Peter Drucker famously said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” He was not diminishing strategy. He was simply recognizing the overwhelming influence culture has on people. It dominates everything else. It is constantly teaching, constantly showing people what is most important. By culture, I am referring to the shared values and beliefs that undergird all that the ministry or organization does. How can you tell if you have a healthy ministry culture? Here are three marks of a healthy culture:
Prayer
In a healthy ministry culture, there is a culture of prayer. People sense the freedom to stop meetings, not just begin meetings, to pray. People come to work surrendered personally, having spent time with the Lord. Prayer is not an afterthought or a transitional moment in a healthy culture. Oswald Chambers wrote, “Prayer does not equip us for greater works. Prayer is the greater work.” Prayer shows that we trust God and not ourselves, not our creativity, innovation, work ethic, or skills. Unless He builds the ministry, we labor in vain. Without prayer, an utter dependence on God is lacking.
Laughter
In a healthy ministry, there is joy. People enjoy their roles, the mission, and each other, and laughter is often the expression of the joy they share together. There does not have to be Tuesday trips to the bowling alley for the staff to get along (not that there is anything wrong with that), but they actually enjoy working together and serving alongside one another.
New Leaders
The fruit of a disciple is another disciple. The fruit of a healthy ministry is developed leaders who multiply the ministry and expand the kingdom. In a healthy ministry culture, new leaders are given opportunities to be developed through serving, and seasoned leaders are there to provide coaching and encouragement.
These markers are far from exhaustive, but check them in your culture. Is there a dependence on God displayed in prayer? Is there laughter in your halls? Are new leaders being developed and deployed?
