Want to know my sweet spot?

 

Listed below are the top five themes from my Strengths Finder 2.0 report as well as examples of how I have applied these strengths to my life.

 

RESTORATIVE

 

Definition

People who are especially talented in the Restorative theme are adept at dealing with problems. They are good at figuring out what is wrong and resolving it.

 

Personal Example

One of the most broad and subjective questions to answer in leading a worship ministry is, "What songs should we do?" That's a great question that deserves an intentional answer. Since our purpose is to help people engage their hearts in the pursuit of Jesus, I developed criteria for our team's song selection process to help us find the right songs to help our church engage. These criteria ask the following questions of every song: 

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• Is the song lyrically engaging?

  • Do the lyrics inspire people to engage with a Biblical perspective? ​

• Is the song musically engaging?

  • Do the dynamics of this song engage and inspire people?​

• Is the song culturally engaging?

  • Is this song current and relevant to where the church is at today?​

• Is the song corporately engaging?

  • Does this song inspire people to sing and participate in worship? ​

 

Defining and using this criteria has given clear direction to an otherwise very subjective question. As a result, our team has a more focused approach in how we invest our time, talents, and resources to help people engage.

 

BELIEF

 

Definition

People who are especially talented in the belief theme have certain core values that are unchanging. Out of these values emerges a defined purpose for their life.

 

Personal Example

My purpose in this life is to follow the leadership and example of Jesus in a way that inspires others to do the same. One of the best ways I know how to do this is by introducing people to God's Word in worship. This is why nearly every time I lead worship, I point people to Scripture with the hope that it will inspire them to engage in the moment and encounter God in a personal way. I do this because I believe that God is good, that His Word is true, and that a personal encounter with Jesus is always life transforming!

 

LEARNER

 

Definition

People who are especially talented in the learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.

 

Personal Example

I played four years of division one basketball at the University of Minnesota and have had the opportunity to lead a worship ministry at a church with weekly attendance of over 1,000 people. While God opened these doors and allowed me to walk through them, I have also done my part to take hold of opportunities to learn and grow. In both athletics and music, I have been driven to work hard and develop my craft. I believe in the hope that potential offers, and my experiences show that I know how to dream big and be proactive, doing my part and trusting that God will do His. 

 

DEVELOPER

 

Definition

People who are especially talented in the Developer theme recognize and cultivate the potential in others. They spot the signs of each small improvement and derive satisfaction from these improvements.

 

Personal Example

I enjoy working with people who, no matter where they are at, have a heart to move forward. I had a great opportunity some years back with a bass player who first came to the church broken. He wasn't a guitarist at the time and more importantly, he didn't know Jesus. He was searching for hope and a community to belong to. After helping him find a personal relationship with Jesus, I learned of his interest in music. I taught him how to play the bass guitar and spent hours helping him develop his skill. During that time, we became close friends and he found the community he was looking for. In my friend, I saw someone who wanted to invest in Jesus, in community, and in music. Thankfully, God allowed me to see that potential and follow through to invest in it.

 

RESPONSIBILITY

 

Definition

People who are especially talented in the Responsibility theme take psychological ownership of what they say they will do. They are committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty.

 

Personal Example

Ephesians 6:7 says, "Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people." I take personal ownership of the work that I do because I desire to give God my best. This characteristic is evidenced in my work environment where I am very self motivated to do an excellent job. While the last ten percent of a job is often as challenging to complete as the first ninety percent, I routinely led our worship teams to address details and finish the work we started. In the end, I own what I do because I am responsible to God for my work and my heart's desire is to please Him.