Final Project- Strengths Finder

My Top Five Strengths:

Input

This is definitely a strength that most people who I shared this list with identified with me. I am always looking for or thirsting for more information. On my phone two of my favorite apps are Wikipanion and IMDB. Whenever a question come up as to background on something, or if people are wondering where they know an actor from I can run to those apps. They meet my need to know the answer. I am constantly Googling or reading up on little things. My brain is filled with information that most people would not be interested in knowing, but it is what is huge to me. The action that I see taking with this is I have always been an “ideas guy.” I am always thinking big picture and thinking out loud. It fits with what I want to do. I just want to be involved with people and I love conversing with them. I can definitely use this strength in ministry or in any job I find myself in the future. A desire for information is something that can really help me to be a better communicator and think and present ideas different than other people can.

Adaptability

This is also something that is a very big part of who I am. It allows me to be very beneficial in whatever environment I am put in. I have always been the one who is able to think on my feet. When I am put in a stressful environment, I can always think on my feet. Some people are not able to think on their feet like that, and so high stress situations don’t work out for them and ministry will be incredibly aggravating to them. There also can be a downside to this strength. While I am able to think on my feet and work with what is happening, I don’t tend to be a planner. It is something that I have always struggled with. I am great with moving and adapting, but I am not always able to think ahead and plan. So one thing I will have to work on is making sure I have a team or person who is helping me formulate plans. I can role with the punches when I need to, but I need to be thinking ahead too so that I am not always having to think on my feet.

Empathy

I don’t know that all of this one is entirely true about me. I am not very good at perceiving when other people are down in the dumps unless I am exposed to them for a long time. The rest of it however I saw and other people saw that it rang true with me. For the most part I am all about helping people, and if you ask any of the pastors or mentors I have had in my life they will tell you that one of the biggest burdens that I have on my heart is that I want everyone to know that they are important and that they all play a part in this world. It is my hearts desire for everyone to know that they are valuable and that someone cares for them. I feel like in ministry I can put this one into practice very easily because this is the central thrust of the Gospel. However I will have to focus not to get caught up in other people. I tend to have the problem where when someone is hurting I cant let go until they are fixed, but that isn’t healthy for me or them, so I will have to be cautious to not fall into that trap.

Ideation

I and other people were surprised that this wasn’t the number one strength on my list. Most people saw me as defined by this one maybe more so than the others. Like I said before I am an “Ideas guy” and this probably has something to do with my upbringing because that is exactly who my dad is as well. I feel like this one will and has been easy to put into practice in ministry as well. I have been the one who is always coming up with new sermon series or topics from a quote or story that I hear. I have folders of sermon illustrations on my computer of random stories and facts because I can connect them to a higher purpose. I have always been on that people have wanted on their creative panels and teams. And just like this description of me said I am very much into politics, humanitarian aid and the arts. I think it is because of this strength that I relate so well to that category, and why it interests me so much. It is all about different original ideas and seeing things in different ways.

Connectedness

This is another one that I didn’t know that I saw in myself by the title, but once I read the description it hits dead on with me. I am very aware of the connections between people and events, and that is why I feel like I live my life the way that I do. I am not a huge rule breaker or rebel, because while people are thinking about knocking things off a shelf in a grocery store I am thinking about the person who will have to come by later and clean it up. I feel like more so than any other strength this helps me relate to people, because I can see their connection and I can understand the link we all have. So I can truly feel for them and be genuine in my heart for them. I am always trying to link people together and mentoring is something that is close to my heart because it is one of my core strengths. I am always looking for ways to show people that we are all the same and that we all matter because I can see how we are connected at such a basic and amazing level.

Richard Curtis

It is always interesting to me to see someone who isn’t in the churches view on problems in the world. Something that really resounded with me is when he talked about that all he needed to do to get people to really feel for other people who are less fortunate then them is to simply show them. It made me think. What if we all could really see into the lives of those people around us. We have so many people in our church that are going through something and it is just an amazing thought to think how much more we would care if really knew what they were going through.

The one thing that he said was the strongest thing in getting to empathize was longer shots that were more of a view into what was actually happening in the peoples lives. He didn’t want to shoot montages of emotional short shots. I feel like it is the same with us. The way that we will become sympathetic is if we truly know what is happening in the lives of the people around us. That’s one thing that I took away from what he said was that if we really have an eye for the pain of the world around us we would want nothing more than to help.

Ken Cooper

Ken cooper to me is the image of someone who has had their life changed by God. So often we as Christians claim a radical relationship with God, but that s evident in the life of Ken. The thing that stood out with me was not his past, but how he is so willing to serve. I feel like that is one of the biggest signs of discipleship is that we are willing to put aside our time and reach out in any way that we can. His life and his efforts reflect the inner change in himself.

I feel like serving shows we are being discipled, because unlike any other gift it shows that we are submissive to Christ and helping his kingdom advance in whatever ways that we can. We begin to shine out the fact that we understand what Christ did for us and that he calls us to love however we can, and Ken Cooper is one of the more shining examples of that fact that I have met. He was and is willing to help call people on behalf of the church even though it isn’t the most glorious job, but because people needed help. Being willing to serve seems to be what Christ was about and that can be seen in Ken Cooper’s life.

George Krebs

This man truly blew me away as he spoke about his view on discipleship. I totally agree with his view. He was very big on the fact that as you disciple people you should do it in small groups over common interests. He is big on building relationships and friendships without extra motives, but that through your life they will be able to see Christ and his light in your life. So often we build friendships to lead people to Christ, but his take is that we should just build friendships and Christ will deal with the rest. We shouldn’t be getting to know people strictly so that we can share Christ with them, but because we care about them, and in that overflow of caring we will be able to share the love of God with them.

On another note as he openly shared with us about his current situation you could tell that he was a true disciple and a truly devoted follower of Christ. Even as he sat there and he told us about the hard times of life and how they can be gut wrenchingly tough he was still able to smile and talk about the prize awaiting him in heaven. That in and of itself was a true example of his beautiful and wonderful discipled relationship with Christ.

Amanda Anderson

Amanda comes from a large church setting which is something I am not entirely used to, and so have in the past been very skeptical about, but it seemed to me that this church was doing things well. Something that I always have issue with the “big box churches” is that a lot of times I feel like people can come in and go out and fade under the radar, and they are simply just a number, they are never involved or never do anything to help, but I didn’t see that from this church.

There were a couple of things that I liked about the way this church did things. They were intentional that the visitors would be called every week and would immediately have a chance to get plugged in. They made a connection so people didn’t feel like they were a number, but rather that they were cared for by this church. The other thing I really like was that they called the people who were out of church that week who were regular attendees. This showed me that not only were they concerned about growth but also the relationships that are built in this church are very close and the church actually cares about its members. For a big church I feel like they are doing things well.

Deb Bube

This was an interesting look at discipleship. It was from a different perspective because the people that Deb was working with were already in church and this was more or less phase two for them. This, for them, wasn’t really about taking people to a place where they could make a decision about Christ, but this was more about taking them to a place where they could take their decision and put it into action in helping the church. The people that she is working with are moving forward and taking a step that so few do, but is such a huge sign of internal working. I feel like one of the things that is huge when it comes to people being disciples is they need to be willing to lend a hand.

That is where Deb is working. She works with those who are trying to take the internal discipleship and focus it outward. Once Christ has changed who we are we should see that joy overflow in our lives and we should start to pour that love and joy out, through helping others. A true heart that is changed will constantly be looking to show love and help in any way that they can.

Dave Barnett

This guy was very interesting to me both as a pastor and a person. He was very enthusiastic and sold out to his perspective on the church and how it functioned, or at least should function. It was so interesting to hear him pour out his heart on it. I really think there is a lot of potential when it comes to his style of church and I think that it could allow a lot of Growth and a lot of community. I am always interested in small group movements, because that is how the early church started.

I worry about though that it could run dry or become stagnant. If it is in constant connection to God then yes it should work, but it is made up of people and what happens when they drop the ball or when someone comes unprepared. Maybe I am thinking from a skewed perspective, but that is something that I wonder. That may just be the fact that I have grown up in a denominational mindset and it also may be because it is new to me, but where are the checks and balances? I love small groups and I love their ministry, but sometimes I wonder what happens if one goes off course and has nobody to help them find the tracks again?