RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Children's ministry is just like any other area of the church...everything rises and falls on leadership.  Great children's ministries are made possible by great leadership.

Are you called to lead a children's ministry?  Or maybe you want to improve as a leader?  What qualities should be in your personal DNA?  What qualities should you focus on and seek to grow in?  I sat down and made a list of 7 of the most important ones.  This is not an exhaustive list, but it's a good place to start.  Read through them.  Then get alone and take some time to ponder the questions that are included.  Write down some action steps that you can take to improve in these areas.

Quality #1 -  Innovative 
As the leader, it's important to be able to consistently generate fresh, new ideas for the ministry.  This keeps the ministry from getting stale or falling into a rut.  There are times when the ministry will need to be reinvented to stay relevant.

Being innovative doesn't mean you have to be a creative genius.  In fact, the best way to bring innovative new ideas to the table to is have everyone around the table work together to create the ideas.  An innovative leader knows the smartest person in the room is the room and he/she knows how to pull the best ideas out of the group.  

Think about it...

• How do I keep the ministry fresh and exciting?  How can I do better at this?

• Do I bring key leaders together to brainstorm new, innovative ideas?  How can I improve in this area?

• Do I lead through change by example?  Am I willing to let go of the sacred cows (even if they are ones I created) so the ministry can stay relevant?

Quality #2 - Passion
The passion level of the ministry will never rise above your personal level of passion.  A children's ministry leader must be able to stand before kids, families, parents and volunteers and communicate with passion.  You must be a thermostat rather than a thermometer.  The difference?  A thermostat sets the temperature.  A thermometer only measures the temperature.

When you share the vision of the ministry, it should cause people's heart to beat faster.  That only happens when they see and feel passion from you, as the leader.  Passion is not taught...it is caught.   In my book, If Disney Ran Your Children's Ministry, I share the story of when Walt Disney was trying to convince the financial board to provide the money to build Disneyland.   Here's what happened.

"As he stood before the board, he admitted it was hard for them to envision Disneyland the way he could, but he assured them, 'There's nothing like it in the world.  I know because I have looked.  That's why it can be great: because it will be unique.  A new concept in entertainment, and I think...I know...it can be a success.'  When he finished their were tears in his eyes.  The members of the board were persuaded." 

Disney parks exist today, as the number one vacation destination int the world for families,  because of one man's passion.  If Walt could be that passionate about building the Magic Kingdom, how much more should we, as leaders, be passionate about building God's kingdom!

Think about it...

• Am I a thermostat or a thermometer?  How can I improve in this?
  

• What gets me fired up and passionate about the ministry?  

• What are some ways I can raise my personal passion for the ministry?

Quality #3 - Self-Awareness
A children's ministry leader should know what his/ her strengths and weaknesses are.  They should know what their personality type is, what their spiritual gifts are, what time of the day they are the most productive, be able to sense when they are stretched too thin and need rest, etc.  They are committed to growing personally in the areas they are aware of. 

They also gather people around them to help them with the quality of self-awareness.  People who will help them see their blind spots, people who will hold them accountable for their words and actions, people who will provide them with tools they need to be more self aware. 

Think about it...

• How self-aware am I?  What are my strengths?  What are my weaknesses?  Am I working to improve myself? 

• Do I have people around me who help me see my blind spots and hold me accountable?

•  What are some steps I can take to continue to grow personally as a leader?
  

Quality #4 - Integrity
Recently I was asked at a conference how you build trust with parents.  My response was that it takes time to build trust.  It is not a gift that people give you.  It is a something you must earn through consistency over a period of time.  It's integrity that comes from the core of who you are and what you believe.  It's about following through with your promises, admitting when you make a mistake and apologizing for it, making decisions based on principle rather than on emotions, paying attention to the little things and taking the high road when the low road would be an easy out.

Think about it...

• Can people depend on me?  Do I keep my promises?  Follow through on my commitments?

• Do I have a process for making decisions rather than making decisions in the heat of the moment or how the wind is blowing?

• Am I willing to admit my mistakes?  Do I take the blame rather than trying to pass it to someone else when things don't go as planned?

Quality #5 - Empowering
A children's ministry leader must be more about empowering than doing.  Your calling is to empower others for the work of the ministry.  It's in your job description (check out Ephesians 4).  This means enlisting people to serve with you, equipping them with the tools and knowledge they need to be successful and then releasing them to run with it.

This means getting past any insecurities you may have about other people getting the spotlight, letting go and not having "control" over everything and gathering people around you who are smarter and more gifted than you are.

Average children's ministry leaders only empower themselves.  Great children's ministry leaders empower others.

Think about it...

• Do I spend more time doing or empowering?

• What am I doing that I need to empower someone else to do?

• Can I step back in the shadows and everything will run smooth without me there?

Quality #6 - Optimism
It's important to be a positive person.  You should be seen smiling most of the time.  Rather than saying "the sky is falling" you are saying "let's shoot for the sky."  You see obstacles as an opportunity to break out of your comfort zone.  You see complaints as a gift that has been sent to help the ministry improve.  When you bring your pastor a problem you are facing, you bring several solution suggestions as well.  You point people to a bright future.  You believe the best days of ministry are just around the river bend.  When your volunteers leave a meeting with you, they leave encouraged. 

Quality #7 - It
This is a quality that can't be quantified.  It's outside of a person's talents, abilities or charisma.  It's a quality that transcends any earthly manufacturing.  It's the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit.  This comes from spending time with God and walking in obedience, surrender and dependence.  It's falling on your face and saying, "God, I am desperate for your help.  This is too big a task for me.  Nothing will happen without your anointing.  Please fill me with your power and do what I cannot do."

Think about it...

• Am I spending time with God each day, asking Him to anoint me for the tasks He has for me?

• Do I lead our ministry to spend time in prayer on a regular basis?

• Have I gotten so "experienced in ministry" that I don't depend on the power of the Holy Spirit?

I would like to challenge you to grow in each of these qualities.  As you grow yourself, you will see your ministry grow. 

Do you want people to follow your leadership?  Here's 12 essential leadership qualities you'll need to develop.  If you'd like a copy of this infograph, feel free to email me at dalehudsoncm2@gmail.com.

Tomorrow a new year is unveiled.  With it, a host of opportunities lies before you.  You have the potential to make a huge impact in 2016.  Couple your potential with a plan and you'll see God do more than you could have dreamed possible.

Here's 10 keys that can help you cultivate a great plan for the coming year.

KEY #1 - DEPEND ON GOD MORE THAN EVER.  Anything great that happens in 2016 will be accomplished through God's power, not your own.  Start every day by yielding yourself to God and asking Him to fill you with His power.  When you walk in His anointing, great things happen.

KEY #2 - TAKE CARE OF BACKSTAGE.  The front stage is your public life.  The backstage is your private life.  Determine to be bigger backstage than you are front stage.  Walk with God and maintain your integrity.  When you take care of the backstage, God will take care of the front stage.  Check out this verse.


KEY #3 - FOCUS ON A FEW THINGS.  Don't fall into the trap of being busy, but not productive.  Focus on doing a few things really well.  Focus brings results.

KEY #4 - STAY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT GOD IS PASSIONATE ABOUT.  God is passionate about those who don't know Him.


KEY #5 - SET MEASURABLE GOALS.  If you want to accomplish something, you must identify what it is.  Set a few, clear goals.  They should be measurable and attainable.

KEY #6 - SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE YOU WANT TO BE LIKE.  You will become who you spend time with.  Find people who will challenge you and help you grow.

KEY #7 - INVEST IN PEOPLE.  You can only accomplish so much by yourself.  It will take a team to see great things happen.  Invest in volunteers.  Invest in co-workers.  Invest in those around you.

KEY #8 - INVEST IN YOURSELF.  Read.  Go to a conference.  Network with other leaders.  Listen to podcasts.  Grow you and your ministry will grow.

KEY #9 - HONOR THE SABBATH.  Get plenty of rest.  Eat healthy.  Take your day off.  Exercise.  Plan a vacation.  Sabbath days help you recharge and go the distance.

KEY #10 - STAY CONSISTENT.  You won't accomplish great things in a week or in a month.  It will happen as you consistently execute over the course of the entire year.  When you are consistent over the long haul, the compound effect comes into play and the small steps add up to great results.

Here's a simple tool you can use to implement the above:

3 Ways I Will Depend on God More in 2016
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3 Ways I Will Take Care of the Backstage in 2016
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3 Things I Will Focus On in 2016
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3 Ways I Will Reach Those Far From God in 2016
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3 Goals I Want to Accomplish in 2016
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3 People I Want to Spend Time With in 2016
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3 Ways I Will Invest in Myself in 2016
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3 Ways I Will Honor the Sabbath in 2016
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3 Things I Will Do to Stay Consistent in 2016
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You've heard the statement...leadership is influence.

It's true and that means if you want to become a better leader for your volunteers, you've got to increase your influence with them.

Here's 7 keys to raising your level of influence with your volunteers.

1. Talk less and listen more.  That might sound counterproductive...after all...don't influencers have all the answers?

Actually no.  Great influencers are great listeners.  They ask great questions and find great answers.  If you really want to influence volunteers, then listen...really listen to them.  When volunteers know you value their ideas and input, you will gain influence with them.

2. Praise often and criticize rarely.  You won't gain influence with your volunteers if you are constantly criticizing them.  People don't follow criticism.  They follow encouragement and positive feedback.

3. Be a giver instead of a taker.  The motive behind godly influence is not selfish gain.  It's to help others.  Generosity leads to influence. 

4. Be positive instead of negative.  Negative people can be influencers...but they influence volunteers in the wrong direction.  If you want to influence volunteers in the right direction, then be a positive person.

5. Be quick to take blame and slow to take credit.  This is another one that might sound counterproductive...but it's not.  When you admit your mistakes instead of hiding them or shifting the blame, you will gain the respect of your volunteers...and respect leads to influence.  And when you empower your volunteers and give them the credit for wins, you also gain influence.  Empowerment leads to influence.

6. Keep your word.  Integrity leads to influence.  Follow through when you tell your volunteers you are going to do something.  They notice. 

7.  Care...really care about your volunteers.  When your volunteers know you really care about them, it opens their hearts to your influence. 

Who are the top volunteers in your ministry?  You know, the ones you'd like to clone.  The ones you've told, "If I had 100 more volunteers like you, we could reach all the kids in this city." 

What are the qualities that make these volunteers seem to have an "S" on their shirt? 

Faithfulness
They are always in their spot.  You can always count on them.  Week in and week out, they show up and make a difference.  They are long-termers. 

Flexibility
They don't fight change, they embrace it.  If there is a mix-up and they don't get all of their supplies, they roll with it.  If there is a last minute change, they adjust with a smile. 

Team Player
They don't have their own agenda.  They see the big picture.  They get along well with other volunteers. 

Positive 
They are an encourager.  You look forward to seeing them each week.  They have a "let's take the mountain" attitude. 

Integrity
When they say they will do something, they follow through.  They are known for their character.   They have a solid reputation at work and in the community. 

Provide Good Feedback
They provide good feedback and give you ideas that help improve the ministry. 

Care About Kids
They love working with kids.  Kids are drawn to them.  Parents request for their child to be in the person's group.

Committed
They are all in.  They go the second mile.  When an event is over, they stay and clean up with you to the end.  You have to tell them to go home at times.  

Teachable
They are always looking for ways to improve.  They are on the front row at volunteer training.  They take notes during the pastor's message.  

Serve From the Overflow
They have a growing faith.  They are a spiritual leader to other volunteers.  They keep themselves spiritually healthy.

Who is one of your great volunteers?  Share the person's name and why they are such a great volunteer in the comment section below.  Next Wednesday, I will honor your volunteer here in a special post on the front page.  If you send me their email address as well, I will send them a personal email thanking them for serving on your team and share what you wrote with them.

C  Cleanliness.  Keep the children's environments clean.  Especially the nursery.
R  Return phone calls and emails within 24 hours.
E  Excellence.  Be committed to it and let it show through in what you do.
D  Don't require them to serve in Children's Ministry.
I    Invite their feedback and ideas to improve the ministry.
B  Be there for their family when they go through tough times.
I    Invest in them.  Help them become better parents.
L  Lead with integrity.  Be a person of character.  Keep your word.
I   Intercede for their family in prayer.
T  Teach their children how to live out the truth of God's Word.
Y  Yell at yourself, but not at their kids.