My top five strengths are Maximizer, Responsibility, Arranger, Achiever, and Relator. I can definitely see myself within all five strengths (which I would guess is good considering they are my strengths). The first time I took the assessment it was totally different (Adaptability, Includer, Self-Assurance, Strategic, and Focus). Both assessments show strengths of mine...From the first, I can adapt to the changes I deal with on a daily basis. I try to include almost everyone on things. I always love to strategize my next moves and goals in life. I have had flashes of focus, sometimes I do not and it hurts my productivity. I sometimes can re-assure myself of stuff but there are times where I just don't have the confidence to do it.
The second definitely defines me at the present moment. I try to maximize each moment. For example, I have friends who I am close with and we are communicating together to build a church. I try to hold a lot of responsibility on my shoulders but that can either be great for me or backfire depending on how I trust people. I love to arrange things, mainly things like baseball cards, statistics and information (on rare occasion, certain things in life). I am an achiever. I love achievements and goals to attain; it gives me something to push forward to. I am a person who is gentle and can relate to situations whether I have been in them or not because I place myself in their shoes and think about how I would feel.
People who know me would truly attest to these five as my most prominent traits that they can see. I know if I was to tell my mother and explain to her, she would just nod her head and smile because that is how my family works. We maximize opportunities in responsible fashion. We arrange everything so it has a place and get irritated when someone doesn't follow the exact system we have. We are efficient in achieving what we want to achieve and we can relate to many because we listen.
Whenever I do not utilize a certain strength for some reason, I feel stupid because I should know better. According to Rath, we shouldn't focus on our weaknesses. I try not to do that because of my main focus of striving to be the best person God wants me to be. My future plans for a church utilize all five of these strengths from the assessment. Maximizing opportunities is a huge part of ministry, especially when you are building a church. Responsibility is big anywhere but especially in ministry to maintain a low stress level. Being able to arrange things within a church like an order of service is beneficial in the organization of a church staff and body. Being a pastor within a church, you need to be able to relate with people. That is why I love having this trait. Achieving my goals of ministry in my life is something I am looking forward to in my lifetime. Being with those who complement my strengths with their strengths will be able to further those goals even further. Sometimes being with people with your own strengths can make things too organized and potentially too stiff. I know that I could see positive things come out of people with like strengths. I already see it with the people who I associate with here at Valley Forge Christian College when we discuss future ministry together if we are able to do so.
My boss has noticed my strengths at their highest moment and at times, I have missed my mark and he is very tough on me to see me succeed because he knows my strengths and wants to see me use them in their fullest extent. People are not perfect but try to be successful in their weaknesses instead of their strengths. It irks me when I see people not using their strengths for the betterment of their life and career. My one friend, who is a pastoral assistant, agrees with these strengths and has seen them in use within my life throughout the years he has known me.
Just today, I was talking with a professor about my goals and it felt so encouraging and full of blessing, knowing that I have had such a vision and it has stuck with me over the years and my strengths are able to be utilized to further this vision, which is even more exciting for me because I know I have the support of many behind my vision and goals. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for me over the next few years to prepare me and my staff for this endeavor of faith.
To conclude, I often think about my future and what I can look forward to or what I can do with the talents and knowledge I have and what I can build upon them. The vision of ministry is the tip of the iceberg compared to what has and is actually across my mind and what I had written down on paper back in 1998. A ministry complex is what was drawn up, even before ministries in the Northeastern part of the country chose to focus on huge complexes, thanks to Rick Warren and Tommy Barnett. Most pastors, however, utilize the wrong motives and ideas and lose focus on the purpose of ministry trying to be big when normally they cannot be. I intend to use my strengths and my staff's strengths in order for the success of the ministry complex that we (myself and a few others (the staff)) plan on building so we may have a wonderful, successful ministry in a place where it may be least expected.
Be blessed as you all discover your strengths and talents in God over your days, months and years to come. God has a lot in store for all his people, we just have to accept it.
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