Work Matters: 10 Transferable Concepts from JH to All of Ministry

My first ministry position was serving as Director of Junior High Ministries at Grace Chapel in Lexington, MA. I ended up staying on the pastoral staff for over 11 years, in three additional leadership positions. But, the first few years were incredibly formative for my soul, my character, and my competencies as a pastor. There are several principles that were forged on the anvil of junior high school ministry. I call them transferable concepts because I’ve seen them replicated in every other ministry setting since that amazing season of life and service.

Here they are for your consideration:

1. Team – A team based ministry is superior to all other options.

2. Lead – Each team needs a competent leader who appropriately leads.

3. Relationships are #1 – People over programs…always.

4. Mimicry – Followers mimic…watch what you say and do.

5. 1 step ahead – Anticipate, plan, and always be one step ahead.

6. Management of stuff – Lots of things to care for; manage well.

7. Retreats – Time away from the routines deepens everything and everyone.

8. Context – You are not an island or a silo; you need and belong to the larger Body of Christ.

9. Church – Teach by words and example that God’s Church matters; positively influence health at all times.

10. Pray – Be in the Word daily, walk with God prayerfully, examen your life reflectively.

Spiritual formation includes every aspect of a believer’s life and daily ministry endeavors. My prayer for the teams I lead and the leaders I serve is that a whole-life perspective will guide, direct, and sustain…from the inside (our heart and soul) out (our service to others). May it be so for you today!

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Steve Macchia

Founder & President

The Rev. Dr. Stephen A. Macchia is founder and president of Leadership Transformations, Inc. (LTI), a ministry serving the spiritual formation, discernment, and renewal of leaders and learners since 2003. For more than 20 years he has been the Director of the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he also serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Doctor of Ministry Program. From 1989-2003 he was the president of Vision New England, the largest regional church renewal association in the country. Earlier in his ministry life, Steve was a member of the pastoral staff of Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts for 11 years. He is the author or co-author of 17 books, including The Discerning Life (Zondervan Reflective), and Crafting a Rule of Life, Becoming A Healthy Church (LTI), and Broken and Whole (IVP).  He and his wife Ruth live in the Boston (MA) area and are the proud parents of two married children and grandparents to three adorable grandchildren. Steve’s personal website is www.SteveMacchia.com.

My soul comes alive singing the great hymns of the church and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation. I’m in awe of God for fulfilling the dream for LTI that he birthed in my heart, for the team he has assembled, and the transformational impact experienced in the leaders and teams we serve.

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Mitzi Mak

Selah-West Faculty & Emmaus Faculty

Mitzi started her professional life as a high school social studies teacher. She and her husband Jerry then served cross-culturally for ten+ years, living abroad first in India and then Kurdistan, N. Iraq. In addition to being a Spiritual Director, she now serves as a Formation and Care pastor in her local church in Houston, TX. She has graduated from LTI’s Selah Spiritual Direction training as well as LTI’s Emmaus Formational Leadership Program.

Mitzi enjoys engaging conversation, reading fiction, doing jigsaw/crossword puzzles, ocean gazing and exploring the world with Jerry through food and travel.

God has two main callings in Mitzi’s life: to care for those who care for others and to be a guide in helping others have a healthy relationship with the Trinity – recognizing God’s loving presence and activity in their lives and how to faithfully respond.

Selah was a transformative experience for me – allowing the contemplative within to emerge and to beautifully co-exist with my extraverted personality.