5 Biblical Aspects of a Healthy Team
January 2025
"You can read a lot of books about teams, go to a lot of seminars, ask ChatGPT or Google AI, and come up with a bunch of similar and overlapping keys. But here are five of mine," shared Ted Offut at our Global Staff Conference in January 2025. Ted's insights come from years of serving on mission field teams and now serving as director of our Church Planting Network. His perspective highlights five biblical aspects that are crucial for fostering healthy teams in ministry.
1. Start with Intimacy with God
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4)
Healthy teams begin with individuals who are humbly walking with God. Ted emphasizes that this foundational aspect shapes every interaction and decision in ministry. Without intimacy with the Lord, selfish ambition and conceit can easily creep into team dynamics. When team members prioritize their relationship with God, they naturally adopt humility and focus on serving one another.2. Have the Same Purpose and Goals
"Be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind" (Philippians 2:2).
A healthy team is unified around a clear mission, with short- and long-term goals that everyone agrees on. Having the same purpose and goals is what transforms a group of individuals into a team. "If you don’t have a purpose that you all agree on and goals that you are trying to achieve together, you are not a team," Ted explains. Success is not measured by individual achievements—but collective victories.3. Collaborate Sacrificially
"For the body does not consist of one member but of many." (1 Corinthians 12:14).
Collaboration is essential for a team’s success. Every voice matters, and every member contributes. Ted uses scripture’s metaphor of the body to illustrate how each person’s unique role enriches the team’s work. A team can make better decisions when it has access to a diverse mix of backgrounds, strengths, and perspectives. A healthy team thrives on synergy, where the whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts.4. Have Clearly-Defined Roles
"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them" (Romans 12:6).
Having clearly-defined roles ensures that everyone knows their contributions and how they fit into the team’s mission. Ted shares how Encompass’s current training team has a “big picture” person, a “details” person, and a “research” person who all work together. "Everyone on the team knows the part they play," Ted explains. Tools like The Working Genius help identify and leverage these strengths, allowing each person to thrive within their role.5. Build Healthy Relationships
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:4).
Healthy relationships are the backbone of any successful team. When team members genuinely care for one another and seek each other’s success, trust and unity flourish. Ted points out that resolving conflicts quickly is key to maintaining these relationships. "Conflict is inevitable," he acknowledges, "but dealing with it promptly prevents deeper divisions and fosters a culture of trust and support." Love and mutual care enable teams to navigate challenges together, even in difficulty.Conclusion
Scripture makes it clear that God wants His family to operate on the same team. If we want to partner with Him in changing the world, we’ll need to work together. As the saying goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”More Stories
When Anna* was challenged to think about her goals for 2026, she sensed a clear nudge from God: begin preparing material to train others....
February 17, 2026
“In the 1980s, if you walked into a Christian bookstore in France, you’d find maybe two shelves of Christian books,” Florent...
February 13, 2026
As someone who’s spent much of his life planting churches in Asia, Ted now serves as the Director of Encompass...
February 10, 2026
Reaching the unreached is a beautiful idea, but it’s a lot easier said than done. Even so, Auburn Grace Community...
February 9, 2026
“I had no idea what Japan was,” Kya says. “Then my parents took me when I was 10, and now I wake up every day and think about...
January 30, 2026
Mika* grew up in Japan as part of a family that was culturally Buddhist, yet God gently placed people in her life who...
January 29, 2026
Grace Church in Simi Valley, California has been partnering with Encompass for over 60 years now, making us their primary missions agency. That...
January 23, 2026
The environment a child grows up in becomes their baseline for what’s normal. As you can imagine, children growing up overseas often form a...
January 23, 2026
“I never set out to become a crisis response person,” says Barb. In fact, if you had asked her younger...
January 21, 2026
