Benchmarking Our Ministry

Earlier this week I had to complete a training for my day job.   At first I was not thrilled as this training was in 5 parts and took around 6 hours to complete.    But it was required so I set aside some time and got it done.    In one of the sessions, it talked about different methods for measuring performance against the industry standards or industry "best in class".   Obviously, this pertains to my daily work however it really got me thinking about music and ministry.     One of the measuring tools I learned is called Benchmarking.   It's where other companies in the same type of work, consider you (or you them) the industry leader and Benchmark you as the goal to surpass.   The standard to achieve and reach beyond.   I started to think....How does this apply to ministry related work, and what does the Bible say about how we should pursue our ministry?
Hebrews 12:1 says
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.   And let us run with perseverance the race marked out before us"
A few things I noted in this passage.   First, we are to surrounded by cheerleaders.  Those who have gone before us.   They are cheering us on....providing a benchmark of faith and perseverance for us as we run our own race.   Second, we are to throw of everything that hinders and the sin that entangles us to run with perseverance.    A race cannot be finished without endurance.   We are not in this alone and we must strive to make it to the end, not half heartedly, but still going strong.   Lastly, It's the race marked out before us....our race is marked.   Marked by goals, marked by growth, marked by those who have already gone ahead.    I have run many races as an adult.   And while the race is up to me to complete, seeing the footsteps of those before you, can push you to keep going when you grow tired or week.  Like benchmarks to follow behind.
Then there is the parable of the men with the three servants in Matthew chapter 5 verses 14-30.  The Bible tells us that the master goes away for a time and entrusts his servants with money while he is gone.  One with 5 bags of silver, one with 2 and one with 1.    The man with 5 invests and earns 5 more, the man with 2 invests and earns 2 more and the man with one is afraid and buries his in the ground.   When the master returns he is pleased with the first 2 men and angry with the third because he did not reap a harvest from the money.  He calls his "wicked and lazy".    In this scenario, the man with the 5 bags is the benchmark.   Although the man with 2 bags had less, they both made the most of what they had by doubling profits, and were both given more responsibilities.  I imagine that maybe the man with two bags may have looked at the man with 5 and followed his lead, knowing that he was wise and trust worthy.   The man with one....perhaps intimidated that he received the least.  Perhaps unmotivated because he figured he was not as trusted as the other two servants.   Perhaps he thought "what is one more bag for the master who is so rich already?" so he decided not to bother.   He decided to keep the money safe without using it for good.   If he instead had pushed himself, if he had instead chosen to follow the path of the other servants, he would have pleased his master and received more responsibilities as a good and faithful servant.

As a little girl, I dreamed of one day taking that stage, at the Dove Awards, or Grammy's and accepting an award for song of the year or perhaps new artist of the year (don't lie, you've made up fake speeches too)...As I got older I began to feel that not only was this a long shot dream but perhaps even a frivolous one.   I began to feel guilty even thinking about it or being at all motivated by it.    But here's the thing....I am realizing that setting a benchmark for myself, while not the purpose or sole motivation of my ministry, does push me.   It does make me work harder, practice harder, pay more attention to the craft.    It's easy to get lazy.....it's easy to make excuses or be afraid.  It's easy to slack on practicing or settle on a lyric.   It's easy to write alone rather then with someone because it's vulnerable and intimidating.   It's easy to turn down an opportunity because it might be challenging. But should the opposite not be true?   Should we not try even harder?   Should we not work for God and not man?
 Colossians 3:23-24 says "Whoever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
I am not saying we should all consider our benchmark to be an award ceremony or a hit song.   You may even be thinking "I don't write or sing or play so what does this have to do with me?" But it is for every part of our lives as Colossians says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart..." There are others who have gone before us, others around us, walking out there lives in similar callings, and perhaps we can use their examples to push us forward.   To help us make goals and pursuits that keep us running toward the prize.     Keep us pushing toward excellence, so that when we meet our Master we will hear Him say "well done my good and faithful servant"

Garbage City

Today I was reminded of a trip I took about 8 years ago.

It was a missions trip to Egypt and Syria.    A 10-day journey filled with worship, ministry, baba ganouch, and spiritual warfare.    Before we left for the trip we spent weeks together as a team praying for each other and for those we would encounter.   We talked about the power of prayer, hearing from the Lord, praying for pictures or visions to encourage others, and praying against our own struggles and strongholds.   For me it was fear.   I knew that this trip would potentially be filled with danger.   We were going to a place where I was told, they did not like Americans, and where they certainly do not like Christians.  At the time, the wars and battles going on today were not waging the way they are now but in my heart I knew it was not something to be taken lightly.     A few days before we left the Lord gave me a dream that filled me with such peace that I knew He had heard our prayers and was walking with us.   

 I will never forget the feeling walking off the plane in Damascus after a 12 hour flight.   We were tired and a bit jet lagged and yet there was this tangible, heaviness.   It felt like a great weight, and magnification of a spiritual war.    I have never in all my life felt anything like it.    You would hear the sounds of the Muslim call to prayer multiple times a day….There were thousands upon thousands of satellites on buildings everywhere, covered in dust, that we were told had thousands of channels most of which were porn.   It was desert covered with historical monuments that served as reminders of the heritage of slavery and redemption of God’s chosen people.    It was like standing in the aftermath of a war, and yet having the sense that the war was still going on.  A spiritual battle that could not be seen but only felt.    I remember thinking in that moment, that suddenly all of my struggles seemed to be magnified, but yet at the same time all of my strengths were magnified as well, like a veil was lifted and suddenly there was this heightened sense of reality.    Was this because of all our prayers?   Was this the Lord showing us a glimpse of the spiritual world?   Was this the results of thousands of years of spiritual battles over God’s people and His territory?  Or perhaps due to a people more desperate for God because of real, ever present, life-threatening persecution?  Perhaps all of the above…

Over the next few days we were taken on a tour of many of the Egyptian monuments and churches.    We were blessed to have a Christian tour guide who took us to one of the most memorable and significant places I have ever been.   This place was called Garbage City.  It was a place that over the last 100 years or so, has provided a haven for many believers.    To bargain for freedom, Christians agreed to live in this town and collect trash from the local cities.   In exchange, they would be allowed to live and worship in peace.      When you drive into the town it is nothing but torn down, filthy buildings filled with garbage and filth.    It’s hard not to think “how can anyone live here?” but then you make it to the center of the town it opens up to this incredibly beautiful courtyard.   Surrounded gardens and thick sandstone walls, they gather together to eat, play and enjoy each other’s company.   On the walls are dozens of carvings done by 1 man who came to spend time there as a tourist and ended up staying for many years after feeling the Lord’s call.    He carved images from different stories in the Bible, telling such a vivid tale of victory and redemption with such beauty and power.   Within the garbage city community there are a few churches.  They meet multiple time s a week and regularly experience healings and miracles.   And in the center of the courtyard, a man, who does tattoos.    This tattoo is the Coptic Cross.   More familiar now perhaps as more and more refugees find a home here in America.   It is a sign of faith…a declaration of hope, and belief in Jesus Christ.   It is most often put on the right inner wrist so that when you shake someone hand it can be seen.    A few of us decided to get one that day.   In this little hand built station surrounded by loving, kind, grateful people who could not speak English but knew we were family anyway.   People who choose to believed despite their circumstances and challenges.  Who choose to embrace God’s goodness even if it means living with the trash of their enemy.  People with very little of worldly value but rich in faith.  I thank the Lord for my time there.   I thank Him for that experience because it opened my eyes.   And each time I see the tattoo I am reminded of those sweet people.   I am reminded that God still moves and works on behalf of His children.  I am reminded of redemption, and His ever present, ever working Spirit.   I am reminded that here in America where we are comfortable and safe, that sometimes we forget that the war is not against flesh and blood….That there is a battle raging all around us all the time.   That we must stand up and pray….Fight for this country and for our brothers and sisters in Christ who die everyday for Jesus. Romans 12:2

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.