As we head in to the New Year, here are a few ideas for focusing on what MATTERS, not just on what’s important. It’s about effective LEADING your ministry into the vision God has given you:
1. Focus on VISION…not being a victim.
Virtually every children’s ministry is underfunded, under-staffed, unappreciated and incredibly demanding. You can focus on all of that, or you can focus on pursuing the God-given, leadership-aligned vision for your Children’s Ministry. It’s up to you.
2. Focus on developing LEADERS…not followers.
You can give tasks and place people in positions, still dependent on you, or you can equip them to lead. The former leads to burnout (you), the latter leads to growth. It’s up to you.
3. Focus on RELATIONSHIPS…not recruiting.
Ministry happens best through relationships – always has, always will. Sure, you need to make the “ask” when inviting someone to be on board (recruiting), but that should flow out of your primary purpose of building relationships. It’s up to you.
4. Focus on FUN…not rules.
I get it, rules are there for the kids’ protection. Necessary, important, and all that. Agreed. But when our processes, rule, guidelines – whatever you want to call it – prevent fun from happening, they need to be re-examined. Bottom line – if kids aren’t having fun, you aren’t accomplishing your purpose. It’s up to you.
5. Focus on SYSTEMS…not week to week.
To many ministries are making it up as they go. There’s not real plan – no real systems – for doing the regular tasks of ministry. In virtually everything we do – whether it’s assimilating a new volunteer, communicating with parents, promoting our ministry, creating special events…virtually everything – we need to create systems. Without systems we will frustrate others, limit our creativity and repeat tasks over and over again which shouldn’t need to be repeated. It’s up to you.
