Basketball legendary coach John Wooden once said that the way he builds the team spirit drastically changed because he changed a word that defines team spirit. Many of us try to have the team spirit by our willingness to lose ourself for the better of the team. John Wooden challenges us to change the word willingness to eagerness.

EAGERNESS to lose one’s self for the team. I think this is what every church planter and pastor must have – the EAGERNESS to lose our stature, our positional leadership for the betterment of the team.

Doing so eliminates pride, insecurity and mistrust. When the team operates this way – then the actions of each member is never in question. It is not just the willingness but the eagerness to see the team succeed whatever it takes even if it means losing whatever right or power you have.