The Weblog of Dennis Dawson
Paperwork vs. Peoplework - 2009-06-11
I love David Letterman’s “Top Ten” lists (most of the time, that is).
Hans Finzel recently penned his own “top ten” in a book on leadership called The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make. Allow me to mention one of these ten: putting paperwork before peoplework. Indeed, ministry is not intended to be merely administration. Administration is important, but people must be first priority.
As we enter into the next months and years of a new era for the Metro-East Baptist Association, let’s focus on what we do and why we do it: Metro-East Baptist Association exists to assist local churches to do what God has called each to do in its specific context---to reach and disciple people for Christ. This means strengthening existing churches to become evangelistic, discipling, reproducing bodies of Christ. It also means assisting churches to plant church planting churches—again to reach new peoples for Christ. Further, we must assist local churches to become Acts 1:8 in practice—reaching people in our own back yards, the Metro East, Illinois, North America and the world for Christ.
Finzel reminds us that people will never care how much we know (paperwork) until they know how much we care (peoplework). May our peoplework exceed our paperwork as we reach the Metro-East for Christ!