Introductory Questions to the Foundational Values
- What do you think about the YWAM Foundational values?
- How does the foundational values help us in achieving God purpose in our lives?
- How often do you go through the foundational values with your team?
- How many foundational values do you think your team is following?
- YWAM is committed to Know God, His Character and His ways. We affirm
the vital importance of hearing God's voice, seeking His counsel and obeying
His Instructions. (Num. 23:19-20, Deut: 32:3-4, Isa 6:8, John 5:30,
10:1-4, 16:13, Acts 16:6-10).
- How many of your staff spends a proper quiet time every day?
- Is there regular teaching and practicing on the steps of intercession and hearing God's voice in our teams?
- Do you feel your team members can hear God's voice regularly and do we encourage our team members to do so?
- Can you give a recent example of how you lead your team in seeking the Lord on a decision/plan/vision and what was the outcome?
- What are some practical ways we are trying to seek God more with our
team?
How are you implementing the knowledge about the character of God in the team life and in our ministry? - Have we done a study on any character of God in depth and in what situations have we applied it in our ministries and lives?
- How much time is given to teaching on hearing the voice of God and what teaching material are you using?
- What changes in your ministry do you see you need to make in light of this value? Do you need help in this area?
- YWAM is called to make God Known, through Evangelism, Training and
Mercy Ministries. All our activities should contribute towards the goal
of discipline the nations. (Gen. 12:1-3, Matt 28:19-20, Mk 16:15, Acts1:
8, 13:2-3, Romans 10: 9-18, 15:18-21).
- In what different ways is our team involved in evangelism and discipleship?
- How are our activities contributing toward the goal of disciplining the nations?
- When was the last time we shared the gospel with some one?
- Are our staff involved in regular evangelism?
- How are you equipping your staff and yourself and what ways can you improve on this more?
- In what ways can you improve in implementing evangelism, mercy ministries, and training in and through your team?
- What changes in your ministry do you see you need to make in light of this value? Do you need help in this area?
- YWAM recognizes the Bible to be God's inspired and authoritative Word
and relies upon the Holy Scriptures as the standard for life and ministry.
Obedience to the Word of God is an evidence of our commitment to Jesus Lordship.
(John 8:31-32, Heb 4:12, II Tim 2:15, 3:16).
- How do you collectively study the Bible with your staff?
- How would you describe your staff's knowledge of the Bible?
- How many of your staff know how to do Inductive Bible Study and how many are practicing it?
- Is there anything we are doing either personally or as a team, which doesn't line up with Biblicalstandards? What grey/unclear areas in regards to Biblical standards in your team bother you that you are seeking God and His word for clarification?
- What are some of the biblical principals that you hold on to as a team?
- Do you have a regular bible study schedule that you follow for yourself and for the team?
- In what ways can you impart a better understanding and desire for God's Word in the lives of those on your team and those you are reaching in your ministry?
- What changes in your ministry do you see you need to make in light of this value? Do you need help in this area?
- YWAM is visionary, doing new things in a new ways where new initiatives
are required to accomplish the Great commission. (Pro 29:18, Isa 42,
8-9, Hab 2:2, Matt 10:1-10, John 4:35. Heb 11:1-3).
- How are we as a team and team leader seeking God's face for new ideas, new vision for our ministry?
- What new ideas have do we have right now and how to we know if they are from the Lord?
- What new strategies have we recently put into practice?
- Where do you think your ministry will be in the next 5 years?
- How do you keep your ministry relevant to the changing trends of society around you?
- What guidelines do you follow in releasing new visions?
- Who are you mentoring to release them in new initiatives from your team?
- What changes in your ministry do you see you need to make in light of this value? Do you need help in this area?
- YWAM is international and interdenominational in its scope and constituency.
We believe that cultural, racial and theological diversity are positive
factors that contribute to that to the health and growth of the Mission.
(Matt 24: 14, Eph 4:1-16, Rev 7:9).
- What is the denominational, international, and national breakup of your team?
- What are we doing to build and promote a multi racial interdenominational team?
- Are there members on your team that feel out of place because of race, denomination, or language differences?
- What churches do your staffs attend?
- What changes in your ministry do you see you need to make in light of this value? Do you need help in this area?
- YWAM affirms the importance of the local church and seeks to promote
unity among all God's people. We endeavor work in partnership with other
believers building bridges among Christian leaders, churches and missions
for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. (Eph 3:8-10, Phi 1: 3-5,
I Thes 1:2-10).
- How are we including the local church in our ministries?
- Are we doing anything on our team to promote unity between all of the body of Christ?
- How are we partnering with any other church or mission agencies in our work?
- In what ways can you make fresh efforts for partnership with other churches and agencies in the next two years?
- Are you a regular member of a local church? Do your staffs attend a local church on a regular basis?
- What changes in your ministry do you see you need to make in light of this value? Do you need help in this area?
- YWAM is board structure and decentralized, with operating locations
linked together by relationship, shared values, accountability to international
leadership and a commitment to world evangelization. (Ex 18:17-26, Mk
10:42-43, John 8:36, I Cor 3:4-9, Heb 13:7,17).
- How are you accountable to your leaders and encouraging your staff to be accountable to you?
- Are we encouraging any of our people to think in a broader sense, i.e. going to other countries, locations Tamil Nadu, South India, Sub Continent to evangelize or pioneer?
- What are the steps you are taking to link with other ministries in YWAM in the city?
- What are we doing to raise our own funds? How much have you raised in the last one-year?
- What do you understand by decentralization? What do your team members understand of it?
- What changes in your ministry do you see you need to make in light of this value? Do you need help in this area?
- YWAM is called to praise and worship the Lamb of God, intercessory
prayer and spiritual warfare. We endeavor to resist the devil by moving
in the opposite spirit, which is the Spirit of Christ. In all things we
desire to keep Jesus central to our lives and ministry. (Psa 32:6, 100:1-5,
150: 1-6, Matt 12:23-29, Mk 11:24, John 17:15-21, Acts 1:14, II Cor 10:3-6,
Eph 5:19-20, 6:10-18, Col 4:2-3, I The 5:16-18, I Tim 2:1, Jam 4:7).
- Are we having regular times of team intercession, in which we endeavor to hear the voice of God, get His heart as to what to pray for, and then go into praying through every point deeply and thoroughly until there is no more to pray for, before moving on to the next point?
- Do we read newspapers and magazines to keep up with what is happening in the world, so we can more effectively intercede?
- Are we having regular times of worship?
- What regular intercessory schedule do you have your team follow?
- What other ministries do we pray for? And how regularly do you pray for them?
- How often do you pray for Chennai / other cities / places / countries?
- What changes in your ministry do you see you need to make in light of this value? Do you need help in this area?
- YWAM affirms the importance of living and holy and righteous lives.
We believe that holiness is a fruit of God's grace, transforming the motives
of the hearts, and affecting our words, conduct business dealings and relationships.
(I Sam 15:10-28, Psa 32:1-5, 51:6-17, Matt 5:8, II Cor 7:1, I Thess 4:7,
Heb 12:14).
- What is the atmosphere like on our team? I.e. is there gossip, slander, right (clear) relationships, forgiveness/unforgiveness, etc.?
- Are people conducting themselves with each other in holiness? In what ways? How many wrong relationships have happened under your leadership in the last one-year?
- Are we being responsible with our things and other peoples things?
- If we break something, do we pay for its repair or do we replace it or do we give it back broken?
- Are we paying our bills on time or do we allow debts to accumulate?
- What have you done to inculcate the importance of holy and righteous living to your staff members?
- What changes in your ministry do you see you need to make in light of this value? Do you need help in this area?
- YWAM is committed to doing, then teaching, according to Jesus example.
We affirm the importance of living a concept, theory or belief in personal
experience as essential to passing it on to others. We believe that godly
character and the fruit of the Spirit are more important than individual's
gifts, abilities and expertise. (Ezra 7:10, Micah 6:8, Acts 1:1, Phil
4:8-9, Col 3:1-17, II Pet 1:5-10).
- Are we living out what we teach and also teaching from our own experiences?
- Have our staffs ever pointed out that we do not practice what we preach?
- Have we ever released a person because of their abilities, gifts, and talents but their character was lacking and if so what did we do to rectify the situation?
- Are there people on your team that are being released more because of their talents than their character?
- What changes in your ministry do you see you need to make in light of this value? Do you need help in this area?
- YWAM is dedicated to being relationship oriented in our living and
working together. We desire to minimize the need for structure and rules
by leading lives of transparency, humility and open communication. (Gal
5:1, I John 1:7).
- How are we modeling transparency in our relationships?
- Are we living in humility? When was the last time you asked forgiveness of someone? Would you say that your staff are regularly admitting their failures, faults, and sins?
- Are your staff having relationships with others that they are accountable to in the personal struggles of their life? Do they meet on a regular basis for personal accountability?
- Is there a healthy environment on your team to share openly?
- Are we living in openness and brokenness? When was the last time you shared a personal struggle with your team and asked them to pray for you?
- Is there any unresolved conflicts / unforgiveness / bitterness in your team? If yes what are you planning to do about it and when? How quick are unresolved conflicts solved on your team?
- What changes in your ministry do you see you need to make in light of this value? Do you need help in this area?
- YWAM is called to value each individual. We believe all races, ages,
cultures and individuals --- male & female ---- have distinctive contributions
and callings. (Gen 1:27, Psa 139:13-16, Acts 13:1-3, I Cor 12:4-31,
Gal 3:28, Eph 2:19-22, 4:4-7).
- How do you make sure you are not giving any preferential treatment or favoritism to any team member?
- What kinds of preferential treatment are given to you because of your position of leadership? Do you think that can be dangerous or used against you in the future?
- How are you encouraging the use of the giftings and callings of the staff we have?
- How are you promoting individuals from other cultures and gender?
- What changes in your ministry do you see you need to make in light of this value? Do you need help in this area?
- YWAM recognizes the value of the family. We affirm the importance
of the fathers, mothers and children all sharing a call to missions and
contributing in unique, complementary and vital ways. We support the necessity
for each individual family to be a strong and health unit. (Due 4:9-10,
40; 6:6-7, 32:46, Pro 31, I Tim 3:4).
- Do we place more value on ministry over family? i.e. are we neglecting our families for the sake of "ministry"?
- Do we spend a good amount of time with our children -- imparting godly values to them, but also having fun with them?
- Do we take holidays with our families where there is no ministry done?
- Do we take time to regularly go out alone with our wife/husband, without children along in order to talk through personal issues?
- Is your team attractive for married couples to join?
- What changes in your ministry do you see you need to make in light of this value? Do you need help in this area?
- YWAM is called to champion young people. We believe in their leadership
and potential to change the world and are dedicated to equip them with the
tools to do so. (I Sam 2:18-19, 17:33-37, Jer 1:5-10, Dan 1:4, 8-9,
Joel 2:28, Acts 2:17, I Tim 4:12).
- What do you think of young people in leadership? What age do you think is right for a young person to be released into ministry?
- What do you think about youth between the age of 18-25 being released into leadership?
- Who are the second / third / fourth line leaders you have developed under you and what are their ages?
- What are you doing to recruit and develop young leaders?
- How much responsibility will you give for people under 25?
- What changes in your ministry do you see you need to make in light of this value? Do you need help in this area?
- YWAM is committed to team ministry. We recognize the functioning in
terms at all levels of the organization provides an opportunity for balance
of spiritual gifts and insights. (Pro 15:22, Ecc 4:9-12, Mk 6:7, Acts
10:25-26, 15:22, Eph 5:21).
- What do you do to maintain a good team spirit within your team?
- What activities in ministry do you do as team?
- How often do you take time off as a team and go on a holiday?
- How do you implement Pro 15:22 on your team?
- How have you balanced your weaknesses with other peoples gifts on your team?
- How do you involve your team people in decision making? How much input can they give in the final decision making?
- What changes in your ministry do you see you need to make in light of this value? Do you need help in this area?
- YWAM affirms personal responsibility and volunteerism, encouraging
individuals to seek God for guidance and direction regarding ministry roles
and methods of performing their work. We encourage personal initiative in
these areas, making decisions together with their leaders, both YWAM and
others. (Ex 3:4, I Sam 3:10, Isa 6:8, Matt 9:9, Mk 1:17-18, Acts 26:12-20).
- How do you process your decision-making?
- Who are you accountable to while making major decisions in YWAM and outside YWAM?
- How do you delegate responsibilities in the team?
- What changes in your ministry do you see you need to make in light of this value? Do you need help in this area?
- YWAM is called to servant leadership. A servant leader is one who
honors the calling of his/her followers and guards their rights and privileges.
Just as Jesus served His disciples, we stress the importance of those with
leadership responsibilities in our missions serving those whom they lead.
(Mk 10:42-45, Lk 17:7-10, John 13:12-17).
- Please explain JN 13:12-17 & Mk 10:42-45 and the term "Servant Leadership"
- Give 5 principles of leadership you follow in leading your team?
- What do you do to find the gifts and callings of God in the lives of your staff? How do you serve them into that calling?
- In what ways do you serve the needs of your team?
- What changes in your ministry do you see you need to make in light of this value? Do you need help in this area?
- YWAM makes no distinction between the sacred and the secular. We seek
to honor all functions equally within the Kingdom of God. No roles or ministries
are more important or spiritual than others. We seek to equip and mobilize
men and women of God to take roles of service and influence in sphere of
society. (Zech 14:20-21, Acts 11:9, Rom 12:3-8, 13:1-10, I Cor 6:19,
Col 4:14, Phm 1-2, Tit 3:13, I Pet 4:11, Heb 13:16).
- What initiatives are you taking to blend your ministry into both the secular and sacred worlds?
- What changes in your ministry do you see you need to make in light of this value? Do you need help in this area?
- YWAM is called to practice a life of dependence upon God and His people
for financial provision, both corporately and individually. (Matt 6:25-33,
Phil 4:6-7, 10-20, III John 5-8).
- What are you doing as individuals to raise your own financial support?
- How often do you write newsletters?
- How often do you express gratefulness to your regular or spontaneous supporters?
- Are we thinking of ways to bless those who do support us? Are we praying regularly for those who support us?
- Are the people on our teams paying their bills, responsibilities first? (like rent, telephone bills, etc.)
- Is there teaching from you on in your team on faith and finances? How often?
- What are you doing for your team members to raise their support?
- What are you doing to raise finance for your ministry as a leader? And how much have you raised this year?
- How much are you debt? How are you planning to settle it?
- What changes in your ministry do you see you need to make in light of this value? Do you need help in this area?
- YWAM is dedicated to hospitality. We believe it is important to serve
and honor all fellow YWAMers, guests and the poor and needy through this
ministry. (Rom 12:13, I Tim 3:2, Tit 1:8, Heb13:2, I Pet 4:9, III John
8).
- Are we practicing hospitality on our team?
- Do we have a hospitality-in-charge? Is he/she properly trained?
- Are all our team members encouraged to practice hospitality or do we leave it to the hospitality-in-charge?
- Are we concerned about the people who come to visit us?
- Do we practice hospitality between our own team members too?
- What changes in your ministry do you see you need to make in light of this value? Do you need help in this area?
- YWAM is called to practice generosity and to model and teach the spirit
of generosity in all we do. (Psa112:5, Lk 6:38, Acts 20:35, Rom 12:8-13,
Phil 4:17-18, I Tim 5:17, 6:18).
- Do we give sacrificially -- i.e. that we are willing to give away that which we value most?
- How much do we give from our team funds to other ministries?
- Have we taken on any projects that we as a team can be generous towards?
- What changes in your ministry do you see you need to make in light
of this value? Do you need help in this area?