These type of elements are very important.
But just as important are the hundreds of little things that happen that don't get noticed as much. Jesus said it like this.
“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants[a] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents,[b] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.[c] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Matthew 25
In the context of this story, the man who missed his opportunity was not the man who had five talents. Nor was it the man who had two talents. It was the man who only had one talent and was given the opportunity to increase it. But the man simply couldn't see the value of the one talent and so he buried it and obviously didn't use it to gain increase.
If you want to win at leading a children's ministry, then you've got to not only get the big wins, but the little wins as well. Often the culmination of the little things is what brings the biggest win when compiled.
The compound effect of doing little things well over the course of time may just be the answer to effectively leading a children's ministry.
Let's take a look at 30 of those "little things" you can start doing.
1. Thank your volunteers for serving each week.
2. Keep your ministry areas clean and clear of clutter.
3. Send a miss you note to kids who miss a weekend.
4. Send at least one thank you card to a volunteer each week.
5. Coffee ready for volunteers.
6. Return phone calls within 24 hours.
7. Send volunteers a birthday card on their birthday.
8. Smile.
9. Invite students to serve in your ministry.
10. Donuts for volunteers.
11. Walk guests to their room instead of giving them directions and pointing.
12. Send a handwritten postcard to new guests.
13. Explain your security process to first-time guest families.
14. Start a Facebook group for the parents in your ministry.
15. Bring a volunteer their favorite kind of candy.
16. Have agenda items ready when you come to a meeting.
17. When you promise a volunteer you will do something, actually follow it up and do it.
18. Keep track of what you are working on and cross off items as they are completed.
19. Thank your Pastor (or other person you report to) for the privilege to be on their team.
20. Share praise reports of what God is doing in your ministry with the person you report to.
21. Be on time for meetings.
22. Be engaged and listen during meetings.
23. Read a book related to your area of ministry.
24. Carry breath minds with you and use them.
25. Have an umbrella ready and help people into the church when it's raining.
26. Have some volunteers over to your house for a meal.
27. Send birthday cards to children in your ministry.
28. Stand at the exit door and greet each child and their parents as they are leaving.
29. When someone asks you to pray for them, stop what you are doing and pray for them right then.
30. Send your teachers their lessons a minimum of a month in advance so they have plenty of time to prepare.
How many of these are you doing already? Which ones do you need to add to your list? What are some other little wins you can have? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.
