Let’s be real. Sometimes people don’t do what they should and we don’t look forward to their staff evaluations. They undoubtedly don’t want to do it either. Rather than all gloom and despair, how can we bring hope to the table?
Sometimes obstacles come into ministry that people find difficult to hurdle. When shared in a staff evaluation, how can we bring hope into the situation rather than offer mere platitudes?
The Need for Hope in Staff Evaluations
People may have lost hope because they’ve given up on themselves. Feeling like they’re alone can pull them down. Serving difficult people or trying circumstances can lead to frustration and despair, feeling like nothing will make it better. If they let what other people think control them, they might feel they can never do anything right. Unmet expectations of what ministry would be like can so disillusion people that they want to give up. If they don’t quit, they probably won’t give it their best because their heart isn’t into it when hope is gone.
Sure we can, and should, encourage and spur them on. We can help them set tangible, reachable goals to improve. We may even suggest change to a more fitting ministry. All that, however, might not be enough if they’ve lost hope. What’s the best way to help them regain that sense of purpose and confidence to hope again?
Bring Hope into Staff Evaluations by Aligning with the Character of the One Who Raised Jesus from the Dead
People need hope beyond their current experience that isn’t based on what they or any other human can bring to the situation. Circumstances may get worse. They may find it difficult to effect change in themselves. Others may disappoint them. They need a source of hope that remains constant and sure which can only be found in the God of hope. He’s the One who will “fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:13). This is the God who “in his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead …” (1 Pet. 1:3).
As leaders, the more we align with this God of hope, the more we will bring hope into staff evaluations. Reflect on the following traits found in the God who raised Jesus from the dead:
A loving God “gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16). That same God “did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (Jn. 3:17). People need to sense that love, not condemnation, from us no matter what we must deal with in a staff evaluation. They need to realize that they aren’t hopeless.
A merciful God sent Jesus to die and rise again so we can be forgiven of our sin. People need to trust they’ll be given another chance when they come into a staff evaluation. They need to see hope in us that they can do better.
A good God used His power to conquer sin and death. That same God is the One who “in all things … works for the good of those who love him” (Rom. 8:28). People need to believe there is a good way through the problems they face in ministry. They need a sense of hope to keep from despair because “hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Prov. 13:12).
An all-powerful God raised Jesus from the dead. People need to understand that His incomparably great resurrection power is available to them (Eph. 1:18-20). They need to find hope to change in a power beyond themselves.
A gracious God did for us what we can’t do for ourselves in sending Jesus to die and rise again, taking our place. People need to be given support to help them get over their hurdles. They need to be able to lean on the hope that is in us as we dispense God’s grace to them, to know they aren’t alone.
Even if it’s necessary for the person to be dismissed from a given ministry, God isn’t done with them. We can assure them that “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6). He began that work when He raised Jesus from the dead. If He was willing to do all He did in securing our salvation, surely He will not give up on us now (Rom. 8:31-32).
For More:
All Posts about Staff Evaluations:
- Staff Evaluations: Yikes?
- Staff Evaluations: All Inclusive?
- Staff Evaluations: The Great Commission Way?
- Staff Evaluations: Done with Integrity?
- Staff Evaluations: Being Truthful?
- Staff Evaluations: A Balanced Approach?
- Staff Evaluations: The Right Focus?
- Staff Evaluations: Change is Possible
- Staff Evaluations: Goals Based on God’s Power
- Staff Evaluations: Tied in to the Gospel?
- Grace Sufficient for Staff Evaluations
- Staff Evaluations: Assessing Ministry Fit?
- Best Person to Do Staff Evaluations?
- A Leader’s Spiritual Gifts Can Affect Staff Evaluations
- Options for Leaders Not Gifted for Doing Staff Evaluations
- Reactions & Responses in Staff Evaluations
- Spirit-Led Responses During Staff Evaluations
- Spiritual Truths for Staff Evaluations
- Spiritual Armor for Staff Evaluations
- Prayer Needed When Doing Staff Evaluations
- Staff Evaluations Assessing Effect on the Lord’s Name
- Bringing Hope into Staff Evaluations
- Staff Evaluations to Help People Do Ministry God’s Way
- Impact of Church Leadership Roles on Staff Evaluations