Ian Foster, ex All Blacks coach, when speaking about the culture they were trying to install within the All Blacks, said that “every player and member was a leader” and that they strived to have “collective solutions to bring the right solutions”.
He meant that each player contributed their unique strengths to help the All Blacks improve - not just in how they played the game, but also in how they carried themselves on and off the field.
Within the wider coaching setup, there were dedicated coaching, logistics, and wellbeing teams. Each group contributed their expertise and insights to help the All Blacks grow and improve in every possible area. Positional power doesn’t inhibit the team but brings unity. Just as the halfback works with the hooker and then with the first five, the leadership group functions as a team, and through that, trust is built. Under Foster’s leadership, the All Blacks used a strategy that reflects something we see in the Bible through the story of Nehemiah.
When Nehemiah set out to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, he didn’t do it alone - he gathered people from all walks of life. Builders, goldsmiths, merchants, guards, and even families worked side by side, each taking responsibility for a different section of the wall. Even though they had different backgrounds and skill sets, together they accomplished something far greater than any of them could have done on their own.
A successful team is never just about the players on the field. Coaches, trainers, management, medical staff, and supporters all contribute their own unique talents. Each person plays a different role, but all are working toward the same goal. It’s this diversity of skill and unity of purpose that creates a thriving team environment.
As Ephesians 4:16 puts it: “He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”
In the same way, God has designed each of us with unique gifts, personalities, and passions. He places us in specific environments - teams, clubs, communities - where those gifts can be used for His purposes. You’re not just filling a spot or doing a job. You are a vital part of what God is building.
When we bring our full selves, our skills, character, and heart to the role we’ve been given, we not only help our team succeed, but we also reflect God’s bigger picture: a community working together in love, purpose, and unity.
Prayer: Lord, help me to see that the skills, passions, and character You have given me are valuable and can be used to improve the community I am part of.
Bless you,
Rodney Read
Rodney Read is a men's ministry leader who has been involved with PKNZ for many years. Rodney heard Ian Foster speak at a PK Event. You can watch that video [here]. Rodney is the Canterbury Regional Leader for Sports Chaplaincy New Zealand. This devotional was first published by Sports Chaplaincy NZ who have given permission for it to be shared.