4. Blame It on the Big Guys
Another trap? Thinking that senior leadership doesn’t have a real vision for children’s ministry, so we really can’t pursue a great vision. I agree it’s not uncommon for senior leaders to lack a real understanding—and hence, a real vision—for children’s ministry. I even agree that this often limits what you can accomplish in your children’s program.
But I disagree that you can’t have a great vision just because it’s not front and center with the church’s senior leadership. You may have greater challenges, fewer resources and need to take smaller steps in pursuing a great vision. But let’s not succumb to feeling sorry for ourselves just because we don’t have the big guys going to bat for us every Sunday.
As a leader, what attitudes might you need to adjust to pursue a great vision, regardless of the support you receive (or don’t receive) from senior leadership?
5. It’s Easier to Make Excuses Than Be Creative
We don’t have…[a big budget] [great facilities] [a lot of people] [insert your challenge here]…like the church down the road. So we can’t really do a lot of great ministry like they do. A second cousin to #4 is this mindset. But it’s totally wrong.
Part of my role at David C. Cook was working with ministries around the world. Local churches and organizations in Africa, India, South America…talk about a lack of resources! Yet I saw incredible ministry happening. Why? Because great ministry doesn’t happen because you have a big budget, great facilities, a lot of people or any of these types of resources.
Great ministry happens as a result of a great vision. It happens because we equip people and develop leaders. Great ministry happens because a culture of relationships exists. It happens because the Gospel is primary. Great ministry happens because you love God and you love people, and you act on it, plain and simple. It happens as a result of great vision, not great resources.
What areas might you need to develop, rather than focusing on the things you don’t have? What other traps have you seen that can catch a children’s ministry leader?
