Wednesday, September 4, 2013

One of My Very FAVORITE Ideas Ever!

When I was invited to be the interim worship pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, KY I knew there were more people involved than anywhere I'd been. I also knew there was no way I could quickly learn their names. (The choir had more people in it than the whole church I served before that!)

Since I was working with musicians, I wanted to use musical lingo to create a relational dynamic. So as I was pondering and praying, I think God graced me with an idea I called:


From Trios to Quartets

Here's what that looks like. As soon as three folks from the worship ministry signed up for a time together (a trio) I would join them for a conversation (forming a quartet). 

In those conversations I ask three questions:

1) What was it like growing up as you? (What did your parents do? Do you have siblings? Do you have children?)

2) If you could have one thing happen in the worship ministry that you are convinced would please God, what would that be? (Not a song, not a style, not a preference, but what would bring a smile to God's face?)

3) How can I pray for you? (Not for your family member or your coworker or friend at school, but for you--personally.)

What happened over breakfast meetings, lunch gatherings, or time in my office--both at Immanuel and at Woodburn--is nothing short of astounding. The four of us get to know each other in ways that would usually take years. In those 60-90 minutes sessions there is very often a sweet mixture of tears and belly-laughter.

Inevitably people who have known each other for years or decades get to know each other in new ways. Such a treasure!

And since one of my deep desires in ministry is to value people and let them know they're valued, this gives me insight into who they are and a chance to pray for them.

It really is one of my favorite ideas ever. 

I'm not sure you HAVE to be in a new context for this to work, but if you are ever in a new place of ministry, I invite you to steal this idea and claim it as your own!