RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Reading is a key to growing as a children's ministry leader.

I'm often asked what books I recommend.  It's hard to narrow it down to 25, but here's 25 books I believe every children's ministry leader should read.  You can purchase any of these through Amazon.

Creating Ever Cool: A Marketer's Guide to a Child's Heart by Gene Del Vecchio

100 Best Ideas to Turbo Charge Your Children's Ministry (co-authored)

Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley

Doing Church as a Team by Wayne Corderio

The Disney Way by Bill Capodagli & Lynn Jackson

Disney U by Doug Lipp

Good to Great by Jim Collins

Start with the Why by Simon Sinek

Axiom by Bill Hybels

Deep and Wide by Andy Stanley

100 Best Ideas to Turbo Charge Your Preschool Ministry (co-authored)

Simple Church by Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger

Volunteers That Stick by Jim Wideman

17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player by John Maxwell

21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell

Be Our Guest by The Disney Institute

Inside the Magic Kingdom by Tom Connellan

I Quit by Peter and Geri Scazzero

Replinish: Leading from a Healthy Soul by Lance Witt

Children's Ministry in the 21st century (co-authored)

Right from Wrong by Josh McDowell

Carpe Manana by Leonard Sweet

Think Orange by Reggie Joiner

Too Busy Not to Pray with Bill Hybels

Communicating for Change by Andy Stanley

What's missing from the list?  What other books do you recommend for children's ministry leaders?  Share the titles with us in the comment section below.

Walt Disney built Disney on 4 principles.  These 4 principles are the secret sauce behind their success over the years.

Dream
From the early days, when the staff could fit into one room, Walt had the ability to gather employees together and capture their imaginations with what could be.

Walt's dreaming was inclusive.  He sought ideas and suggestions from everyone on team.  In fact, employees were not just asked to give input, but required.

Action steps:

• Be committed to dreaming that inspires creativity.
• Set aside time to dream.  Go off-site at least once a year to dream, pray, and plan.
• Encourage everyone on the team to dream and share their ideas, input, and suggestions. 
• Set up pathways that enable the team to share their ideas, input, and suggestions.

Believe
Walt built Disney on values and beliefs.  His passionate belief in the need to instill a company culture led him to set up a formal training program that has become known as Disney University. 

Action steps:

• Formalize your vision and values.  Put them in writing.
• Communicate your vision and values constantly.
• Have each area of your children's ministry write down how they can align with the overall vision and values.
• Let your vision and values guide your decision making.

Dare
Walt knew what it meant to go out on a limb.  He dared to meet challenges, he dared to take risks, he dared to excel.  At times...especially in the early years...he risked it all to see the dream become a reality.

Action steps:

• Take a hard look at your current programs, processes, and philosophy.  Is it working?  Is it time for change?  Are you willing to take a risk to get out of your comfort zone?  Are you willing to do whatever it takes to get out of the rut you're in?
• Create a culture where failure is part of the learning and growing process.

Do
Disney wasn't built with wand-waving or "abracadabras."  It was built on detailed preparation, planning, and execution.

Here's his formula.

Step 1 - Blue skies

• ask "what if?"
• be okay with the discomfort of being out of the comfort zone

Step 2 - Concept development

• research
• evaluate
• recommend

Step 3 - Feasibility

• reconcile the dream with what can be done

Step 4 - Schematic

• finalize your plans
• outline the process needed to get you there

Step 5 - Objectives

• finalize details, equipment and materials needed
• develop strategy and budget

Step 6 - Contract documents

• prepare contracts 

Step 7 - Production

• develop
• produce

Step 8 - Install, test, adjust

• install or implement your plans

Step 9 - Close out

• monitor performance

Step 10 - Celebrate

• take time to celebrate the accomplishment

Action Steps:

• Develop a process for implementing your ideas.
• Ask people to own steps of the process.  Let them lead the areas you assign them without micromanaging them.

"The way to get started is to quit talking and get started." - Walt Disney