Non Drastic Change

Next month I will begin teaching my first full time class at a Bible College in Australia. I am confident that God will use me because I have spent the last year preparing myself for this teaching ministry. Much of that preparation came through research and reading. But part of it came through talking with Believers in the area. I asked many of them what I should do in order to become a strong teacher at the Bible College. I was interested in hearing their advice, but also wondered if many of them would give the same advice.

Surprisingly almost everyone who I asked voiced the same desire. They said it in different ways but their answer did not change. It was not for classes that challenged them academically. It was not for classes that were more practical. More media in the class room was not asked for. Instead I was told repeatedly by Believers that they wanted flexibility.

Flexibility in the mind of these Australians is that the Bible College adapt to their needs and schedules. There was a desire for classes to be offered at night and in module forms so that those who work during the day can take them. There was also interest in giving students more liberty in the way they choose which class to take.

The results of my question surprised me. Currently there are not many students at the Bible College where I minister. I was afraid that in order to gain students serious changes would have to be made. But after talking to these people I see that is not true. They simply want more flexibility or freedom in the way we do ministry.

Flexibility is one of the hardest characteristics to develop in ministry. You run the risk of adapting to the needs of others too strongly and giving them control instead of God. Or you adapt too little and end up with a weak ministry. It is very tempting to just give up on being flexible altogether and ask that others adapt to our way of doing things.

Even though it is tempting we must not refuse to be flexible. But it is important to make sure we are flexible on the right things. It is okay be flexible (adapt or change for the good of others) with our methods of ministry. It is not okay to be flexible with our doctrinal or theological beliefs. The role of leaders in ministry is to clearly understand what their methods, and doctrinal beliefs are. This way they can be flexible (with methods) and inflexible (in doctrine) at the same time.

It is easy to become discouraged when it seems change is needed in ministry. This discouragement can lead people to make drastic changes which may not be necessary. Many times a few small changes in the methods will bring new life and energy to the ministry. Change does not have to be about tearing everything down and building it again. Usually it just involves finding what the people want and giving it to them.