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(1/) Someone recently asked a group of friends for advice on joining a new ministry/project. Here is some of the wonderful input that was given:
1. From the beginning, establish healthy boundaries: Know your abilities & be ok w/saying “no” when the vision/task doesn’t fit.
1. From the beginning, establish healthy boundaries: Know your abilities & be ok w/saying “no” when the vision/task doesn’t fit.
(2/)...Boundaries, boundaries, boundaries – they are the most beautiful thing in the world, as Chesterton said.
2. Make sure expectations are clearly communicated from the start...
2. Make sure expectations are clearly communicated from the start...
(3/)...Often times, ministries have a visionary at the helm. These tend to be highly creative, confident, but very unorganized people. They tend to want to bring on people that can understand their vision and make it a reality because they can’t do it alone...
(4/)...Find out from the beginning how truly flexible the visionaries are, how specific their vision is, & how much control they want to exert. Ask, is this a collaboration?
They might be unclear about this themselves. Asking might actually help them see this huge blindspot.
They might be unclear about this themselves. Asking might actually help them see this huge blindspot.
(5/)...Why setting healthy boundaries/expectations from the start is good for everyone.
It can be wonderful volunteering if there is truly an openness to allowing others to come along&contribute in their own ways as long as they can.
ie-It's a real collaboration!
It can be wonderful volunteering if there is truly an openness to allowing others to come along&contribute in their own ways as long as they can.
ie-It's a real collaboration!
(6/)...It is hoped that when they ask you to join, they are aware of your abilities& these are what they genuinely desire. Healthy projects will let you go nicely when it is time for you to move on, too.
Expectations&boundaries seem very elementary, but oh how often we forget!
Expectations&boundaries seem very elementary, but oh how often we forget!
(7/)...It’s hard not to get swept up in a vision. The spiritual element of helping others adds tremendous draw.
This isn’t bad, but it can be such an emotional draw that it clouds our reasoning.
Spiritualize those emotions and you’ve got a recipe for problems down the road.
This isn’t bad, but it can be such an emotional draw that it clouds our reasoning.
Spiritualize those emotions and you’ve got a recipe for problems down the road.
(8/) I was so encouraged by all this great advice. I hope you are, too.
We have to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. We should never trust ourselves - not a whit!
Also, one more: make sure there is genuine/healthy accountability built into the leadership. So key.
We have to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. We should never trust ourselves - not a whit!
Also, one more: make sure there is genuine/healthy accountability built into the leadership. So key.
