Question 8: What are a team leader’s responsibilities on the field?

Answer:

The team leader will be the contact person between the team and the field supervisor as well as the stabilizing force for the team.

• Lead your team to follow instructions from the field supervisor. The field supervisor gives the final word on any issues of ministry, culture  and appropriate behavior.
• Develop and maintain team unity by doing the following:
  1. Watch for conflict within your team and lead in godly resolution.
  2. Use the buddy system, and know where your team members are at all times.
  3. Check with team members about their emotional adjustment, and counsel any who need encouragement.
• Make sure each team member has the local phone number and address in case of emergency.
• Handle finances while on the field. Each situation will be different, and you will be the contact person for the team.
• Check the following items with your field supervisor:
  1. Should team members keep their passports and all their money with them or secure it with field supervisor?
  2. Who will reconfirm your flight home a couple days before departure? The team leader must ensure that flight confirmation is done.
  3. Where is pure water available? How often will it be available?
• Maintain support structure and procedures for your team while on the field.
  1. Find a location and time for corporate worship regularly.
  2. Help your team to guard against physical, emotional or spiritual exhaustion. Work with your field supervisor about taking one day a week off.
  3. Help your team to guard against dating or pairing off (even in same gender friendships) in order to maintain unity and morale among the team.
  4. Help your team guard against public displays of affection between men and women or any other activity that may be viewed as culturally inappropriate.
• PRAY, PRAY, PRAY! Below are some suggestions for guided prayer.
  1. Pray that God would glorify Himself (Ps. 72:19; John 17:1) and draw to Himself people from your host people group. (John 6:44)
  2. Pray for unity among believers. (John 13:34–35; 17:11b)
     1. unity on your team
     2. unity with your missionary supervisor
     3. unity among the believers in the host people group
     4. unity between believers of different people groups in your host country
  3. Pray that God would send more laborers to the harvest field in your host country.
  4. Pray for protection.
     1. protection against illness
     2. protection against violence and political machinations against the believers in your host country
     3. protection against sin that causes division within your team, with your supervisor and with local ministry partners
  5. Pray for a church-planting movement (CPM) among your host people group.
  6. Pray for wisdom.
     1. wisdom for developing relationships
     2. wisdom in ministry
     3. wisdom for your missionary supervisors as they follow up on the work that your team has done