How to Keep Your Ministry Fresh and Exciting

How do you keep your ministry fresh and exciting?  Let's talk about that question today.

There are many benefits that come with leading a new ministry.  Everything is shiny and new.  There's a buzz in the air about it.

An example is when a church builds a new auditorium or children's ministry building.  New families show up.  It gives your ministry the feeling that "we've just been upgraded from coach to first class."

Another example is when a church opens a new multi-site campus.  It normally creates energy and excitement at the new campus.  Families from the original campus who like new challenges and adventures, go to the new campus.  This can leave the original campus feeling old and tired...especially if you don't take some steps to keep it fresh and exciting. 

So the question is,  "How do I keep the ministry I lead, fresh and exciting?  Let's look at 4 key steps you can take.

1. Get rid out what's past its expiration date.  In order to keep your ministry fresh and exciting, you've got remove what isn't.

Think of it like this. When you purge your refrigerator, what do you do?  You got through and check the expiration date on items, right?  And when you find something that is out of date, you get rid of it.  You pull out an old salad dressing and check the date. Uh-oh,  it expired a month ago.  Good-bye dressing.

Look at your ministry that way.  What is out-of-date that you need to toss?  What are you doing just because it's been done that way since its inception in 1965 by "Sister Sally?"  What event are you still hosting because a few people hold it as sacred as the holy grail?

No one likes to eat something that is expired.  And most people don't like to attend or be a part of a ministry, program or event that is expired.  How do you know it's expired?  One way is participation.  People vote with their feet.  When something in your ministry is past its expiration date, they don't show up.

Is there anything you're doing that is past its expiration date? 

2.  Take a risk.  There is always a risk involved when you try something new.  But without risk, there is no reward.  Without risk, you are guaranteed to stay stuck.  Without risk, you'll never discover what can propel your ministry out of the stale place it is now.

Think about that bold change you've been pondering for months on end.  You haven't went for it yet, because you're afraid if it fails, you'll be seen as a failure.

3 words of advise....TAKE A RISK.

3.  Don't get comfortable.  Yes.  Comfort is comfortable.  Coasting downhill is easy.  Not ruffling any feathers makes things stay smooth.

But is that really what you want to live in?  You are enjoying the comfort, but deep down, you long to bust out of your comfort zone and be challenged.  As the leader, if the ministry is comfortable, it's because you as the leader are comfortable.

In order to have something you've never had, you're going to have to do something you've never done before.  

When was the last time you were out of your comfort zone?  In order to make your ministry fresh and exciting, you're going to have to want it so badly that it causes you to bust out of the staleness that has you lulled to sleep right now.

Don't get comfortable.  Don't get complacent.  Don't get content.

4.  Keep your creative edge.  Fresh and exciting is made possible by creativity.  Creativity comes when you start asking, "What if?"  Don't fall into the trap of thinking you're not creative.  You have creativity.  You have fresh ideas that are waiting to be birthed.

Here's what to do.  Get in a room with 3 to 4 other people and start tossing out ideas.  Emphasize that there are no bad ideas.  Even an idea you can't use, will spark an idea that you can use.

This Sunday, there will be churches that a few, faithful-to-the-end people will attend.  They will sing the same tired songs they've been singing for the past 25 years.  They will endure a boring message.  Their children will watch the clock in their classrooms, as they endure a teacher whose voice sounds like Charlie Brown's teacher.  No one will accept Jesus.  No new families will be added to the church.  The baptistry will remain empty for another week.  Decor that was trending in 1956 will still adorn the building.

That doesn't have to be your church, if you'll commit to keeping the ministry fresh and exciting.

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5 Keys to Being an Inspiring Leader

If you lead a ministry, then a big part of your role is to inspire staff and volunteers to work toward a common goal.

Look at history and you'll see that great leaders had this in common.  They had the ability to inspire others.

Think about Martin Luther King, Jr. and his speech in Washington, D.C.  Or Abraham Lincoln's speech at Gettysburg.  Or J.F.K's "ask not what your country" speech.  Or Winston Churchill's "finest hour" speech.  All of these were "drop the mic" talks that made a significant impact in history.

Yes, some of the ability to inspire people came from talent they were born with.  But the good news is this, even if you weren't born with innate charisma, you can still inspire the people you are called to lead.  Let's look at 5 keys you can use to inspire the people on your team.

VISION
Inspiring leaders have a vision that they are leading people to.  A vision that is challenging and causes people to stretch. 

People want to be part of something that is bigger than themselves.  Something that will enable them to leave a legacy.  Something significant.  

If you want to be an inspiring leader, then begin championing the ministry's vision.  Think big.  Talk about the vision when you meet with your team.  Tell stories about how the vision is being fulfilled.  Challenge people to stretch for the vision.  Be a walking, living billboard for the vision. 

TENACITY 
Inspiring leaders inspire by their commitment to complete the tasks before them.  Rather than whining when things get hard, they push on with a determination that won't let them quit. 

They simply don't give up until they've accomplished the task.  They use every failure as a stepping stone toward the vision.

COURAGE
All of the leaders I mentioned at the beginning of this article had something in common.  They faced significant challenges that required them to lead with courage.  You see, inspiring people usually doesn't happen when things are going well.  It happens when a leader has the courage to face challenges and uncertainty head on.

A great Biblical example of this is David.  He had the courage to step out and face Goliath when no one else would.  His courage that day inspired the entire nation.

EMPOWERMENT
Yes, people are inspired when the leader accomplishes his or her goals.  But people are even more inspired when the leader empowers them to complete their goals. 

You inspire people when you empower them to do things they never thought they could do.

You inspire people when you push them out of their comfort zone.

You inspire people when you pick them up when they fail and empower them to try again.

You inspire people when you believe in them and tell them so.

You inspire people when you help them become great at what they are good at. 

AUTHENTICITY
We live in a day when many leaders' walk doesn't match their talk.  The #MeToo movement has exposed leaders who were not authentic in the business world, entertainment world, political world and even the church world. 

Like never before, the church needs leaders who will be the real deal.  Leaders who will put safeguards in place that will keep them on track.  Leaders who will open up their life and invite people to hold them accountable. 

Remember, it only takes one incident to undue a testimony that you spent decades building.  There is a well-known leader who is experiencing this now.  He is a man who inspired me over the years with his books, his teaching and conferences he held.  He was the pastor of one of the largest, most influential churches in the country.  And yet, now he has blown his testimony...his credibility...his ability to inspire others, because he wasn't authentic in some areas of his life.

What you hide will eventually be exposed.  Make sure you live an authentic life so there is nothing that needs to be exposed.

Focus on these 5 things and over time, you will gain the credibility to be a leader that people follow and are inspired by. 

Your turn.  What are some other traits of an inspiring leader?  Who is a leader who has inspired you?  Share your thoughts and insight in the comment section below.  

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The Graying of the Church

There's something happening in churches across the country.  Visit enough churches and you'll soon notice a trend.  The church in America is getting grayer. 

This is not a blanket statement.  There are exceptions.  There are churches that are reaching Millennials.  But overall, the church is struggling to keep the next generation involved.  Young adults, ages 18 to 39, are less likely than older generations to say religion is important to them.  And they are showing it with their feet.  Young adults as a whole, are attending church less frequently than their parents. 

Think about this.

Just like a healthy family is made up of all generations, a healthy church is made up of all generations as well.   A church made up of great grandparents, grandparents, parents, young single adults, teenagers and children and babies. This is the kind of church that will continue to thrive in the years ahead.  

In many graying churches, the nursery is not used, because it is not needed.  And when the nursery is not needed, a church is headed for its demise.  As those with gray hair pass away, the church will pass away with them.  

This is not an attack on the precious senior citizens who are the backbone for so many churches.  Our older church members should be honored and respected.  There is much the next generation can learn from them about serving God faithfully. 

But somewhere along the way, many older congregations haven't been intentional about looking behind them and realizing they have a responsibility to pass the faith baton to the next generation.  

Or they tried to pass the baton, but they weren't willing to let the next generation redecorate so it would be relevant to their lives.  

They felt hanging onto their songs that were written in 1921 was more important than engaging the next generation in worship.

They weren't willing to invest in children's ministry, which could have attracted young families.  

They didn't give the next generation the opportunity to lead and give input into the future of the church.  

They didn't have a vision that was compelling enough to engage the next generation.

What will happen?  Eventually they will have to close the church doors and put a for sale sign out front.   

I have driven by several churches recently that have for sale signs out front.  It always makes me wonder, "What caused this church to die?"  9 times out of 10, I can guarantee you it was a lack of intentionally about passing on the faith baton to their children and grandchildren. 

In some cases, it's economics that causes churches to go grey.  As children grow up, they realize there are not a lot of work options available in the rural community they grew up in.  And so they go off to college and then choose to live in a larger city where better paying jobs are available.  

This decline can be seen in the research that's been done in the last few years. When you see the word "none" I am referring to people who would mark "none" when asked what religion they are affiliated with. 

78% of nones grew up in church. 

14% of Boomers are nones. 

19% of Gen Xer's are nones.

35% of Millennials are nones. 

13% of Gen Z say they are atheists. 

You can see in these stats, the reason many churches are headed for permanent retirement.  They've failed to pass on the faith baton effectively.

Do you see your church reflected in these stats?  Don't lose hope.  There are many churches that are filled with young adults and their children.  You can turn things around. 

Invest in children's ministry.  I know it doesn't make sense on paper.  Kids' offerings tend to come in coins, not bills.  But I believe that God will send resources and His blessings to a church that makes the next generation a priority. 

Ask the people in your church who have gray hair to turn and invest in those coming behind them.  Show them that they have the faith baton in their hands and there's someone behind them waiting to receive it.  Help them see it's not just about them.  It's about those coming behind them. What an opportunity senior adults have to leave a legacy with the next generation.

Be willing to change what's not working.  Are there any programs that are tired?  Any updates that need to happen?  Any strategies that need to be adjusted?  Are you willing to move out of your comfort zone?  Most growth happens outside our comfort zone.  

Actively involve young adults in serving and leadership roles in the church.  They are looking for an opportunity to make a difference.  Invite them into it. 

A few months ago, I went to a service at the church I attended as a child.  In an auditorium that seated 200 people, there were maybe, 40 people there.  Eventually, they will have to close the doors if there is not a turnaround.   

Does your church need a turnaround?  Is your church struggling to reach the next generation?  If so, maybe God is stirring in you and preparing you to be a change agent that infuses new life into the ministry.  

Your turn.  The floor is yours.  What are churches doing that are attracting young adults, while keeping their senior adults engaged as well?  What have you seen churches do to effectively engage the next generation?  Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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7 Keys to Balancing Ministry and Home

Do you ever feel overwhelmed with everything you have on your plate?  Feel like there's just not enough hours in a day to accomplish everything at home and church?

It's a tension that you must learn to manage if you want to go the distance in ministry.

In my coaching program, I ask everyone that is participating this question.

Can you go the distance with your current pace?  

Often, the answer is "no."

What about you?  Can you sustain your current pace long-term?  Let's go a little deeper,  Can you sustain your current pace and be happy?  And be a good parent?  And be a good spouse? 

Being fully present when you're at work and fully present when you're at home is not an easy task.  But it can be done with the right strategy and commitment.  Let's talk about 7 keys you can use to keep home and ministry balanced.

Key #1 - Work when you are at work and then get home.  Sometimes when someone says they are always at the church working, they may be at the church, but they may not be working as much as they think they are.  Take out an extended lunch, time on social media, time just chit-chatting with co-workers and time just goofing off, and those "long hours working" at church are reduced.

If you want more time to spend at home and with your family, then get your work done and go home.  This doesn't mean you can't have fun or any relax time at work, but it does mean you are focused and not wasting time. 

Key #2 - Set time for your family on your calendar just like you would for a ministry appointment.  You know what happens.  You have a date night planned with your spouse.  But an afternoon phone call comes in that a couple is about to divorce and want to come talk with you that evening. 

What should you do?  Drop the dinner with our spouse and meet with them?  Not if you already have an appointment that evening with your spouse.  Just kindly let them know you already have a meeting that night, but you'll be glad to meet with them the next day.

And don't feel "guilty" about it.  How are you going to help other peoples' marriage if you don't have a strong marriage yourself?  How will you teach a parenting class if you don't spend time investing in your own child?

Key #3 - Know the season of life you are in.  Seasons of life can heavily influence how you do ministry.  If your kids are in preschool or elementary, you will need to be home more in the evenings and block out time for them.  When you become an empty-nester, you will have more time available to do things you want to do.  But right now focus on your children.  They will be grown and gone before you know it.  You only get one chance to raise them. 

"Don't blow it by making building the church more important than building your children."

Key #4 - Learn to say "no."  If you study the ministry of Jesus, you will see that He didn't heal everyone.  There were times He said "no" and pulled away to spend time in prayer and resting.

Often, people in ministry are people pleasers.  We are wired to be available to serve people whenever they need us.

But if you don't stay balanced,  you can end up losing your own family.  And then you'll lose your credibility to minister to others.

Sometimes you have to say "no" to something that is good, so you can make something else great.  If you're going to go the distance, then learn to say that powerful little word - no. 

Key #5 - Take your day off and use your vacation time.  Many leaders fall into the trap of not taking their day off.  They tell themselves they are too busy.  Sunday won't happen if they take a day off.  And the longer they stay in that mode, the harder it is to be balanced. 

Here's a little tip that I wish I'd have thought about when my kids were younger.  Rather than spending major dollars on buying your kids "stuff" at Christmas and on their birthday, cut back on what you spend on "stuff" and instead use the money to make some memories with them.  Go on a road trip.  Take them to an amusement park.  Take them on a camping trip.  Go snow skiing together.  Here's the reasoning behind it.

Kids will quickly grow tired of the "stuff" you buy them.  But they will never forget the trips you took with them.  They will never forget the money you spent making memories with them.  They will always remember the time you camped out or sang Christmas carols by a campfire or went bowling as a family.

"Spend more time and money making memories with your kids, than you do filling their toy box up."

Key #6 - Set a quitting time and obey the clock.  Have you ever looked at the clock at work and it says you should go home.  But you tell yourself you've just got to finish up what you're working on.  You just need 20 minutes to wrap it up.  20 minutes later you look up and tell yourself it will only take 10 more minutes.  It keeps going and when you finally arrive home, dinner is cold and your spouse has already put the kids to bed.

This happens quite often and eventually becomes a pattern for you.  Your spouse tries to get you to come home and spend time with the kids.  You listen and know he or she is right, but you just can't seem to get out of the grip of "what I have to accomplish."

If that's the case, then it's time to set a quitting time that will get you home in time for dinner and keep you there engaged with your family.  Let 5 o'clock be your boss and obey him and go home.  What you are working on, will be there tomorrow.

Of course, there will occasionally be things pop up that you can't control or push to tomorrow.  But that should be the exception and not the norm.

Key #7 - Maximize your time by managing your time.  What if you started managing your time more closely? Identifying what you are doing that shouldn't be warranting your time?  Maximizing your time by organizing and prioritizing your tasks?  You will be surprised how much time you can get back. 

I share several time management tools in my coaching program that can help you be more productive and more balanced at the same time.  You can get more information at this link.

I know by experience that when you become unbalanced, it will catch up to you and you'll look back and regret not having balance.  I had to learn the hard way that balance is a non-negotiable, if you want to go the distance and finish strong. Not being balanced can take you down for the count.  It took me down and I almost didn't make it back.  You can read about what happened at this link. 

As a ministry leader, you have to keep a lot of plates spinning, don't you?  The ministry plate...the family plate...the chores plate...the hobbies plate...counseling plate...preparing lessons plate...event plate...friends plate...there is no shortage of plates we have to keep spinning.

But there will be times when you simply can't keep all those plates spinning.  When that happens and you have to decide which plate to drop...do one thing...make sure you don't drop the family plate.

Your turn.  How do you keep your ministry responsibilities and family balanced?  Share your thoughts with us the comments below.

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