Have you noted that the individual heroics of superstars on the basketball court are no match for teamwork among players?

The power of teamwork was vividly apparent during the Olympics, as well as during last year’s playoffs. Whereas in previous Olympic efforts, the superstar-studded teams from America dominated, in the last Olympics they struggled mightily against the teams that played as a team. Similarly, the teamwork of the Pistons in last year’s playoffs beat the heavily favored superstars of the Lakers.

The strength of the whole is greater by multiples than the sum of individual effort. This is true with teams engaged in athletic endeavors. It is true in business. It is true in the Body of Christ, and it is true at Lifetime Guarantee. Sadly, we often look to superstars in the Christian community and think that they can win the day almost single-handedly while we observe. Not so!

Just because “ministry” is not emblazoned across your office door does not mean you are not a day-in, day-out minister. On the contrary! You are just as much a minister as the person whose business card says, “minister.”

In this vein, just because you are there and LGI is here does not mean we do not work together to accomplish the common mission entrusted to Lifetime Guarantee. We serve together, each with a unique calling, but each leveraging the other to a multiple of greatness we would not realize as individuals.

Let me be clear: By “greatness” I’m referencing the realization of being all that Father has in mind for us together. Ministry—and life in general—is not about you and me but about our Father and the advancement of His kingdom through us. This is greatness!

Are you reading the testimonies posted on the LGI website, lifetime.org? Have you noted the comments placed beside each product we offer? These snippets from longer stories offer small glimpses into monumental victories that Father has achieved in and through our—yours and ours—work at LGI. It is an amazing thing that God shares His work and glory and joy with us, but He does.

You are an integral part of the ministry of Lifetime Guarantee in a multiplicity of ways. Obviously, you participate with us financially and the ministry advances. Before leaving that subject, you do recall that 100% of every dollar you contribute to LGI goes right back into ministry, don’t you? That’s correct! Friends of the ministry gave designated gifts to cover the operational expenses of the ministry this year. Therefore, every penny you send goes right back out the door and into people’s lives. That’s a great return on investment!

You pray, and people are touched deeply as only God can do. You purchase a product produced through LGI and send it to someone. In this way, we work together to advance the Kingdom of God in another person’s life. You pass along the e-Grace, or e-Discipleship Journal, or a specific link on the website to your contact list. This endorsement of the ministry through LGI to your contacts is a far more powerful incentive than we could ever devise. You talk about the insights you are gaining as you read my web journal, i.e. blog, and ministry multiplies. You make a photocopy of this letter and send it to a friend. In so doing, we collaborate in reaching beyond ourselves in a powerful fashion.

We trust Father together, and then we share and care for others together as He provides opportunity. What a great privilege we have! We are a team!

Dear friend, there are many, many people around you who desperately need what you have discovered through the outreach of LGI. Please continue assisting us in presenting Christ’s life to others. In all the ways referenced above, and many ways beyond the scope of this letter, you are a minister in league with us to reach farther than either of us can reach alone. We are a team doing teamwork! Thank you for your partnership.

Bless you, my friend,

PS My letter this month is about encouragement, but it is also about vision. Simply defined, vision means seeing. But in a more complex way, vision is seeing beyond yourself, beyond the visible, beyond the apparent, and beyond what is toward what ca