We might hear a variety of responses if we were to ask the question, “What is the most important characteristic in an effective ministry worker?”.
Traits Found in Effective Ministry Workers
Possible suggestions could be:
Intentional: We need to know our purpose and make deliberate efforts to follow the process for getting there. Intentionality is important because people need to believe that where we’re going will make a difference in their lives.
Honest: We need to be authentic, transparent, real. Honesty is important because people need to sense that they can trust us.
Consistent: We need to practice what we preach, always be fair, and bring some sense of stability into this chaotic world. Consistency is important because people need to know that they can count on us.
Sensitive: We need to understand and accept that not everybody is at the same place in their walk nor do they have the same needs. Sensitivity is important because people need to feel that they matter to us.
The Most Important Characteristic in Ministry Workers
The importance of the above mentioned traits isn’t merely to make us more effective or make us look good to others. Rather, it’s the effect we have on the people we serve. The message these traits relay to the people we serve matters. If we aren’t connecting with people, all our smooth-running programs or eloquent words will lack the full impact they could have. So, the most important characteristic for ministry workers is …
Love: We need to give of ourselves to others in ways let them see how devoted we are to them. That includes all of the above traits and more. Love matters because people need to know we truly care about them.
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. (1 Cor. 13:1-3)
Very good. Sometimes many church goers don’t know these qualities in them.
Unfortunately, you are right Ps. Martin. As church leaders we need to constantly point people to the One with the power to develop these qualities within us. — “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Pet. 1:3-4) — “… it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Phil. 2:13)