Build and Empower Your Team By Pamela Westbrooks

Strengthen Your Team Through Intentional Shared Experiences

The word team may not be found in the Bible, but the principles of teamwork are woven throughout God’s Word. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, we see examples of men and women working side by side to accomplish God’s purposes. Moses had Aaron and Hur to help hold up his arms during the battle (Exodus 17:12). Nehemiah rallied groups of families to rebuild the wall, each one working on a different section (Nehemiah 3). And Jesus Himself chose twelve disciples to walk with Him and carry out His mission after His resurrection.

In truth, a team forms the moment someone accepts Christ as their Lord and Savior. At that instant, a believer gains access to the most powerful “team” of all: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This divine partnership is our source of strength, wisdom, and encouragement as we seek to live out our faith as followers of Christ. 

God never designed us to walk alone! In Ephesians 4:11-13, Paul reminds us that believers are the body of Christ, each given unique gifts for the building up of the church. Together, the global church has a call to function as a team—interconnected, unified, and working toward the same mission of advancing the kingdom of God.

Stronger Together

Paul expands this idea beautifully in 1 Corinthians 12:17-28. He compares the body of Christ to the human body, reminding us that each part is necessary and valuable. Just as the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you,” no Christian can thrive in isolation. We were created to be interdependent, drawing strength from one another’s gifts and perspectives.

This same principle applies to the teams we serve today. A powerful team is not a group of people trying to outshine one another, but rather a group of members who recognize their God-given roles and work faithfully to fulfill them. Unity does not erase individuality; instead, it allows our differences to contribute to something greater than what we could achieve alone.

When we strengthen and empower our teams, we create a culture of encouragement and shared vision. Each person knows they matter, each gift is celebrated, and each task—no matter how small—is seen as essential to the bigger mission.

Moving Forward

Now is the time to ask: how can you strengthen your team? Perhaps it begins with prayer, asking God to reveal the gifts in each member. It may involve creating a place for open communication, for sharing and valuing ideas. It could mean encouraging someone who feels unseen, reminding them that their contribution is vital.

As followers of Christ, our calling is to build teams that reflect His love and unity. When we do, we not only accomplish more—we also display to the world what it means to live as the body of Christ.

An Intentional Shared Experience

The Christian Leadership Alliance team encourages you to bring a team of leaders to the Outcomes Conference in 2026. The Conference is happening in Dallas, TX, April 28-30, 2026. It is the 50th anniversary of the Christian Leadership Alliance, with the theme “MULTIPLY”. Early registration is open now. We have seen that leadership development most effectively occurs during an intentional shared experience.

The CLA Team would love to host you and your team at our Conference in April 2026. We offer opportunities for development throughout the year. Please check out our Membership Options and contact Darlene Irwin to discuss the best option for you. 

Pamela Westbrooks is the Vice President of Finance and Operations for Christian Leadership Alliance. She brings decades of financial and human resource experience to her current role.