I used to work at the International Mission Board Office of Mission Personnel; mainly reading missionary wannabe applications, and then selecting and preparing candidates for overseas service. One main issue in sending short-term personnel overseas (two to three years) is the topic of supervision. Here is a lot of information out of Doran McCarty’s book […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
While there are many possible definitions of supervision, the following fulfills our unique perspective in Christian ministry: “Supervision is the development of a support system for the enrichment of the personhood and performance of task.” The definition has several important parts. Supervision is developmental: It does not happen with full maturity from the first day. […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
There are good and poor supervisors. The best supervisors have good positive personal qualities and follow the proper roles that make them good supervisors. Many books on supervision have reported surveys about the characteristics of good supervisors. Usually these have some characteristics in common and others are different. I read a story about Doran and […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Supervision has many models, some of which are appropriate to one context but not to another. Moses had a crisis model until his father-in-law taught him the administrative model (Exodus 18:13, 14, 17-18, 19-23). David used a military model, Nehemiah was a great administrator. Jesus used the intern model. The point is that there is […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
“Covenant” is a word that has been used to described numerous relationship between people throughout history. People still make covenants today. In many states, a marriage license is called a “marriage covenant.” Covenants are necessary for good supervision. Covenants are not job descriptions. A job description relates only to task issues not personhood issues. A […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
This post will serve to guide supervisor and supervisee through the covenant development process. The first section, Covenant Worksheet, will provide answers to the questions that must be asked prior to the writing of the covenant. It will take a few days or weeks for the supervisee to understand his/her assignment well enough to complete […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
The states of supervision describe the development and quality of working relationships between the supervisor and the supervisee. People in working relationships pass through four states in this order: structure, cooperation, fellowship and partnership. They cannot decide arbitrarily to start out in the second, third, or fourth state. They must begin in the first state. […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
This regularly scheduled supervisory conference provides the routine that will bind much of the anxiety which normally occurs in a supervisory relationship. It is not a staff meeting. It is a one-on-one conference where each party helps develop the agenda. Before the Conference Preparation: (independently for both supervisor and supervisee) Review written notes from previous […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Following up on the States of Supervision, my friend Glenn Prescott developed this study as an example of Jesus modeling the different states of supervision. Jesus was intent on equipping men and women to make a significant impact throughout the world they were called to touch. Structure provided the foundation out of which all ministry […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace." (Acts 20:24)
"The biggest deterrent to growth in most churches is lack of confidence in God's supernatural power to grow His church. We are obsessed with our own responsibility to find resources for growth. When our natural resources seem limited, our vision shrinks and we accept mediocrity. We can't grow the church, but God can! We don't have the resources, but He does! "
(Ken Hemphill, Revitalizing the Sunday Morning Dinosaur)
Worldliness is not the trap that most endangers us as Christian workers; nor is it sin. The trap we fall into is extravagantly desiring spiritual success; that is, success measured by, and patterned after, the form set by this religious age in which we now live (Luke 10:20). Never seek after anything other than the approval of God, and always be willing to go “outside the camp, bearing His disgrace.” (Hebrews 13:12-14)
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for April 24
You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13)
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