It’s not about me. It’s not about you. It’s about how WE do this together.
–Sue Miller and Adam Duckworth, Orange

I repeat this phrase to my kid’s ministry team all the time. So much so, they are probably pretty tired of it. My goal is to create a team atmosphere. We are doing this together. We are all needed and important. No one is more important than anyone else, including me.

It’s not about me.

Leadership is not about me. That can be a tough pill to swallow and something I, unfortunately, have had to learn over and over and over again.

I make it “about me” when…

• I run around like a crazy person on Sunday morning to get everything done, when I should have other people involved.
• I routinely ignore boundaries of when to work and when to spend time with my family because everything is going to fall apart of I don’t send that e-mail.
• I am in charge of everything and make myself out to be the hero.
• I take meals to people and help serve needs when I should be inviting others to fill those needs.
• I put my need to have someone fill that volunteer spot over what is happening in their life at that time, instead of asking someone else. It’s work to continue asking for help.

My responsibility as a leader is to put myself in the background and let others be the hero. Then celebrate them! If I am the one coming out as the hero, then I am not leading well.

[ctt template=”1″ link=”6U9Kd” via=”no” ]If I am the one coming out as the hero, then I am not leading well.[/ctt]

I don’t like the word “recruitment.”  I prefer to use the word “invitation.” That is what we are doing. When we encourage people to join in ministry, we are extending an invitation for God to work through them.  If I am doing everything myself, I am taking away the opportunity for someone else to experience being used by God.

Inviting people to serve is not easy. Sometimes it requires a lot of asking before the right person is found or before that person says, “Yes.” It is so important to remember why people in our churches need to serve. These reasons need to compel us to never stop inviting others to join us in ministry:

• People who serve will grow spiritually.
• People who serve will connect with others and build relationships.
• People who serve will be more likely to continue attending church.
• People who serve will be more likely to take ownership of the ministry.
• People who serve are the leaders of our churches.

I am a football fan by marriage. I never watched a single game until I met my husband. From time to time I like to try to impress him by throwing out names of players to prove I know a few things. I have a perfect quote from Peyton Manning to wrap things up:

“The most valuable player is the one who makes the most players valuable.”

Ask yourself this question:  “What am I currently doing that I can give away to someone else?”

It’s not about me.