Administration, one of the missing gifts Part 1

     Many years ago Ted Engstrom wrote several books on leadership and organizational development.  I want to share some excerpts from his book " The Gift of Administration" on the traits of  an administrator. Romans 12:6-8 and 1 Cor. 12:28-29 refer to the gift of administration in the New Testament. Moses, Joshua, King David, King Solomon Apostle Paul, Luke,  Josiah, etc.   flowed in various levels of the gift of administration. Romans 12:8 states," one who rules well." The word " rule" in its original language is " prostemi." Prostemi means " take the lead; to be over; to superintend and preside over.  Romans 12:8  is not referring to administration as an office , but to one who possess an administrative approach to situations. Just as an artist wants to paint, a musician wants to play and an evangelist wants to preach, so one with the gift of administration wants to give active leadership from a strategic- aligned systems perspective. Below are some of the Engstrom's identification traits of a  gifted administrator:

1. Possess an ability to integrate several ministries, tasks, and/ or projects  towards the fulfillment of a long- range goal. 
2. Is sensitive to future needs, particularly to future needs that are not being planned for by others. 
3. Has an ability to  visualize overall needs and to clarify long- range goals 
4. Has an ability to put together individual Christians to form efficient , well - organized teams on which the members work well together, divide their labor efficiently, and enjoy each other's company.
5. Has an ability to discuss the talents, resources, and spiritual gifts of individual believers. 
6. Tends to avoid involvement in anything for which has no organizational responsibility. Has a tendency to remain on the sideline until the leaders in charge give them responsibility. 
7. Desires to see that his time  and the time of others is used efficiently 
8. Tends to insist on thorough planning and organization before embarking on a new task or new ministry. Tends to to avoid the develop- as- you- go to ministries or projects. He wants things done right from the beginning. 
9. Demonstrates a willingness to wait on a project or ministry until it is properly set up. Once a project is set up, however, he or she will push for maximum speed in accomplishing its goals. 
10. Is strongly motivated to organize anything for which he is responsible.