“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).
Implementing the cellular vision requires a well-equipped leadership. The vision does away with traditional leadership of having only one leader and allows others, who have gone through restoration and training, to be part of a team working in the ministry.
Jesus gave us the best example of teamwork when he formed his group of twelve men. He equipped them by pouring His character into them with the expectation that they would become His co-workers during His earthly ministry. If Jesus, being God’s Son gave so much importance to teamwork, why shouldn’t we do the same? It took Him three years to form twelve men; molding their character, teaching them to be competent in order to continue the vision given by God: saving the world.
Currently, we acknowledge the importance of teamwork, as Jesus did, applying the strategy based on the model of the twelve disciples in order to reach others and develop the Vision.
To form a team of twelve you should know:
1. THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK
Just like Jesus, we also emphasize the importance of teamwork by applying the twelve-model strategy to reach-out and develop the vision. Nothing compares to teamwork, especially within the church. This facilitates growth; making it continual, solid and allows others to work in diverse areas within the church body – all geared to accomplish a common objective.
“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ”.
(1 Corinthians 12:11-12)
Where there’s teamwork:
- Work becomes distributed.
- The continuity of the work is guaranteed.
- Work never ceases.
- There’s continual motivation; everyone motivates each other.
- Multiplication is accelerated.
- The gifts and talents of others are valued.
2. TEAMWORK MAKES EVERYONE VALUABLE
Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus took everyone into account. He did not choose people because of their appearance, but by the potential He knew existed in them. In choosing His twelve, Jesus implanted His character in them and gave them spiritual authority to fulfill the evangelistic work in different nations of the Earth (see John 20:21-22). Today, we to can do what Jesus did through our twelve.
- CONSTRUCTING A BUILDING WITH HUMAN STONES
The church and its foundation the Lord refers to, is not one constructed with bricks and mortar and decorated with beautiful tapestries. It is one formed by people of all cultures, races and social classes. People are the church, and our main task is winning them to Him and carefully working with them, just as the Lord did with His disciples (see Matthew 16:17-18 and 1 Peter 2:5).
- EVERY PERSON IS A LEADER
The key goal to success is for each person around us to become a leader with the ability to lead others. Jesus selected twelve and didn’t choose them out of sympathy, but saw in them great leadership potential (see Luke 6:12-16 and 2 Timothy 2:2).
- THE SECRET IS IN THE TWELVE
The twelve-model has always been in God’s heart. The number twelve symbolizes government and authority. Jesus did not choose eleven or thirteen people, He choose twelve that were given the responsibility to spread His vision to the world. Restoring God’s altar begins when a team of twelve is formed. There is something supernatural in a group of twelve (see Matthew 10:1). The strategy can be defined the following way, “A revolutionary leadership model that consists of a ministry leader choosing twelve people to reproduce his character and authority in them, with the purpose of expanding the church’s vision -- facilitating the multiplying. These twelve individuals then choose twelve others, and those twelve choose another twelve; transmitting to them what their leaders had transmitted.”
3. PARAMETERS FOR CHOOSING YOUR TEAM
In general, we should do what Jesus did:
- WIN THEM IN PRAYER
Jesus prayed the whole night for those that were going to be part of His team and the following day, He spent His time choosing the twelve. We too must first win our team in the spiritual so that we can then see them in the natural (see Luke 6:12).
- CHOOSE FAITHFUL PEOPLE
Loyalty should be a quality that characterizes the members of your team in order to entrust them with the vision we received from God. Paul told Timothy to delegate the work to competent people, insinuating the importance of loyalty. Jesus took this into account when He chose His twelve (see Mark 1:16-20).
- CHOOSE PEOPLE WHO DESIRE TO SERVE THE LORD
A disposition to serve is another quality of someone who is part of a team of twelve. Jesus’ disciples were always willing to serve, they were motivated by the love they had for God and by the example of the Teacher – Jesus (see John 1:35-42 and Matthew 20:28).
- CHOOSE MOLDABLE MEN
The vision can only develop through men and women who are willing to enter a process to transform their character, thought life, and other areas of their lives with the hope that they will become useful vessels in the ministry. Each of us should visualize ourselves like clay in God’s hands that will be molded according to His purpose (see Jeremiah 18:6b and Job 10:9).
- CHOOSE PEOPLE WHO CAN BE TESTED
Great leaders stand out even in the midst of trial and adversity, for they consider trials a source of strength and a learning experience. Through trials and adversities is where we come to know the heart of the disciples and their fidelity is confirmed (see Luke 22:28).
Due to the opportunity it offers to work as a team, success in the vision is guaranteed. It does away with the limitations of the traditional model of church where all the duties and responsibilities fall upon one person. Jesus gave us the best example of leadership and teamwork when He chose twelve men to fulfill His ministry and transmitted His character into them. He dedicated time to shape them, so that they would receive authority to spread His vision to the world.
YOUR TEAM OF TWELVE
If you long to have a group of twelve, you must first allow Jesus to shape your character. Seek to obtain the characteristics of Jesus for you and your disciples. Ask the Lord for direction and begin winning your twelve in prayer.
o If you are not yet part of a team of twelve, try to do what is necessary to be considered and later become a carrier and promoter of the Vision.
o If you are already part of a team, begin to win souls with dedication and form each person in the same way Jesus did, so you will also develop your own team of twelve.
BIBLIOGRAFÍA
“ Liderazgo de Éxito”.
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