RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Time is your greatest investment and there's no shortage of things vying for it, is there?  That being said...where are you investing your time each week? 

Where you choose to invest your time will determine your effectiveness in children's ministry.

There are 3 areas that I believe are the best places to invest your time as a children's ministry leader.

INVESTMENT #1 - YOURSELF
I recently shared this quote from Rick Warren and I believe it is so true.

Years ago I stopped worrying about how to grow our church and instead focused on growing me.  As I grew me, our church grew.

First and foremost, invest in yourself each week.  Yes...we are supposed to put others before ourselves...except when it comes to our own spiritual health.  Proverbs reminds us what our #1 time investment should be.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.          Proverbs 4:23

Everything flows from your relationship with God.  Everything.  Stop investing in yourself spiritually and you'll have nothing to invest in others.  Oh...you may keep going through the motions...but it will be a shallow, empty facade.  Don't fall into the trap of being so busy working for God that you don't have time to spend with God.  Spending time with God is the best investment you can make with your time.

INVESTMENT #2 - LEADERS
Remember...it's not what you can do...it's what you can empower others to do.  Spend time pouring into your volunteers...especially your key leaders.  I talk more about this in THE LAW OF THE FEW.  This will enable you to reproduce yourself and accomplish so much more than you could accomplish by yourself. 

Which one of your leaders will you have coffee with this week?  Which one of your leaders will you give feedback to this week?  Which one of your leaders will you hand a book to this week?  Which one of your leaders will you write a personal note of encouragement to this week?  Which one of your leaders will you email a great article you read this week?  Which one of your leaders will you meet with and give teaching tips to this week?  Which one of your leaders will you pray with this week?  Which one of your leaders will you give more responsibility to this week?

INVESTMENT #3 - FUTURE TEAM MEMBERS
The success of your children's ministry rises and falls on the strength of the volunteer team you build.  This means one of the top investments you can make with your time is inviting people to serve with you.  Week in and week out...asking people to join your team.  When it comes to building a volunteer team, there is no magic formula.  It's done one ask at a time...one person at a time.

Check your calendar.  What is it saying about your time investments?  Your time is precious.  Invest it wisely.  Invest it in yourself, your leaders and building your team.  

Your turn.  The floor is yours.  Share your thoughts about this with us in the comment section below.