In our instant-everything modern world, who would tolerate
taking six years to make the perfect cup of tea? And what would make that tea better than a cup of trusty old Earl
Grey? More importantly, is there a
hidden secret in these questions that can transform my approach to building a
music ministry?
My son and daughter-in-law had a foreign exchange student
from South Korea living with them for a year. It was not only a delight but
also a splendid opportunity to learn about another culture. Ji taught our American family many
things including an introduction to Red Ginseng Tea. Of course, here in the Pacific Northwest
we’re known for being big on coffee of all kinds. So, ginseng tea was a little outside of my comfort zone.
I asked Ji to fill me in on why this tea was such a special
commodity in Korea. To my
surprise she explained how the tea is grown for six years before it’s
harvested. Imagine that… six years to get a crop you initially planted! I’m more familiar with things that
have a much shorter growing season. Things like radishes — where you plant a
seed, a week later they sprout, and by
day twenty-one you’re eating radishes. That kind of crop cycle is closer to the
more conventional instant-rewards of modern culture that I’m used to. So what on earth (or should I say in
the earth) could be happening for six years?
Ginseng is known as the root of longevity and has been used
by Koreans for over five thousand years. It’s incredibly rich in vitamins and
minerals while being free of caffeine, synthetic materials or artificial colors
or preservatives (oddly enough the tea is actually yellow when brewed). Benefits of drinking ginseng tea
include increased brain efficiency and
liver process. All of that
condensed into a tiny package.
The first time I made a cup,
I wasn’t even sure how to do so. I put what I thought were the small flakes of
ginseng tea leaves into one of those small mesh balls normally used for holding
spices when making apple cider. When I
came back to the tea after letting it steep for a while, the little leaves had
disappeared! It turns out they were not
leaves at all, but ginseng crystals that dissolve in the water to make the
tea.
That wasn’t my last surprise
with this potent little beverage. It turns out Korea
produces the finest Ginseng in Asia. It’s
geographic location, growing time
and being situated on a peninsula, allows ocean winds to aid in its unique
growth cycle. Did I mention the
tea taste wonderful too?
So, how does this tie into
building a successful music ministry? I think that we sometimes buy into the
instant-everything idea when it comes to our ministries. We want
instant songs, instant bookings, instant fans, and instant success. But a great ministry with the power to heal
others is much like ginseng tea. It
takes a lot longer to grow something great.
Think about your ministry as growing a crop. That’s a metaphor Jesus used, so I think we’re on pretty safe ground. What are you planting? How are you caring for it? When is it mature and ready for consumption? Are you trying to grow your ministry into a radish or ginseng? Don’t get me wrong, a radish is a wonderful food, but it doesn’t have the healing properties of ginseng tea.
Your life and ministry is meant to be an agent of healing and
growth in someone else. That is the
very essence of ministry. To grow a music ministry that accomplishes that goal
takes the right environment, intention, and time.
Some people are taken back
at how long Incubator Creative Group takes to develop a music ministry. It’s not six years, like ginseng, but it is
certainly longer than many artists are willing to invest. Too often, an artist is
driven by the overwhelming urge to ‘just get their ministry out there’ and
seems oblivious to any serious consideration for the quality and character of
what they are growing. In my opinion, that posture is one that follows the
compulsion of deep personal needs rather than a true compassion for the end
user — the people to whom God is calling you.
To grow a ‘ginseng ministry’
instead of a ‘radish ministry’, you must first root it in a deep understanding
of your Unique Core Ministry (UCM). It must be nurtured with wisdom and
planning to reach and effectively engage your unique target audience. Then
finally, it is ready for ‘consumption’ by that audience.
Being a ministry label,
Incubator is about releasing ministry (where a record label is just about
releasing recordings). We love to recast
that old advertising slogan and say, “we will release no ministry before it’s
time”. Just like a cup of fine ginseng tea, a properly grown music ministry
will gently dissolve into the lives of the audience members and bring healing.
How about you? Are you up for a great cup of tea?
About the author:
Tami Rowbotham is
Vice-President of Incubator Creative Group, Christian music’s only established
incubator organization. Contact her at www.IncubatorOnline.com
for complimentary online training materials to get started growing a ‘ginseng
ministry’.
