RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY: growing

Showing posts with label growing. Show all posts

You Still Have the Sales Tag on Your Coat

8:28 AM Dale Hudson

A few weeks ago, I was speaking in the weekend services at a church in the Tampa area. The church has one service on Saturday and two on Sunday. I had just finished speaking at the first service on Sunday and was interacting with some of the people who had attended. A lady approached me and whispered to me, "I need to tell you something."

Okay. I thought she might be getting ready to tell me about something going on in her life, ask a question or comment on something I said during the message. But here's what she said.

"You still have the sales tag on your coat."

"Where?" I said.

"Under your arm. I saw it when you were speaking."

My heart skipped a beat. I raised my arm and sure enough...there was the sales tag. I had spoke Saturday night and Sunday morning with a sales tag hanging out of my coat! I felt like an idiot! I thanked her and obviously quickly removed the tag. Even thought it was embarrassing at the the moment, I look back and have to laugh at myself.

The sales tag taught me a lesson that you might be able to identify with as well.

You see...I have weaknesses that I cannot see. Blind spots. That's why they call them blind spots, right? I can't correct what I can't see. That's why I must have trusted friends who will be brutally honest and point them out to me.

Effective leaders welcome critique and see it as a gift rather than a criticism. If you're like me, when someone approaches me and begins to point out one of my weaknesses, I naturally tense up and and become defensive internally. I have to resist this and see the critique as a gift that will make me a better leader and person.

Every criticism, critique and bit of feedback you receive, can make you better if you'll make this adjustment and see it as a gift. Even if it is off base and not totally true, there is usually still a nugget of truth you can grab and use to help you improve as a leader.

If you'll make this shift, it will totally change your attitude about critique and criticism. Don't let your insecurities, pride or stubbornness rob you of an opportunity to grow as a leader.

Effective leaders take the initiative and ask people to help them see their blind spots. If I had asked a friend or family member to check me before I went up to speak, I could have avoided an embarrassing situation.

Don't sit back and hope someone will point out your blind spots. Have a group of trusted friends who will be brutally honest with you and will help you grow as a leader through feedback.

Asking these type of questions will give you the knowledge you need to grow.

What part of my personality can be offensive at times?
What would you change in my message that will make it more effective?
What is one thing I can do to be a better leader?
What is something I should stop doing to be a better leader?

Effective leaders are intentional about working on their weaknesses. Guess what? You haven't arrived as a leader and neither have I. And we never will. That's why we must continue to take the feedback we get and use it to continually grow as a leader. Effective leaders are always in school. They are always growing. Always looking for ways to get better.

What is the "sales tag" that is in your life and leadership right now? Get some help seeing it and then you can remove it. Remove it and you'll be more effective as a leader.

10 Leadership Lessons from 10 Children's Ministry Leaders

8:27 AM Dale Hudson

Last week, I shared about our annual children's ministry staff retreat. On the second day of the retreat, I asked our children's ministry directors to share a leadership lesson that they've recently grasped as they are doing ministry. They shared some great insight and I wanted to make it available to you.

Josh Danielson

Josh oversees the children's ministry at our Boynton Beach campus. This is one of our fastest growing campuses and it meets in an active mall. You can read more about Josh's campus at this link. He is a team builder, creative thinker, puppeteer extraordinaire and dynamic children's speaker.

Jesus laid down His life for His friends.
It's not about being a hero...it's about laying down your life for others...it's about serving others and making a difference in people's lives.

Hannah French

Hannah oversees the children's ministry at our Royal Palm Campus. This is our second largest campus and Hannah and her team minister to thousands of kids and parents each month. She is a brilliant thinker, strategic leader and excellent creator/writer of children's lessons.

We must lead with compassion.
Jesus was the best example of this. He showed compassion for everyone He led.
People must know that you care about them and want to understand them.

Rebecca Vardian

Rebecca leads the children's ministry at our Stuart Campus. This is another fast growing campus and Rebecca and her team minister to hundreds of kids each week. They recently moved into a brand new facility. You can read more about it here. She is one of the best team builders I know. She knows how to enlist volunteers, equip them and empower them to do ministry. She is also a strong prayer warrior and leads with a servant's heart.

Psalm 92:13-14.
We need to have a large amount of love, wisdom and God's Spirit.
When you do this, you will flourish and continue to bear fruit.

Charlotte Allison

Charlotte is our Associate Core Director of children's ministry which means she helps look after the children's ministry at all of our campuses. She is a organizational genius and helps set up all of our new campuses. She loves investing in people and has an incredible heart for equipping and empowering leaders.

Feeling like a failure can be worse than failing.
Failure is an opportunity to have fear or faith.
Hard endings can be new beginnings.
If you give up, you can't get up.
Proverbs 29:25, Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 27:1, Romans 8:20, Ephesians 2:10, Psalm 34:4, 2 Timothy 1

Shelby Colman

Shelby oversees the children's ministry at our Okeechobee Campus. She is amazing at caring for volunteers and is a true servant leader. Her entire family serves each week and they make a huge impact. She is a difference-maker.

Focus on one child at a time. Jesus went after the one.
Don't despise the small things.
The little thing you do for someone may be huge for them.

Tracy Robinson

Tracy leads the children's ministry at our newest campus in Port St. Lucie. Her campus is our fastest growing and she is already ministering to hundreds of kids and volunteers each week. She is a stellar, dynamic leader.

We must spend time alone with Jesus...listening to Him. There is no podcast that can replace this. The best podcast is being in the Word with Jesus.
Focus on the great commandment, the great commission and great prayer.
Let prayer do the hard work.

Noemy Munoz

Noemy oversees the children's ministry at our CFE Campus. She is an amazing team builder. Her campus is always full of happy, committed leaders and it comes from her care for them.

Leading is about serving and giving. Leaders are servants.
Matthew 28:20.
Jesus gathered regular people around Him and developed them.
Are you looking for people to serve you or are you looking to serve people?
Servant leaders maintain a low profile and give the glory to God.
Treat your volunteers like family.

Arturo Parham

Arturo leads our City Place campus. He is a proven, strong leader and has a genuine love for kids and families. He recently got married and he and his wife enjoy serving in children's ministry together.

Control your attitude.
When you look up it makes looking ahead easier.
Seek God first (Matthew 6:33)
Don't worry. Relax...God's got it.

Seth Ray

Seth oversees our Gardens campus, which is our largest campus. He and his team minister to thousands of kids and families. He is a visionary leader, strategic thinker and is passionate about developing people and empowering them to do ministry.

A clear vision is a necessity.
Vision leaks. It must be reinforced.
People must see and know that what they do matters.
Tap someone on the shoulder and have them run with you.
Remind people what they are running toward.
When people get the vision they will help other people get it as well.

Dale

I shared about being an idea gatherer vs. an idea generator.
Good leaders generate ideas. Great leaders go around and gather the best ideas from others.

It's such a joy to do life and ministry with these leaders. I learn from them each week and I'm a better leader because of them. I pray God will surround you with people who can help you grow as a Christ-follower and leader as well.

Your turn. The floor is yours. Share with everyone in the comment section below about a leadership or ministry thought you've been meditating on lately.

Are You a Learning Machine?

8:04 AM Dale Hudson

Recently the CEO and Chairman of Netflix said this.

We are just a learning machine. Every time we put out a new show, we are analyzing it, figuring out what worked and what didn't so we can get better next time.

A learning machine. That's a great thing for a children's ministry to be. You see, when you think your ministry has arrived...you have. But where you've arrived is where you will remain. In order to continue growing and improving...
you have to be a learning machine.

So how do you remain a learning machine?

Ask questions more often than you give answers. Learning machines have a lot in common with a 4-year-old...they ask lots and lots of questions.

Evaluate your ministry on a regular basis. Intentional evaluation keeps you learning how to do things better.

Ask for feedback. Learn from volunteers through feedback. Learn from kids through feedback. Learn from parents through feedback.

Visit other churches. One of the best ways to learn is by visiting other churches. Most of the ideas I use in our ministry I got from other churches I have observed. If you'd like to come hang out with us for a weekend, we host churches several times a year. You can email me at dalehudsoncm2@gmail.com for more information.

Stay hungry. It's easy to grow content and complacent. Learners are hungry. They are always looking for ways to improve their ministry.

I've been in children's ministry now for 26 years and I still have so much to learn. I want to stay in the "learning machine" mode. Let's keep learning and growing together.

Your turn. How do you stay in the "learning machine" mode? Share with us in the comment section below.

10 Reasons a Leader Stops Growing

8:09 AM Dale Hudson

What causes a leader to stop growing? In this infograph, we share 10 reasons. Are any of these currently hindering you from growing?

If you'd like a copy of this infograph as a .jpg, you can email me at dalehudsoncm2@gmail.com.

Did You Know This Is a Big Danger to Your Leadership?

8:05 AM Dale Hudson

There's something that's dangerous to your leadership. It can be summed up in one word...

SATISFACTION

When you reach the place where you're satisfied with how things are...satisfied with how many kids and parents you're reaching...satisfied with how much you know...satisfied in your relationship with God...satisfied with how many people are volunteering...you're in a dangerous place.

Satisfaction is the enemy of growth...satisfaction is the enemy of improvement...satisfaction is the enemy of excellence....satisfaction is the enemy of going to the next level.

By satisfaction, I'm not referring to contentment. Paul says we are to be content with our physical provisions. This refers to our housing, food, clothes, etc.

But he says we are not to be satisfied in spiritual matters. Hear his heart cry in Philippians 3:13-14.

"Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained."

Have you taken your foot off the pedal and decided to just put it on cruise control?

Have you grown satisfied with how many kids and families you're reaching?

Have you stopped reading, growing, stretching?

Have you stopped actively looking for ways to improve the ministry?

Don't let satisfaction set in!

Start asking these questions again...

How can we reach more kids and families?

What can we do better?

What can we learn this week?

How can we get to the next level?

TAKE ACTION AGAINST YOUR SATISFACTION.

The Do's and Don'ts of Children's Ministry

8:11 AM Dale Hudson

Do lead by serving.
Don't try to lead by a title.

Do make church fun for kids.
Don't make church boring for kids.

Do create environments that have kids dragging their parents to church.
Don't create environments that cause parents to have to drag their kids to church.

Do teach life application.
Don't teach information without life application.

Do place new volunteers where they need to be.
Don't place new volunteers where you need them to be.

Do listen.
Don't do all the talking.

Do let kids move.
Don't expect kids to sit still and be quiet for more than 5 minutes.

Do be productive.
Don't be busy, but not productive.

Do background checks on all volunteers before they start serving.
Don't ever let anyone be alone with a child.

Do treat pre-teens their age.
Don't talk to pre-teens like they are little kids.

Do partner with other ministries in your church.
Don't make children's ministry a silo.

Do equip parents to be the primary spiritual leaders of their children.
Don't separate what happens at church from what happens at home.

Do go the second mile to give first-time guests a great experience.
Don't make new guests wait in line.

Do keep your children's ministry space clean and tidy.
Don't let your children's ministry get cluttered.

Do look through the eyes of a child when decorating your kids' rooms.
Don't put kids in rooms that were designed for adults.

Do make your lessons interactive and participatory.
Don't lecture kids.

Do treat kids like they are living in 2015.
Don't treat kids like they are living in 1980.

Do use the ministry to build your volunteers.
Don't use volunteers to build the ministry.

Do put your family before your ministry.
Don't put your ministry before your family.

Do spend just as much time learning to lead adults as you do kids.
Don't put all your focus on the kids.

Do build a volunteer team through vision.
Don't try to build a volunteer team through need.

Do learn how to manage conflict and bring resolution.
Don't run from hard conversations.

Do be yourself.
Don't try to be a copy of someone else.

Do see complaints as a gift that you can use to make the ministry better.
Don't turn a deaf ear to complainers.

Do say "thank you" every week to your volunteers.
Don't take your volunteers for granted.

Do spend time with God.
Don't get so busy working for God that you don't have time to spend with God.

Do use breath mints.
Don't knock new families out with your breath.

Do read and read and read.
Don't stop growing.

Do help kids see the Bible as a love letter.
Don't cause kids to see the Bible primarily as a rule book.

Do keep going.
Don't quit.

The floor is yours. What are some other do's and don'ts of children's ministry? Share them with us in the comment section below.

10 Steps to Becoming a Better Children's Ministry Leader in 2015

9:02 AM Dale Hudson

Want to be a better leader for your children's ministry in 2015? Here's 10 steps that will make this your best leadership year ever!

1. Spend more time with God. This is where it all begins. The more time you spend with God, the better leader you will become. He will infuse you with more wisdom, grace and spiritual power. If you spent 15 minutes a day with God last year, up it to 30 this year. If you spent 30 minutes a day with God last year, up it to 45 this year. The time you spend with Him backstage will improve your leadership front stage.

2. Improve your motivational skills. Read the autobiographies of great motivational leaders. A few suggestions are Jack Welch, Dean Smith, John Wooden, and Lee Iacocca. Great leaders motivate team members with a compelling vision and mission.

3. Serve more. The more you serve others, the better leader you will be. This comes from the greatest leader of all times who modeled this by washing His team's dirty feet.

4. Listen more. Listening will help you uncover great ideas and big impact strategies. If all the ideas came from you last year, then you are limiting the ministry. This year, listen twice as much as you talk.

5. Try something new. Growth will happen outside of your comfort zone.

6. Live by a schedule that helps you accomplish your priorities. If you don't plan your time, someone else will plan it for you. Know exactly how you are spending your time. Of course, things will arise that will temporarily take you out of your schedule, but let that be the exception, not the norm.

Remember, the goal is not to be busy. The goal is to be productive. There is a difference and living by a schedule will help you accomplish your priorities.

7. Read. Read. Read. The books, blogs, articles, etc. that you read this year will be a big factor in how much you improve as a leader. You've heard the statement, leaders are readers. It's so true.

8. Make a list of the mistakes you made this past year. And then ask some of the people around you to add to the list. Learn from your past mistakes so you don't repeat them this year.

9. Give lots of care and a little critique. Bottom line. People are motivated a lot more by praise than by criticism. This means you earn the right to critique people by first showing them that you care about them and have their best interests in mind.

10. Help those around you become better. Meet with a few of your key leaders and help them develop a personal and ministry growth plan for 2015. The natural result of helping them improve will be you improving as well. When you help other people grow...you grow.

The floor is yours. What are some steps you are taking in 2015 to become a better leader? Share them with us in the comment section below.

10 Keys to Explosive Growth in Children's Ministry

11:01 AM Dale Hudson

I have been blessed to be part of growing children's ministries. Many have doubled or even tripled in size. I've also studied other ministries that have seen explosive growth.

So what causes children's ministries to experience explosive growth? Over the last 24 years of doing children's ministry, I've seen 10 common traits that growing children's ministries have in common.

Confidence in God. There is a sense of confidence...not in human ability, but in God's ability.

I guess you could call it Godfidence. He said He would build His church. The leaders walk in this promise. And when the growth comes, they are the first to admit they're not "good enough" to make this happen. It's a God thing.

They care about numbers. Growing children's ministries care about numbers. They are very aware of how many kids are coming YTD versus last year. They care about numbers because every number has a name and every name has a story.

Commitment to excellence. They are in the details and they do them well. Typos are the exception, not the norm. Parents trust the leaders because they have a track record of following through on promises. Half-way is not tolerated. Second mile is second nature.

A themed children's area. Theming has been a turning point for growth in the churches I have served in. I can show you the attendance records the week before and the week after we completed the theming. The growth was immediate.

Theming doesn't keep kids, but it definitely gets them in the door. You can't reach and disciple empty seats.

A strong volunteer team. Growing children's ministries have strong volunteer teams. The staff are great team builders. They are constantly, week-in and week-out, on-boarding new volunteers and equipping them for the work of the ministry.

Guests are treated very well. First-time guest families are a top priority. From parking to signage to greeting to check-in to entering the rooms, they have thought through and prepared for every aspect of a family's first experience.

Aggressively evangelistic. They care about unreached kids and families in their community...a lot.

They keep their focus outward and are heavily involved in the community outside the four walls. Families in the church build relationships and bring people to church on a regular basis.

Know how to identify lids and remove them. When they plateau, they know why. And they fix it. Whether it means adding space, adding another service, adding more parking, or asking people to move to another service and free up seats...they make it happen.

Senior leadership is strongly committed to children's ministry. They support it with an adequate budget, sufficient personnel, and prime "air time."

Unity. The staff and volunteer team are unified behind a common vision and core values. There is healthy debate, but when a decision is made, everyone stacks hands and moves forward. Disunity is confronted and dealt with.

A willingness to change. They constantly evaluate and make necessary changes. They hold the ministry with open hands. They are able to rapidly navigate and implement change.

Prayer. They move forward on their knees. They know that nothing of eternal value every happens without prayer.

Your turn. What are some other key traits you have seen in children's ministries that are growing? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

A Sneak Peak Inside Volunteer Training

5:54 AM Unknown

Do you face the challenge of getting volunteers to show up for training? I do. People's lives are crazy busy and they're not looking for one more thing to add to their schedule. But training and growing volunteers is a vital part of Children's Ministry.

There is a key opportunity for training each week that many Children's Ministries overlook. That's right before you open the doors for the worship service / class time. A pre-service huddle with your volunteers can be a very effective time to do training.

Here's an inside look at a pre-service huddle and the elements incorporated.

The Rise of the Nones (Pt.2)

9:55 AM Unknown

Yesterday we talked about the rise of the Nones...people who mark "None" when asked their religious affiliation. They are the fastest growing group in the United States. They now outrank every other group in America except for Catholics and Baptist.

This increase in people who have no connection with church or "organized religion" demands a hard look at what we are doing as Christian leaders. I posed three questions that I believe we must address if things are going to swing things back the other direction.

What does this mean for Children's Ministry?
How can we effectively reach families who are "Nones?"
What changes or shifts need to take place in Children's Ministry as we navigate the culture?

Integrity and accountability must be a top priority.
Sexual and financial scandals by Christian leaders have contributed to the general public's mistrust of church leaders as a whole. We must be committed to being leaders marked by integrity, character, honesty, and accountability. We must walk the talk. Who we are must become far more important than what we do. We must lead from the inside out.

We must welcome doubts and questions.
We must create environments where people have the freedom to doubt, grapple, and question. I am encouraged when children begin to ask questions and grapple with what they believe. It means they are in the process of owning their faith for themselves. Instead of suppressing it, we must engage in healthy dialogue and exploration of truth. We must create an environment where it is okay to belong before you believe.

We must not get hung up on denominational titles.
Protestant denominations are suffering some of the biggest losses. The days of people coming to a church because of the denominational title are past. Many of the "nones" may have attended a denominational church when they were young, but have now disconnected. Are you limiting your reach to them by keeping the name in the church title?

We must raise the bar when it comes to spiritual milestones.
Many of the "nones" had no spiritual milestones to look back to. Spiritual milestones can provide anchors in a child and family's life. Milestones such as parent/child dedication, baptism, pre-teen passage, etc. must be a top priority in our ministries. We must invest time, energy, and resources into pouring into families' lives during these key times.

We must be willing to change what is not working.
Why are many churches dying? In many cases, it is because they have grown comfortable and complacent. They are more concerned with keeping "Sister Organ Player" happy than they are with reaching the "Nones" in their community. For many, a slow death seems to be easier than taking a risk and making necessary adjustments.

We must be consumed with what consumes Jesus...seeking and saving the lost.
Jesus passion is to reach the "Nones." Only 1-2% of churches are growing by reaching people who are lost. Our focus must shift from how many people ARE COMING to our church to how many ARE NOT COMING.

We must make children and family ministry a top priority.
"Nones" are significantly younger than the general population, and many young adult nones will be parents of the next generation. As they become parents, a small window of opportunity will open as they begin to think about taking their children to church.

We must create environments where children love coming. Environments that are so irresistible that children drag their "none" parents back week after week. Environments where young parents can get help with their parenting, marriage, finances, etc. The churches that create these type environments have the potential to make a huge impact.

Closing thoughts...
I am more excited than ever about the opportunity we have to reach people for Christ. God will raise up people to reach the "Nones." Though many churches are dying, many are seeing God draw people to Himself in amazing ways.

God is at work. The big question is...are we willing to line up with what He is doing...even if it means moving into unfamiliar, uncomfortable ground.

Posted by Dale Hudson