Thirst First!

Hunger. Passion. Drive. Synonymous with thirst,these words drip with intensity and form a prerequisite for effective ministry. They are the unseen force behind innovation, change, and impact; they are the defining difference between maintenance and progress. In a nutshell, a thirst first strategy and approach is not optional; it’s indispensable. In the words of Sprite, “Thirst is everything. Obey your thirst.”

THE THIRST PROCESS

Called the “want to” of our life, tapping into our thirst takes time, intentional introspection, and patience. However, there’s a whole lot more than just “wanting to” in seeing your dream (i.e., thirst) become a reality. Three things need to converge in making thirst a reality”
1. Want-To: Desire
2. How-To: Knowledge
3. Plan-To: Action

It is the combination of all three that enables us to make the most of our thirst. Of course, rarely are all three elements of thirst readily accessible. Truth is, these build on one another. Many leaders, thriving on just the “want-to” and living in a constant learning mode, still waited years for the right place, time and people to converge so they were able to fully live out their thirst. The point? At all costs, stay tuned-in to your God-given desires. Be a life-long learner, observing your subject and the culture in which it operates. Then, be ready to act courageously when your time arises.

THIRST AND THE LEADER

Genuine leaders rarely hang in the back of the pack. Why? Because their thirst drives them towards the front. They’re on a mission, with large goals and godly ambition urging them on to their “date with destiny.” Typically, a leader’s thirst is painted in broad strokes, a “big-picture” view about his deep desires. Few know the details before they embark on the journey. They may know where it ends, but the process often seems cloudy. Consequently, thirsty people are often misunderstood by detailed managers who wish to see the intricacies first. Still, at the heart of the thirsty leader is a pure motive, so they forge ahead, often with the proverbial “gut feeling” guiding them.

But from where do thirsts emerge? From the flow of everyday life, beginning as far back as your childhood days and extending to the present. Thirst is no doubt a compilation of our experiences, personality, spiritual gifts, heritage, and genetics (and who knows what else!).

For the leader willing to obey his thirst, tapping into it may not be the difficult task; instead, admitting it could be the hardest part. Interestingly, many leaders spend more time mustering up the bravery to explain their thirst than they do in trying to understand it, which brings to light this realization: A leader’s response to his God-given thirst may be more about courage than knowledge.

THIRST AND THE VOLUNTEER

One danger thirsty leaders face is the tendency to create the same specific thirst in others. Instead of seeking to surround themselves with people who are already thirsty for the same set of values and want a place to function interdependently, they gather to themselves people with no thirst who need the same set of rules and are looking for a place to operate dependently. In other words, the leader becomes, not the vision-caster for the army, but the list-maker for the grunts. Unfortunately, these leaders unwittingly move from motivating people to programming robots.

Granted -- a true leader will not abdicate the responsibility to direct the ship’s overall course; but mandating everyone’s individual thirst strategy is dictatorial in-breeding. It furthers our flaws and decreases our chances of expansion and impact.

As opposed to ordering your workers to be involved in areas of perceived importance, urge them to minister in areas of personal importance, assuring them you’re there to help them accomplish their divine mission. Merge your vision with their desires, helping them tap into their thirst, not just into yours.

What does this mean? You must take time and invest in relationships. Knowing someone’s inner dreams doesn’t happen as long as we’re talking, dishing out “to-do’s” like a drill sergeant. Relationships must take center stage in our leadership approach.

Here’s a practical hint for implementing a thirst first approach with potential volunteers: When interested people want to volunteer to help in your ministry, let them dictate where, not you. For most of my ministry I have refused to tell anxious volunteers where we need help. Why? Because I want to know first about their thirst. When they inquire, “Where do you need help?” I usually respond “Where do you want to work?” Those that respond “Wherever” or “It doesn’t matter” generally don’t make it because they’re missing a fundamental element--thirst. People who know at least a general area in which they want to place their abilities make it best in our ministry to youth.

THIRST AND THE MINISTRY

Thirst affects every area of your ministry, from personnel to programs to parents.

Example #1: You decide to begin a week night Bible Study in your home for students wishing to enter vocational ministry. Worried that few will show, you “stack the deck” with a number of incentives to draw kids. However, in your good intentions to attract kids, you possibly, and unknowingly, undermine the overall effectiveness of the Bible study. How? By creating additional avenues of responses (thirsts) that may not align with the overall purpose (i.e., a bible study for kids interested in vocational ministry). In doing this you go against the grain of thirst first.

Not long ago we were interested in seeing what percentage of our students really had an interest in the praise and worship time with our band. Though this was a weekly staple with our leaders, we sensed ambivalence from the kids. So, to get to the deepest "want to" in this arena, we scheduled our P & W at an inconvenient time. The result? Sweet singing broke forth like cries from a new born baby! Why? Because thirst set the rules. What a difference thirst makes!

Todd
YLC

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