Who We Pray We Will Be
In this brief series I have shared how significant the process of creating our staff culture document was for our staff. The document represents who we are when we are at our best. In that sense, it is a hope, it is a prayer we have lifted up to God. “Lord, by your grace, shape us to be this kind of team,” we have offered up to God.
My wife and I were recently doing couples counseling with a couple who had experienced such a series of letdowns in their marriage they were fearful to commit to even the most modest of changes for fear of failure. But, whether it is physical health, or your organization, there is no hope for change without the risk of the offering of prayers and dreams for what you want to become.
Below is our staff’s prayer for who we desire that God would shape us to be. You will see the value stated first, then a brief statement of what we believe that value is, and then ways we can measure that value. We are working on a longer document currently where we want to share stories of ways our staff has watched that value lived out as a team. This is a living document and likely will look different in six months than it does today. We see that as a good thing.
By his grace, we have already begun to see the small works of his transformative power among us. We have worked hard to press this into our lives and work together. I encourage you to take that risk with the team God has placed you on. If you have a staff culture document, I would love it if you would share yours as well.
Staff Culture
New Life Bible Fellowship
By God’s grace, we strive to live out these seven virtues:
Loving
We engage in one another’s lives as brothers and sisters in Christ.
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” Rms 12:10
Measurables:
1. We open up and share our struggles and joys with one another.
2. We know how each team member is best loved and love them accordingly.
3. We care about each other’s lives and encourage one another’s marriages and families
4. We treat each other with kindness and share life with each other outside of the office.
Collaborative
We share and work as a team toward common goals
“So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” Rms 12:5
Measurables:
1. We seek out contributions from others and contribute to other members ministries.
2. We create team goals defined by our vision.
3. We evaluate our success based on the team’s goals.
4. We are intentional in expressing gratitude toward one another.
Humble
We honor one another in our actions and attitudes.
“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.” Eph 4:2
Measurables:
1. We are committed to biblical conflict resolution.
2. We admit our faults, confess our sins, and graciously forgive each other without grudges, bitterness, or records of wrongs.
3. We give and receive feedback with grace, patience, and a willingness to change and grow.
4. We actively look for ways to serve one another.
Trustworthy
We are a team where it is safe to freely share ideas and feelings and are accountable to one another.
“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech.” Tit 2:7-8a
Measurables:
1. We fight against gossip and protect the character of our teammates.
2. We entrust ourselves to our teammates, and dependably care for those matters and information they’ve entrusted to us.
3. We are reliable and faithful in our timeliness and follow-through.
4. We assume the best of one another.
Prayerful
We pursue God together and depend on him for limitless results.
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.” Jms 5:17
Measurables:
1. We pray together for one another and for others.
2. We intentionally set God-sized goals, listening for God’s voice more than our ideas.
3. We pursue and practice personal spiritual disciplines.
4. We come together for special times and days of prayer and fasting.
Hard Working
We develop our skills and diligently use them with excellence.
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Col 3:23-24
Measurables:
1. We go the extra mile and encourage one another to a standard of excellence.
2. We understand our calling and our spiritual gifts and align ourselves with our work accordingly.
3. We work hard to grow vocationally and are known by being life-long learners.
4. We keep our commitment to our families first and protect our days off and vacation time.
Fun
We infuse our work with joy and laughter.
“A joyful heart is good medicine.” Prov 17:22a
Measurables:
1. We take God and his work seriously, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously, delighting ourselves in the Lord and in one another.
2. We celebrate and laugh with one another.
3. We do fun things as a staff.
STAFF CULTURE series:
Photo credit: Josh Calabrese/Unsplash