RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

If you lead a ministry, then a big part of your role is to inspire staff and volunteers to work toward a common goal.

Look at history and you'll see that great leaders had this in common.  They had the ability to inspire others.

Think about Martin Luther King, Jr. and his speech in Washington, D.C.  Or Abraham Lincoln's speech at Gettysburg.  Or J.F.K's "ask not what your country" speech.  Or Winston Churchill's "finest hour" speech.  All of these were "drop the mic" talks that made a significant impact in history.

Yes, some of the ability to inspire people came from talent they were born with.  But the good news is this, even if you weren't born with innate charisma, you can still inspire the people you are called to lead.  Let's look at 5 keys you can use to inspire the people on your team.

VISION
Inspiring leaders have a vision that they are leading people to.  A vision that is challenging and causes people to stretch. 

People want to be part of something that is bigger than themselves.  Something that will enable them to leave a legacy.  Something significant.  

If you want to be an inspiring leader, then begin championing the ministry's vision.  Think big.  Talk about the vision when you meet with your team.  Tell stories about how the vision is being fulfilled.  Challenge people to stretch for the vision.  Be a walking, living billboard for the vision. 

TENACITY 
Inspiring leaders inspire by their commitment to complete the tasks before them.  Rather than whining when things get hard, they push on with a determination that won't let them quit. 

They simply don't give up until they've accomplished the task.  They use every failure as a stepping stone toward the vision.

COURAGE
All of the leaders I mentioned at the beginning of this article had something in common.  They faced significant challenges that required them to lead with courage.  You see, inspiring people usually doesn't happen when things are going well.  It happens when a leader has the courage to face challenges and uncertainty head on.

A great Biblical example of this is David.  He had the courage to step out and face Goliath when no one else would.  His courage that day inspired the entire nation.

EMPOWERMENT
Yes, people are inspired when the leader accomplishes his or her goals.  But people are even more inspired when the leader empowers them to complete their goals. 

You inspire people when you empower them to do things they never thought they could do.

You inspire people when you push them out of their comfort zone.

You inspire people when you pick them up when they fail and empower them to try again.

You inspire people when you believe in them and tell them so.

You inspire people when you help them become great at what they are good at. 

AUTHENTICITY
We live in a day when many leaders' walk doesn't match their talk.  The #MeToo movement has exposed leaders who were not authentic in the business world, entertainment world, political world and even the church world. 

Like never before, the church needs leaders who will be the real deal.  Leaders who will put safeguards in place that will keep them on track.  Leaders who will open up their life and invite people to hold them accountable. 

Remember, it only takes one incident to undue a testimony that you spent decades building.  There is a well-known leader who is experiencing this now.  He is a man who inspired me over the years with his books, his teaching and conferences he held.  He was the pastor of one of the largest, most influential churches in the country.  And yet, now he has blown his testimony...his credibility...his ability to inspire others, because he wasn't authentic in some areas of his life.

What you hide will eventually be exposed.  Make sure you live an authentic life so there is nothing that needs to be exposed.

Focus on these 5 things and over time, you will gain the credibility to be a leader that people follow and are inspired by. 

Your turn.  What are some other traits of an inspiring leader?  Who is a leader who has inspired you?  Share your thoughts and insight in the comment section below.  

Being an effective children's ministry leader involves much more than being able to teach kids.  If you really want to succeed, here's 10 skills to focus on.

1. Time management
Children's ministry is very time consuming.  Sunday always returns and you've got to be ready.  Add to that events, volunteer management, guest follow-up and a host of other responsibilities, and you've got a full plate.

And many children's ministry leaders serve in a part-time or even volunteer role.  They are juggling a full-time job while giving as much as they can to their children's ministry role.

With this comes the necessity of managing your time well.  If you struggle in this area or want to improve, there are lots of great time management books and online resources that can help you.

2. Delegation
Your success as a children's ministry leader hinges on your ability to delegate.  Narrow what you do to the few things that will have the most impact and give away the rest.  If you don't, you will become the lid that holds the ministry back.

3. Conflict management
There will be conflict.  You can count on it.  Volunteers will have disputes, parents will get upset and ministry staff will have disagreements.  Managing these conflicts takes skill.  Most people are not naturally good at it, but the good news is it can be learned.  Read all you can about managing conflict and hone this skill.  You'll need it.

Hearing refers to the sounds that you hear, whereas listening requires more than that: it requires focus.  Listening means paying attention not only to what is said, but to how it is said as well.  In other words, it means being aware of both verbal and non-verbal messages.

5. Inspiring and motivating others
A vital skill for a children's ministry leader is being able to inspire and motivate others.  This means conveying passion for a vision and direction.  It's leading from the front.  Your team will never be more inspired or motivated than you are as the leader.  

6.  Communication
This includes not only communicating with kids, but with volunteers and parents as well.  It is essential to be able to communicate vision and direction to those on your team.  Communication skills are one of the easiest things to improve.  Ask people to give you feedback on your communication.  Video yourself, watch the tape and look for ways you can improve.

7. Leading change
It takes skill to lead change.  You must know how to prepare people for it and then lead them through it.  The ability to manage change and make it happen smoothly is a skill you will want to master.

8. Connect with parents
If you really want to influence kids, then you've got to be able to influence parents.  Be "fun" when you're with the kids, but don't become known as a "big kid' who can't connect with or relate to parents.  You must earn their respect if you want to influence them.

9. Team building
If I had to pick one skill above all else in children's ministry, it would be team building.  The success of your ministry rises and falls on your ability to build a team.  Make this your number one priority.  Master this skill and you will shine.

10. Mentoring
In addition to motivating people, it's also important to be able to help others learn, grow and become more effective.  Once you learn this skill, you will begin to develop leaders of leaders instead of just doers.  This will allow you to multiply yourself. 

The floor is yours.  What other skills do children's ministry leaders need?  Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below. 

Ready to see your children's ministry transformed?

A transformed children's ministry comes from transformational leadership.  Transformational leadership is when a leader raises team members to higher levels of motivation and effectiveness.

Transformational leaders create an inspiring vision.  An inspiring vision comes from...

• clarifying your purpose - why you do what you do
• core values that the team will be committed to
• creating a picture of what can be
• communicating the vision

Transformational leaders motivate people to buy in and own the vision.

• talk about the vision...often - remember vision leaks
• tell the stories of kids and families who are being impacted by the vision
• teamwork - show people the part they play in making the vision a reality
• thank people on the team - encourage them, praise them, appreciate them

Transformational leaders develop plans to make the vision a reality.  They take the next step and deliver the vision.

• lead through changes that need to be made
• lay out goals that will take you to the vision
• let people see your commitment and persistence to overcome difficulties and roadblocks

Tramsformational leaders build ever-stronger, trust-based relationships.

• find out your team members' personalities, love languages, developmental needs and goals 
• focus on helping them grow, meet their goals, and achieve their dreams
• feedback - create a culture where feedback is not only received, but asked for
• face-to-face, personal time with your team members
  

In conclusion...everything rises and falls on leadership.  The natural overflow of transformational leadership is a transformed children's ministry.