RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

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.

This 200+ page manual gives you an inside look at an effective children’s ministry.  Get the practical nuts and bolts you need to build a great children’s ministry.  Manual includes...

• Volunteer interviews
• Volunteer roles and job descriptions
• Volunteer to child ratios
• Volunteer onboarding process
• Core values
• Leadership values
• Staff roles
• Staff hiring strategy and structure
• Guest services and follow-up processes
• Multi-site strategy and structure
• Safety and security processes
• Special Needs ministry
• Child wellness policies
• Discipline strategies
• Budget processes
• Parental involvement strategy
• ...and much more.

And we're giving away a free copy to one of our readers.  You can enter by emailing me at dalehudsoncm2@gmail.com.  We'll announce the winner right here next Thursday, May 19th.

You can also order the manual now at www.resources4kidmin.com.  The manual is delivered to you in Word and PDF format so you can edit and adapt for your ministry. 

Leadership values reflect HOW you lead.  Here are our 10 leadership values.  We teach these to our staff and volunteers.

1. We are STEWARDS and SERVANTS first.

"So also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants, we have only done our duty."  Luke 17:10

2. We create environments that are full of it - Full of Faith, Family and Fun.  

"The thief comes to kill and steal and destroy; I have come that you might have life, and have it to the full."
John 10:10

3. We embrace change by being PREPARED and FLEXIBLE.

The lack of flexibility limits the body.  If we are not changing, we are not growing.

4. We invest in people and help them discover their potential in Christ. 

"Those who are planted in the house of the Lord will flourish in the courts of our God."  Psalm 92:13

5. Full things fill things. 

Take personal responsibility for growth.

6. We are faithful in small things. 

"There are no small things; small decisions with BIG consequences are really BIG decisions in disguise."

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much."  Luke 16:10

"Don't despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the captstone in the hand of Zerubbabel."  Zechariah 4:10

7. Ministry is a "GET TO" not a "GOT TO."  

Gratitude is the key.

"Serve the Lord with gladness - not sadness."
Psalm 100:3

8. We are "ALL IN."

"A win for one is a win for all...we take responsibility for the team's success."

"How good and pleasant is it for brothers to dwell together in unity...it is there the Lord commands His blessing."  Psalm 133:1

9. What I am part of is bigger than the part I play. 

"Now He's using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together.  We see it taking shape day after day - a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home."  Ephesians 2:19-22

10. Excellence increases influence. 

I give my best consistently to honor God and influence people and I'm willing to continue to grow so my influence will grow.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."  Colossians 3:23

"He took David from the ewes and lambs and made him the shepherd of Jacob's descendants - God's own people, Israel.  He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands."  Psalm 78:71-72

Sometimes fun gets a bad rap when it comes to church.  You'll hear...

"Kids should learn to sit still and be quiet at church."

"Kids should have a sense of reverence when they enter the house of God."

"All they're doing is entertaining kids."

"Parents who ask their children if they had 'fun' at church today are shallow."

"It's contributing to the church consumerism mentality that permeates this generation."

99% of the time, these type statements come from churches that are dying or not reaching their communities.

My response - "Hey Children's Ministry Leaders - Make it FUN!"

Make sure you hear lots of laughter in the hallways.

Make sure you tell a joke or have a funny skit when you meet with your volunteers.

Make sure you incite laughter during your kid's services.

Make sure you tell a funny story when you're teaching.

Make sure you don't take yourself so seriously.

Make sure you pull practical jokes with your staff and volunteers occasionally.

Make sure your services intentionally contain elements that are meant to be funny.

Make sure you have a "party" atmosphere in your ministry.

Make sure you take time to celebrate the wins.

Make sure when parents pick up their children and ask, "Did you have fun today?" that the answer is "yes!"

Make sure you, as the leader, have fun!  You set the tone.  And if you're not naturally a person who likes to have fun, gather people around you who do know how to bring the fun factor.

Don't be discouraged by the "no fun" people.  Fun is good!

There are two little words that carry a lot of weight.  Your volunteers and staff are very aware of how you use them.

Here they are - "I" and "We."

Use "I" when there has been a blunder or blame needs to be shouldered.  This shows your team that you take responsibility instead of pointing fingers when things fall short or go wrong.

Use "we" when something has been accomplished.  This shows that you give the credit to the team when there is a win.

Those two little words have a huge impact on how you communicate as a leader.  Use them wisely.