RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Do you feel like your ministry has been boxed in?  That you're being constrained and the ministry is being held back from getting to the next level?

If you're boxed in...here's how to bust out.

#1 - Bust out of the box of the past by being willing to change.  Here's the interesting thing.  What used to be "outside the box" eventually becomes "inside the box."  Past successes, traditions, ideas and attitudes will eventually box you in if you are not willing to change.  Look closely at ministries that are in decline and you will see this is usually the root cause.  You must be willing to let go of what is obsolete. 

To sum it up...

If you are unwilling to let go of the past, you will become boxed in by the past. (tweet this) 

#2 - Bust of the box of the past by being generating new ideas, methods and approaches.  #1 creates a culture that enables #2 to happen.  A culture where questions are encouraged.  A culture where new ideas are welcomed.  A culture where taking risks and trying something new is the norm.  A culture where innovation is valued more than tradition.  

#3 - Bust out of the box by staying hungry.  Help your team understand that busting out of the box is critical for the future.  Be thankful for what God has done in the past but always look to the future.  Never settle for the status-quo.  Don't settle for pursuing yesterday's agenda.

In summary, if you want to bust out of the box, then be willing to let go of what doesn't work and purposely create what will.  So what are you waiting for?  Your next level of ministry is waiting for you...just outside the box you're sitting in.

We've talked before about not letting your children's ministry get stuck in the past and becoming irrelevant.  You can read more about that here.

But with today's rapid changes accelerating, it's not enough to avoid protecting the past.  You must avoid protecting the present.

Here's some signs you're protecting the present...

• You're not taking a hard look at your processes, programs and events. 

• You're not asking for feedback.

• You're ignoring trends and shifts in the culture. 

• You say, "If it's not broken...don't fix it."

• You're growing content and complacent. 

• Your hesitant to try something new.

• You aren't taking any steps that will take your ministry to the next level.

If this is the case, then it's time to shift and start preparing for the future. 

• Regularly evaluate everything you're doing.  

• Ask for feedback from volunteers, parents and kids. 

• Stay in tune with notable trends and shifts in the culture.

• Be willing to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. 

• Plan for growth not just maintenance.

• Write down where you want the ministry to be in 1 year.  From this, create a strategy to take it there.

What got you where you are now won't take you where you need to go in the future.  Be thankful for what God is doing now but be like Paul when He said, "I press on for the high calling of Christ Jesus."