Frequently Asked Questions about New Teams

New Teams Questions
Kevin Colyer's answers. (see YWAM Plymouth for my key point of experience.)

Where's the money going to come from?

 * Good question: Do you know how much you need? Generally in the first year you will need some start up money extra to the next few years. You need Travel money, Publicity money and some money for equipment for a small home office or lodgings perhaps. It varies hugely.
 * It would help if there is a sponsoring base. Don't let them give you too much money. It is a good idea to get them to give you money in decreasing yearly amounts. You don't want them to support your ministry after 3 years (except gifts etc.)

What focus will the team have?

 * It is not easy to know until you get to the city and live there for a few years. I think God calls YWAM to pioneer -- to go where there is nothing, hence each city will have its opportunities. It is always best not to duplicate existing church projects.
 * Planting a DTS is not a good idea at all in my opinion. I don't think a city needs a DTS (not at first) but does need evangelism, church planting and mercy ministries. DO NOT GO TO A CITY TO PLANT A DTS! (unless you use an Operation Year team to be a ready made evangelism team and training team combined).

How many people does a team need to begin?

 * More than 3 people. Really. I regret starting a team with 3 people. I would have been much stronger if we had started in Plymouth with 2 or 3 couples.
 * Less than 8. I don't think you want too many.

Who will the team come under?

 * That depends... What will the supervising leader do for you? Set a number of visits as a minimum per year... Seek out other relational links to networks like the New Teams network or similar new teams to yours.

Who is already in the location/field we can connect with?

 * All the local pastors, local ministries. Anyone and everyone. Seek the "Men of Peace".

What are the necessary roles a team needs to begin with to function?

 * Evangelism or Mercy Ministry. I really DON'T recommend DTS except for an Op Year where there is consistent outreach each week. You need to be present in the city doing outreach. Or you are not relevant to the other workers in the city/body of Christ.

Who will be on the team -- recruiting

 * Good to do this!

How do you look after a team?

 * Cultivate a depth of relationship. Eat and socialise together often. Have a lot of fun.
 * Travel and take your team out -- don't let them be or feel isolated. Breaking isolation is about visiting other YWAMers. Join with other locations for training (and recruit as you go!).

How do you link with other churches and organisations in a location you are new to?

 * As 5. Go to pastor's fraternals. Ask who are the people to meet. Visit. Serve and encourage. Take time to understand the city.

Accommodation -- what to look for, where, finances etc

 * When finding a building consider renting. Just don't buy. Renting means you have to focus on raising funds (you must do this anyway) and also that you don't generally have to worry about decoration and repairs and maintenance. You probably are not called to do that anyway.
 * What do you need? Depends. Don't worry about getting big accommodation for all the team -- it will work fine with them living in the city in smaller places. You might need a flat for new staff/hospitality. As new staff stabilise move them out after a year or two to make room for new staff.

How do we get known?

 * Serving. Sticking around for more than two years. Many people wont take you seriously until you are there for that long. People come and go.
 * Pioneer -- do what is not being done. Reach the un-reached etc.

What's already happening that's really being/been effective?

 * Lots! Ask the other New Teams Network people...

What hasn't worked with team planting, and why?

 * Very small teams (two people) just never seem to grow.
 * Starting with a DTS is very hard and doesn't seem to grow teams.
 * Trying to re-create your sending base structures where you are -- be small, be nimble, take all the good principles and apply in fresh ways. Don't create YWAM Harpenden in East Ham for example.
 * Teams not in the city -- be in the very heart of the city. Not outside, not on the edges. Not in a missionary compound. Be incarnational.

What do you do if you want to plant a team -- where do you start, who do you talk to? - Process

 * You current leader. Submit the plan well. Make sure it is talked through well right up to National level. You really need National recognition and support. Listen and adapt your plans. Compare with successful teams elsewhere, although beware Saul's armour -- don't delay too long or be burdened with too much structure.

What would the team support network be?

 * Universally poor. Don't expect much. Fight hard. Create your own support networks in YWAM and in the local area. Work hard to develop good and supportive relationships right where you are.

What potential models are out there?

 * YWAM York, YWAM Berlin, YWAM Plymouth, YWAM Carlisle, YWAM Milan, YWAM Valencia, YWAM Lyon etc.

How do you know if you've succeeded -- or failed?!

 * It is more important to be faithful than successful... but it helps to invite people to evaluate how you are doing and see if you are true to your goals. If you get the right goals at the start then you will more likely succeed.
 * Doing lots or Evangelism, church planting and mercy ministry is success.

How do you recruit for a vision?

 * Mariette Louw - "You recruit from the heart, if they don't get it at a heart level they wont get it from the stuff you are doing".
 * I have found speaking on DTS's less than successful.
 * Website has been a fruitful way to recruit.
 * Growing your own (plug a DTS in later) is great.
 * Inviting people for outreach often creates a desire to stay. Invite teams to do outreach -- but only for more than 2 weeks -- not less.

How do you network?

 * Ask who to talk to.
 * Talk to them. Listen deeply to them.
 * Ask them who they think you should talk to.
 * Repeat!
 * When you have met everybody, you will know the right venue to go to to meet people.
 * If there is no clear meeting place for key workers/pastors perhaps you have a role in creating one? YWAM often has a gift here...

What if you want to do something different than what's been done before?
E.g. different forms of evangelism


 * Not really a problem -- in-fact usually the norm for us as YWAM and a core value!
 * Try to avoid evangelism to cats.
 * Just aim to Reach the un-reached. Find innovative ways to do it.

If stuff isn't happening in the right way, what do we do about it?

 * Do something else. Learn to try out and prototype new things.
 * Consider failure as just another step on the learning process to fruitfulness. Try everything...
 * Keep at it. Persevere.

When you have an existing ministry, how do you get the church to buy in?

 * Make space for local people to join you in it.
 * Aim to work yourselves out of a job from the start. YWAMers don't have much more than a 3 year attention span. Why not make the ministry a local church thing. Some churches are around for hundreds of years!

How do you keep the doors open and keep relationship with people you can't work with at the time, e.g. local church?

 * Some people will not work with you and some people will be VERY hard to work with. Just love them and recognise that it might not work.
 * Find the people you have a heart connection with and work with them.
 * Don't duplicate work -- this antagonises people like nothing else.
 * Don't brag about your work and then drop it -- be slow, excellent and consistent and you will win people to your cause.
 * Have humility -- a lot of people have sacrificed more, have been and will be around longer than you, have been more dynamic than you ever will be.
 * Our two key gifts as YWAM are personal availability and doing what God says. This results in us getting on a doing something which is often radical, simple, different and new.