Ministries Administrative Assurance Plan (MAAP)

The Driving Force Your greatest hindrance does not come from external sources. Being tactically ready will allow a ministry to effectively meet the needs of people within communities, cities, states, provinces, and countries around the globe. This will take a functional administrative management team structurally developed, and qualified. Yet, the reality is not every ministry is at the stage where they have the necessary resources to appoint a strong administrative team. Regardless to whether a ministry has been around for years, months, weeks, days, or moments, it takes time to birth, train, and invest in people who can function like a team of oxen yoked together with one accord in the ministry. One of the first assignments for any ministry is to develop an integral leadership team. This can be done by watchfully and prayerfully building a core of persons with an attitude of inclusion. This is of utmost importance; because, it promotes ministry growth and mission success. The structure of the administrative unit must be well organized. It should work like a well oiled and tuned vehicle if the ministry is to stay afloat and attain the heights it is called to reach. People, processes, and systems are needed to yield these results. So, a qualified administration must have at its foundation the four “P’s” of “Purpose”, and “People” for “Planning” the “Projects”. Missed mission opportunities due to a failure to prepare, neglect, or ineptness are not acceptable excuses. Missions are a necessity as they are a commandment of God unto every believer. As His elect we are here for the express purpose to “Go then and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (Perpetually, uniformly, an on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (So let it be). (Matthew 28:19-20 AMP) No matter your Christian denomination, the work of the Great Commission is to be done until we all come into the unity of the faith, unto a perfect man, fitly joined together. Thus, the church has an obligation to organize its’ affairs into productivity. If Christendom is not to be derelict in its duty to the community, the environment, and the nations at large then it must be serviceable in the world although it is not of it. The approach must be of sound judgment showing prudence, an ableness to handle business affairs. A major requirement is a mission statement; because, the mission statement helps to oppose useless activities that contribute to a waste of resources like impulsive-buying, and the behavior of sinking into the quicksand of overwhelming debt. This is called whimsical decision making which erodes the ministry by eating away at its resources and plunges it into desperation and danger. To effectively manage God's ministry deliberate biblical attention is needed. Meaningful biblical examination produces clarity in purpose, and it aids in writing a clearly focused mission statement that steers the people of God toward its assignment. Readily it can be seen that an administrative plan is useful. Having a plan, helps to eliminate damage to credibility, premature errors in ministry that can hinder progress and even abort the ministry’s mission. Scripture makes known not a man made idea but a divinely orchestrated pattern, "… God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." Notice, God did not randomly set these gifts in the church; rather, He was specific. The Master identified each gift in a set order. He chose an adverb to identify "How" the thing is done. The adverb causes the reader to see within the Scripture the order that God used, "First" then "Secondarily" and then "Thirdly;" each adverb characterizes a particular pattern; in other words "Order." Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible and Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words both render the word for "Administration" as "Governments or governing." The word administration comes from the Greek word. Set the order! Clear definition of roles is critical for proper alignment to adequately run a ministry. Yet, leaders who try to do the job alone typically burn themselves out along with the followers who are there to render support. Godly leaders should be authentic, so they can deliver adequate leadership and mentorship. As mentoring is a must wise leaders not only recognize the value, they too have mentors to guide and to hold them accountable. Equally as important as mentoring is the practice of delegating. This element of leadership can make a resounding impact on the success of the ministry. However, it is crucial that leaders understand that delegating does not relieve them from their responsibility. Delegating is a vital part of ministry; because, it enables leaders to focus on the bigger picture. Herein is another reason why training is important. The act of delegating lessens the leader’s distractions from those day-to-day, mundane type tasks that must be done but are routine enough to be handled by trained staff. Through this useful application of delegating, leaders are able to turn their attentions to central tasks and possibly achieve ‘A-look-ahead’ allowing them to plan forward with a keener perception. The key to successfully delegating is structure. To get the structure right, it will require applying the wisdom of the Word and following the leading of the Holy Spirit.