The Strongest Ministries Don't Ignore the People Closest to Them — Michael Martin, ECFA

So we know that when people feel a sense that their work is tied to a greater mission, it gives greater meaning and value to the daily idiosyncrasies, you know, the tasks that they're doing.

There's a sense that their work goes beyond just the task.

So I'd love to get your insights, you know, how do you translate the worthiness of your mission, which is an incredible mission.

Financial accountability, stewardship is huge.

How do you translate that internally so every team member understands why their work matters?

Yeah, well, what a great question.

And you were far too kind in your comments there.

We are very committed, though, to having a flourishing culture.

BCW has been a great partner in that.

And of course, glory to God, I have to give credit to you for we just have an incredible team here.

uh, at ECFA that, uh, shares in the commitment to these values.

And so, um, I know that's something that you all talk about all the time.

It's a, it's a, we, right? Like we're, we're all in this together.

Um, and we're certainly on a journey and we can talk about that too, of, um, every year that we engage with BCW, we're, uh, always looking at what are the ways we can improve? Like, how can we continue to grow? So anyway, maybe it's a lawyer in me, but I feel like I just had to put that disclaimer out there of like, we're still on a journey.

Um, uh, as great as the culture is here and what God has blessed us with.

But to your question about, were you saying kind of communication around the mission and why that's such a key part in motivating the team? You know, I think for us, one of those things would be to say, At the end of the day, and ECFA does have a very special mission, but as we look at it, it's what is the ultimate why behind what we do? You mentioned some very key points of whether it's financial integrity or trust or governance, all of those things are very important.

But I think what really rallies and motivates the team here is we look deeper than that and we say, what is the ultimate why behind And it is not just accountability for accountability's sake, but it is accountability that accelerates the gospel.

And so if all of our lives have been changed as a result of the gospel, the good news of Jesus, the transforming work that's happening in our lives, don't we want accountability? other people to experience and to see that.

And so I think for us, like the more we focus on the gospel nature of ECFA, just the more motivated, the more inspired, the more committed I am.

And I know the rest of our team is too.

Yeah, so it's kind of connecting a sense that your mission ties to the greater kingdom impact, the greater impact of the body of Christ and serving the organizations that you serve.

Is that kind of what you're saying is, hey, the work we're doing is allowing the gospel to advance.

And as that happens, lives are changed.

More people are touched.

More people are reached for eternity.