It’s interesting that after the time when the Apostle Paul found himself in Athens all alone, we start seeing a much greater emphasis on team-based ministry. I suspect that Paul learned some things about the value of a team during his time in Athens. Teams encourage one another, support one another, keep on going when you can’t, AND they provide the optimal environment for developing people.
Teams allow you to minister and serve in the context of community, and they allow for greater intentionality in making sure everyone has an apprentice. Barnabas apprenticed Paul, then he went on to apprentice John Mark, using his ministry as a springboard to help launch theirs. Paul got the message, and apprenticed many others, including a young man named Timothy, encouraging him to not allow others to look down on his youthfulness.
Not only does ministry work better together than alone, but it also makes ministry more sustainable over multiple generations.