The Plate Spinner

Many years ago I was watching a TV show that was presented from a theatre in London. This was a weekly show that presented all kinds of acts from singers to some very unusual performances. One of these unusual acts was that of a man who had two tables about ten feet apart on which there were mounted a row of upright bamboo canes. At the opening of the act the juggler went to one set of bamboos and spun a plate on the top of one of them. He then rushed over to the other table and repeated the same thing on another cane. Next he returned to the first table and started another plate spinning, then he went to the second table and started the next plate spinning. This was repeated until all the canes had plates spinning on them. All the while the audience was watching the plates and as one began to slow down it would wobble and looked to be in danger of falling. Each time the juggler placed a new plate on a cane he would have to attend to one or more plates of those previously spinning, and, by wiggling the canes would return them to a faster speed, keeping them spinning. As a plate began to slow, and began to wobble, the audience would get very excited, “ooohing” and “ahhing” becoming very much involved with the potential looming disaster.  Of course, this was all part of the act and the objective was for the juggler to have all the plates spinning at the same time. However, he had to rush from one plate to another, wiggling the bamboo cane to keep the plates spinning. If he was not quick enough, a plate would crash to the floor and smash. Most times the juggler achieved the objective. But you could see the success of the act depended upon his attention. If that attention ever wavered there was an inevitable end. Effectively, he would not have achieved his goal and would have failed.

Although it has been many years since I first saw this act, it often occurred to me to wonder why I always considered it to be very frustrating watching the juggler running backward and forwards trying to keep the spinning plates from slowing down and falling. Whilst I understood the entertainment value of the act, I later thought that, if it was the objective to keep all the plates spinning at the same time, why not get more people involved? But, part of the success would have to be that each person would have to know how to spin the plates, and how to keep them spinning.  They would have to be trained and would have to practice their skills in order that the objective be achieved.

Being in ministry, and being a minister, can be likened to the plate spinning juggler in that ministers, and more especially pastors and teachers, have to attend to their flocks or their students. They often have to share their time with their charges, ministering to them, praying with them, listening to and counseling them during problem times.

Good time management is essential as most of us who have multiple tasks to carry out during the day know. We also understand that having someone to help you who knows how to carry out those tasks and is both capable and trustworthy in doing so, are invaluable people. They can certainly lighten your load by becoming part of, and members of your team.

Teamwork in ministry is also essential and, whoever the leader of that team might be, they must take responsibility for the training of and the management of their team. If this is not done effectively, the team leader or manager will have to carry out the tasks themselves, which overcomes the objective of having a team in the first place. If this is not done effectively the team leader or manager can become overwhelmed and, without a doubt, become completely ineffective themselves. 

The answer is simple; as a leader, or if you will, as a minister, you simply begin by asking the Lord to show you who, of the congregation, is capable, and willing to serve in a specific role. They will have to be trained, and supervised until they become proficient in that role. Then, you are forming a team, or enhancing an existing one.

The simple solution to a problem that would potentially affect the efficiency of the disciples was solved using the following principle:

(Acts 6:1)  And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
(Acts 6:2)  Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
(Acts 6:3)  Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
(Acts 6:4)  But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

The leaders, in this case, the disciples, were able to carry on the work that they were called to do. So many times ministers suffer “burnout” because they either have no one to delegate some of the simpler tasks to, or they simply do not trust anyone else to do this work. Obviously, all ministers should be aware of this potential to lessen their effectiveness by becoming overwhelmed. 

Eagles Wings Ministry operates as a discipleship ministry and, as part of this is to teach ministers how to prepare for this attack. Because it is an attack. It is an attack upon the shepherd and as Jesus told His disciples in Mark 14:27  “And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.”

Take away, or weaken, the leader and the remainder will not stand or become confused and cannot perform as well, if at all.  Of course, the attack comes from Satan. Any commander or leader of an army wants to weaken their enemies in every possible way so as to have a better chance of victory. Satan is no different.

As a discipleship ministry, Eagles Wings Ministry assists in the development of our students by helping them to understand the essence of cutting down on their workload, by teaching them the Gospel. This means showing them how to develop their own ministry to the extent that they do not have to take on the spinning of all the plates. Of course, development must always come via the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Even the initial choosing of a disciple has to come from the Lord himself. This is what Acts 6:3 commands. The chosen men that were to perform the task, should be “full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom” That is what this ministry both teaches and preaches. 

The future development of Eagles Wings Ministry is the building of a Center with a lodge and cabins where ministers and missionaries can come to be given respite together with care, teaching, and counselling. Each of us already knows that all servants of the Lord will come under attack just because of who we are. So, it is important that we first accept the fact that we are under attack and then support each other in every way that we are able. Sometimes our role is simply to stand guard over one that is wounded or fatigued until such time as they are able to stand again and to move onward. After all, we are not plate-spinners, we are the people of God who care about each other and will never let any fall to the ground and break. Right?

In addition to this, the Center itself will facilitate the hub of our Systematic Discipleship Program and from which the Ministry will reach out both locally in the USA and internationally to develop disciples. This is our obedience to the words of the Lord, perhaps better known as “The Great Commission.”

(Mark 16:15-19)  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
After that,So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God.

This was the same commission that Paul undertook in obedience to the Lord. Much of his work was discipleship. But it was not just to educate people and bring them to Salvation. In establishing Christianity and Christians in a specific area he was planting churches. Churches need ministers and this is something that is a part of the office of the Apostle.

Paul’s mission was indeed to plant churches but, also to develop these new Christians through discipleship. Once certain members had developed, and Paul recognized those who had ministerial callings upon their lives, he set them in place over the churches. He himself moved on to another place repeating his church planting. Starting new plate spinning, if you will. Once the plate was spinning he developed and trained a “plate spinner”, a shepherd over the church, he moved on, just like placing another plate on another bamboo cane. The main difference is that Paul left a qualified plate spinner, a qualified minister in place, and so he could move on. But, not until then did he do so. Many times he returned to those churches, and to those he had put in places of authority to give them support in their ministries.

Eagles Wings Ministry is called to do the same thing. To bring to Salvation those who are not saved, and then to develop them to the highest level of their calling through discipleship. We will always welcome those who wish to achieve the highest point of their calling and the opportunity to continuously support them in their roles, no matter where they are called to serve. Like the eagle, to fly to the highest places and understand how to stay there.

Some Scriptures for you to cotemplate:

(Genesis 1:27-28)  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, …..  

God created mankind in His image and blessed them in all things. He commissioned them and sent them out. They were perhaps the original disciples.

(Malachi 3:11)  And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

This is a promise from God. Today, as disciples, our fruits will be those whom we bring to Salvation, and those whom the Lord promises to keep, and protect.

(John 15:16)  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: 

This is where Jesus identifies you, commissions you again, telling you to go and bring in the fruit, saving others, and because of the way they should be taught, their salvation will remain.

In Conclusion

The teaching of the Plate Spinner can also be applied to repetitive prayer.  We should not continuously pray for the same thing over and over again and, whilst there are always certain circumstances where prayers incorporate spiritual warfare, the repetativeness can be seen as lack of faith in that prayer. The key is to ensure that the prayer itself is in line with God’s Word and that you believe that you have permission to approach Him yourself as His child.

Please check out our teaching entitled The Fig Tree It will give you a simple insight into the power and authority that Christians possess and, hopefully, give you the confidence to use that authority.

Further Teachings:

We have some amazing teachings that you may like to read. It may help you further understand how blessed we are to have leaders of quality and how we should care about and, for them…..And, to those of you who are called to step up and begin your ministry.

Check out The Truth About Geese,    Rourke’s Drift    and    The Whole Armour of God