to contribute, grow, and serve.
Actively Seek to Involve More People
This sounds like such a and obvious and simple statement. But … is it?
An expanded team never happens accidentally. It requires leaders to intentionally look for ways to involve more people in the mission. Sometimes we assume people are too busy. Sometimes we assume they wouldn’t be interested. Sometimes we assume nobody else can do the job as well as we can.
But often these assumptions become barriers to growth.
The reality is that many people are willing to help if they are personally invited, given a meaningful role, and adequately supported.
This may include:
- Parents helping with special events
- Former BB members serving occasionally
- Young adults assisting with activities
- Church members providing practical support
- Omegas taking on leadership responsibilities
- New leaders serving in small but significant ways
Not everyone will be called to formal leadership, but everyone can contribute something.
When we actively seek to involve others, we strengthen both the ministry and the people serving within it.
After all, part of our role as leaders is not just delivering ministry. It is developing people.
Share the Load
One of the greatest myths in leadership is believing that asking for help is a sign of weakness. But, in reality, the opposite is true. Strong leaders understand that sustainable ministry requires shared responsibility.
Even Jesus chose to build a team. While He could have accomplished His mission independently, He intentionally involved others in the work. He taught them, empowered them, entrusted responsibility to them, and sent them out to serve.
If Jesus built a team, surely we should too.
Sharing the load creates multiple benefits:
- It reduces pressure on individual leaders
- It creates opportunities for others to grow
- It develops future leaders
- It improves sustainability
- It strengthens ownership across the ministry
Perhaps most importantly, sharing the load helps ensure the ministry is not dependent on any one person.
A healthy Company/Battalion/State should be able to continue flourishing because responsibility is distributed across a capable and engaged team.
Many Hands, Smaller Loads
One of the simplest leadership principles is also one of the most powerful: It’s better to have lots of people doing a few tasks than a few people doing lots of tasks.
Too often, enthusiastic leaders unintentionally become bottlenecks. Every decision, every task, every responsibility flows through the same small group of people. Eventually those leaders become overwhelmed, while others remain underutilised.
An expanded team takes a different approach. Rather than asking a few people to do everything, we identify lots of manageable opportunities for people to contribute.
… Someone organises supper
… Someone manages attendance
… Someone coordinates equipment
… Someone assists with administration
… Someone handles communications
… Someone mentors a younger leader
… Someone prays regularly for the ministry
Individually, these contributions may seem small … Collectively, they make an enormous difference.
When many people each carry a small piece of the load, nobody becomes overwhelmed and everyone has an opportunity to participate in the mission.
Creating a Culture of Involvement
Expanding the team is not just about finding volunteers. It is about creating a culture where involvement is expected, celebrated, and supported.
This means:
- Regularly identifying potential leaders
- Providing training and encouragement
- Delegating meaningful responsibilities
- Thanking and appreciating those who serve
- Creating opportunities for people to grow gradually
- Being willing to let others do things differently from us
The final point is particularly important – expanding a team requires trust.
Sometimes others will approach a task differently than we would. That is okay. The goal is not to build more people who do everything exactly as we do. The goal is to build more people who are actively contributing to the mission.
Growth often requires letting go.
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SO, WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE THIS WEEK?
As you lead, consider:
Who could I intentionally invite into our ministry team?
What responsibility am I currently carrying that could be shared?
Is there someone who is ready for a greater opportunity to serve?
How can I help develop the next generation of leaders within my Company?
Leadership is not about doing more and more yourself. It is about helping more and more people become part of the mission.
Being an Expanded Team is about recognising that ministry is strongest when it is shared.
It is about leading in a way that says:
“There’s a place for you.”
“You can contribute.”
“We’re better when we serve together.”
When we do this well, we create healthier leaders, stronger Companies / stronger Battalions / a stronger State body, and a more sustainable future for BB ministry.
Reflection Questions:
What’s ONE responsibility I could intentionally share with someone else next term?
Who’s ONE person I could invite to become more involved?
Let’s continue to build ministries with an expanded team!
JASON KNIGHT
President, The Boys’ Brigade Queensland