February 2024 News - National Association of Church Facilities Managers

What Does Teamwork Really Mean?
MESSAGE FROM NACFM PRESIDENT TORY KORTHUIS

If we were gaskets each member would be a unique size and bring diverse strengths. Like gaskets, each person plays an important role in the function of the system. If a gasket is missing or damaged, then the system will not work properly – each one is needed. We need the whole team to be effective.

Our NACFM members are crafted with different talents that complement each other. Each person provides a different perspective and experiences that are needed for the sharpening of the whole group.

Proverbs 27:17 echoes this sentiment, saying, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

Similarly, Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 reminds us, "Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up."

In challenging times, a brother or sister can lift another with advice, encouragement, and prayer. We are not meant to do life alone.

Trust is like the glue, as mentioned in Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

We trust that God will guide us by bringing the right people, the right solutions, or the right plan. When we take hold of that trust, we can be assured that everything runs just as the Lord intends. We may have challenges, but we can rest assured that the Father is present and that his intentions are fulfilled. HE will make your path straight.

Our journey as Facility Managers involves team building, so let's celebrate the small victories that represent milestones along the way. Our team works much better if all parts are unified and doing exactly what God has called them to do. Philippians 2:2 encourages unity, saying, "Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind."

Our purpose is greater than fixing what is broken. Our purpose is to love one another, caring for one another, and when we do that well, God’s goodness hovers. It creates an environment that attracts his favor, and HIS purposes are achieved.

In the collaborative space, accountability is our guiding principle. Each team member, like a caretaker, plays a role in nurturing the team's success. Galatians 6:2 underscores this responsibility: "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ."

Celebration becomes our shared goal. It boosts our spirits to acknowledge achievements, no matter how big or small they are. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 inspires this culture of appreciation: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

We all need to remember that we never grew up saying, “I’m going to study to be a facilities person”. Let’s celebrate together that God has entrusted you to oversee the maintenance of his building, and, more importantly, to affect the lives of those that you work with and encounter daily.

In the craziness of team building, let's be agile and adaptable, learning from challenges and evolving together. Romans 12:4-5 emphasizes the interconnectedness of our efforts: "For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ, we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." Take the time to teach others by joining your team.

In the simplicity (and sometimes the complication!) of our daily interactions, let's recognize that teambuilding is an ongoing process, not a destination. By embracing a culture of collaboration and mutual support, we cultivate an environment where our team can thrive and grow organically, resonating the principles found in Colossians 3:14, "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

It takes time to learn and train the people on your team. Build them up in a positive atmosphere. Take time to listen and show them new skills to boost their desire to learn. I have reached out numerous times to the members of the NACFM to help me grow and learn about this new position I’m in. I could not have done it without teamwork!

God bless!!

Tory Korthuis, CCFM
NACFM President

Featured Member: Lesa Bartlett
Facilities Director at Lifepointe Church, Fort Mill, SC

As Facilities Director at Lifepointe Church, Lesa has her hands full with the 33,000 sq ft church campus. On top of that, Lifepointe is adding 24,000 sq ft over the next year. Currently, they have a 600-seat auditorium and provide three Sunday services, going to four by mid-February.