RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Your ministry has a weak link.  Every ministry does.  Perhaps it's the person who is always late.  Perhaps it's the person who shows up unprepared to teach the lesson.  Perhaps it's the praise team member who has little to no enthusiasm.  Perhaps it's the greeter who doesn't smile.  Perhaps it's the person who is gossiping and causing conflict.  Perhaps it's the nursery volunteer who is short with parents.

Here's what you have to remember.  Your team is only as strong as the weakest link.  And the weakest link can have a negative impact on the rest of the team.

Let's talk about what you can do to strengthen the weakest link in your ministry. 

Don't ignore it.  If you don't like conflict or you don't have a plan for helping people grow in their role, then you may try ignoring it and hope it will go away.  That may seem like the easiest route, but don't take it.  It will hurt the ministry if you do.  And by the way, the rest of the team is watching to see how you will deal with the weakest link.  If you ignore it, they may lose respect for you. 

Offer feedback.  The person may not be self-aware and has no clue about the damage they are causing to the team.  As the "coach" of the team, you have a responsibility to help equip the person and see them improve.

You can get some great tips in this article about the best way to give feedback to the weakest link. 

Offer training.  The weakest link may just need more training for their role.  We can't blame someone for being the weakest link, if we haven't offered the training they need to be successful in the role.  Come alongside the person and offer specific training.  Often this will be simple, hands on training. 

If it is not a training issue, but an attitude issue, then your approach needs to address that.  If you're not good at those type of conversations, then use this proven formula.  It will give you confidence when you walk into a conversation because you know what you're going to say ahead of time.

State the FACT.  How is the person hurting the team?
State how it is making people FEEL.
Share what you'd like to see in the FUTURE. 

Offer mentor ship.  Consider pairing the person with a seasoned team member who can help coach them in their role and be a mentor for them. 

Make sure they are in their sweet spot.  If the role you have placed the person in does not line up with their personality, spiritual gifts and strengths, then consider moving them to a more appropriate position.  This can be avoided as well up front by helping them find their sweet spot.  You can get tips on helping people find their sweet spot in my book "The Formula for Building Great Volunteer Teams."

If it is hurting the team significantly, you may need to ask the person to step down from their role.  You must protect the unity of the team.  And if the person, who is the weakest length, is causing ongoing disunity by his or her attitude, then you should ask them to step down from their role. 

Those type of conversations are never easy, but at times they are necessary, if you want to move the ministry forward.  Sometimes you can see a weak link turn into a strong link. 

Great children's ministries are built by great volunteers, linked together to reach next generation.

Do you want to see your ministry grow in 2019?

There are many factors at play when you think about seeing the ministry grow.  What stops a ministry from growing to the next level? Space limitations might be a reason.  Limited population where you serve can be another reason.  Outdated ministry methods can make a ministry go flat.  These are just a few of the reasons a ministry can plateau or even decline.

But the biggest reason is the leadership personally stops growing, which results in the ministry not growing.  If you want to see the ministry you lead grow this year, then you've got to be committed to growing yourself as a leader.

When I was in middle school, I played on our school's basketball team.  I did okay, but often missed shots I should have been making.  My coach came to me and asked if he could give me feedback about my shooting form.

He showed me something about my shooting form that I couldn't see myself.  He told me I wasn't bringing my elbow in close to my body as I shot.  And it was causing my shoot to go off to the left.  I listened to his advise and adjusted my shot.  Wham!  I started making a lot more shots.

A coach can see things you can't see yourself...simply because they are looking in from the outside and can identify things you've have grown used to.  A coach can help you identify your blind spots and improve them.  A coach can give you the tools you need to build your ministry to the next level.  A coach...most importantly...can help you grow and stretch to the next level.

That's why you need a coach in 2019 to help you grow.  And as you grow...you will see the ministry you lead grow as well.

I want to help you grow and as a result, see your ministry grow.  That's why I started Advance Children's Ministry Coaching.  As part of this, here are a few things that are included for you...

• 6 months of coaching.  Next session will run January to June of 2019.

• Monthly group coaching call.  Live, one-hour sessions on the important topics listed below. Each session includes teaching and group discussions

• January - Self Leadership
• February - Leading Staff and Volunteers
• March - Leading Through Change and Challenges
• April - Keys to growing a ministry
• May - Creating a Dynamic Children's Ministry culture. 
• June - Staying Relevant in Ministry 

• Personalized growth plan:  Personal one hour phone session with Dale to help you identify areas of growth and development.  From this, Dale will help you create a one year growth plan in those areas. 

•  Copy of Dale's books.

•  Online support.  You get access to a special online forum where you can ask questions directly to Dale and the other members.  

You are a leader and now is your time to grow.  Participants come from all different sizes of churches, ranging from 150 to 15,000.  The principles and coaching works no matter how small or how large your church is.  Dale has led in churches from 25 to 27,000 in weekend attendance.

Here are some testimonies from some leaders who have went through the coaching experience.

I am thankful for the coaching experience I was able to have.  I have learned tools that will help me with leadership, growth and structure.  The information will help me today, tomorrow and many years to come. 
-Michelle Carley, 5 Points Church

Can you teach an "old dog" new tricks?  Dale did! Having worked in children's ministry for almost two decades, I have a lot of experience.  Basically that means I am good at some things and avoid the rest.  If you are willing to learn, Dale will help you with the rest.
-Joel Smith, Children's Pastor

I found the Advance program very helpful!  I'm convinced everyone would get something out of it - both those with formal training and those without.  Dale was affirming of therole of children's ministry in the church as well as provided encouragement to us as participants. He shares practical insight into building an awesome children's ministry.  
-Eric Gayer, Executive Pastor at Lifegate Church.

The next group begins in January and the deadline to apply is December 20.  Space is limited, so sign up today at this link. 

Believing with you that 2019 is going to take you to a whole new level as a leader. Come join us for the journey!