How to Be An Excellent Co-worker in Ministry? Five Marks of An Excellent Co-worker [Part One]

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Note: This article is divided into two parts. I request the readers to study this material in its entirety in order to get a proper overview of my presentation. 

In my almost two decades of Christian living, I am privileged to have both the experiences, i.e. of being a co-worker under a leader and being a leader over the co-workers. To be honest, I have done many blunders but have also learned wonderful lessons from these experiences.

After having been through these two different phases of ministry, I see the necessity to address two things—"How to Be an Excellent Leader to Your Co-workers in Ministry?" and "How to Be an Excellent Co-worker in Ministry?" In this article, I would be addressing the latter. I hope the readers, particularly those who are co-workers in ministry, would be inspired to strive towards becoming excellent co-laborers in the ministry of Christ Jesus.

1. Carry a Sense of Ownership of the Ministry

One great mark of an excellent co-worker is this—he carries a sense of ownership of the ministry. Those who have this sense are deeply committed and greatly devoted to the ministry they work for. They are absorbed into the concern for the welfare of the ministry. And what a great delight to a leader to have such co-workers! Timothy was such a co-worker about whom Paul boasted,

For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel (Phi. 2:20-22).

On the contrary, it is a sad sight to see co-workers working without a sense of ownership. They are in ministry but seek their own interests. They have their own plans and agendas. They just do their work as a duty but no devotion is found towards their responsibilities. They seem to show great ownership only when they begin their own ministry or when they become a leader, but when they are under another leadership, they simply exist as passive co-workers. O, I have seen very very very few co-workers in my life who own the vision and the passion of their leader in ministry!

Co-workers who work with a sense of ownership do not work as if they are working for someone or for some ministry; they work as if the ministry is their own. They work with "our" mentality, not "his" or "my" mindset. They burn with tremendous passion for the ministry, for they believe God has placed them to fulfill His purpose. They love to talk about the ministry, sharing its vision and work. They cherish seeing their ministry rising and spreading its wings widely for the glory of God.

Dear friend, if you are a co-worker under some leadership, I encourage you to work with a sense of ownership of the ministry. Make the vision of the ministry your own. Be passionate to expand the ministry. Dream about the growth of the ministry. Talk and discuss about how the ministry can scale to new heights. Be burdened for the welfare of the ministry. Pour out your life to see great fruit in the ministry. Know that in all these things, you are pleasing the Lord your Savior Jesus Christ.

2. Be Diligent in Your Responsibilities

In his greetings to his co-workers in Romans 16, Paul boasts about them this way: “Greet the beloved Persis who has worked hard in the Lord” (16:12). “Greet Mary who has worked hard for you” (16:6). About Epaphras, Paul asserts, “For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis” (Col. 4:13).

What do we learn about these co-workers? They were men and women of diligence. How blessed Paul was to have them work alongside with him! Ministry flourishes under the labor of co-workers who pour out their sweat and strength for its growth.

Regretfully, it is a stress upon the ministry when co-workers are lazy and indisciplined in their responsibilities. It is written in Proverb 10:26, “Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.” In other words, it is frustrating, pressuring and painful in ministry to have lazy co-workers. Ministry immensely suffers under them.

But diligent co-workers are like sweetness to the teeth and pleasing to the eyes. Their labor is a delight to their leaders. They do more than what they are expected to do. When they see the need outside of their responsibility, they do not say, “That’s not my business”; instead, they take initiative to meet the need, either by themselves or by approaching or using the right channels. They don’t settle with the average; they strive for excellence.

Therefore, my brothers, if you are a co-worker, I urge you to work hard in your responsibilities. Resist mediocrity and be proactive and efficient in the things delegated to you. Ask your leaders on how to improve in your responsibilities. Give constant feedback of your work. Don’t mind to go the extra mile when necessary. Be mindful of sharing your ministry’s resources and tools. Wherever you go, be passionate to spread your ministry’s vision and work.

May you be such a reliable worker that your leaders be completely confident and rest assured of your diligence and accomplishments in ministry. What Paul said about Timothy, may it be testified about you by your leader, “For I have no one like him.” 

3. Help in Raising Funds

One of the tough challenging tasks in ministry is raising funds. Although money is not the most primary need in ministry, it is however a necessary element to support the work and the workers.

Oftentimes, we see that it is the leader leading the ministry who carry the great burden of raising funds for ministry. The co-workers simply receive the support and do not carry the burden of helping the ministry by raising funds. They suppose, “It is not my responsibility. I am just working for ministry, not leading the ministry.”

But what an encouragement it would be for leaders when co-workers partake in the burden of raising funds for ministry. It would reduce stress from leaders and also stimulate more work in ministry. The funds that you raise may not be much, but even the little thing you do would make a significant difference. Know, whatever you are doing, you are actually serving the Lord and building His kingdom.

My friend, if you are a co-worker under some leadership, do you strive to raise funds to support the work of ministry? When there is a lack of funds, do you suffer with your leaders to pray and be concerned to do something on your part in raising funds? Do you at times go to your leaders and inquire about the financial condition of the ministry so as to pray and help in raising funds?

Remember, it is a great joy to leaders when co-workers share the burdens of ministry and build together the ministry God has entrusted to His servants. [Click here to go to Part 2 of this article...] |  1 of 2