When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. (Acts 18:5 NIV).

Effective team work allows each team player to utilize their strengths towards the achievement of the common objective.

The Apostle Paul had an influence that went further than he could have ever imagined. His encounter with the resurrected Christ and his dramatic turn from being the feared persecutor of the church to its great defender further substantiates the life-changing power of the gospel. Paul wrote thirteen out of a total of twenty-seven New Testament books. His missionary zeal is recorded by his co-worker and physician, Luke, in the Book of Acts. Despite hardships that included being scourged, whipped, shipwrecked, imprisoned, beaten and left for dead, and despite his struggle with his own physical health, he was able to complete at least three missionary journeys in which scores of new churches were planted.

What becomes clear as we read his letters and Luke's account of his mission in the Acts of the Apostles is that Paul could not be who he was or have accomplished what he did without a team of committed coworkers who shared a common vision.

Paul built teams composed of members who themselves would become builders of teams. Paul wanted Timothy to be on his missions team (Acts 16:3). Like Jesus, Paul prayerfully recruited those who could yield their specific God-given talents, spiritual gifts, and passion for ministry in such a way that their combined efforts could bring about greater results for God's glory.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work." (Ecclesiastes 4:9).

Timothy, in turn, was instructed to recruit and instruct other faithful and reliable team members who would not stop short of developing and training others (2Timothy 2:2).

Each team member has a unique strength to bring to the whole group. Each one possesses a key that can unlock a door that others are not able to open. Discover and appreciate the keys that each team member holds. Each team member is a '10' in a particular area of service. Everyone has the capacity to both serve and shine somewhere for God's glory.

The Lord never intended for His church to be filled with 'consumer Christians'. He wants an army with a fully mobilized membership. Every person is vitally important as is every aspect of a particular labor. Booker T. Washington, reputedly the most influential black leader and educator of his time said, "No race can prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem."

The Apostle Paul knew there was as much dignity in making a tent as in preaching a sermon. But because he discerned in Corinth that his primary role was to preach, his team members helped to make that possible (Acts 18:5). What a wonderful thing it is to have friends who make room for you to exercise your God-given gifts!

Only when we realize that God has called each one of us with an equally divine calling, can God's team, the church, effectively partner with Him and move towards the fulfillment of its fullest potential.