RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Teamwork is a vital part of leading a children's ministry. 

And great teamwork is the result of great team members playing to their strengths.  It results in a harmony that produces great results. 

What would your teammates say if we asked them about you as a team member?  Would they say you gel with the rest of the team?  Would they say you are a great team member?

Teamwork is so important in helping teams complete projects.  You could compare it to a sports team.  Players work together to achieve their goals.  The pitcher pitches.  The first baseman covers his or her base.  The outfielders cover their part of the field.  As each person on the team steps into their role, they are able to perform with excellence. 

The same principles are at work on a children's ministry or family ministry  team.  Each person on the team must work together by contributing their skill to the mix of gifts and talents.  Here are some basic areas that can help you be a great team member.

Be all in.  Show other team members that you are committed.  Give it your very best.  Contribute everything you can.  Be committed to doing things with excellence.

Be someone the team can count on.  Complete your assignments on time.  Show up on time.  Share your ideas and thoughts on projects.  

Be a listener.  Show respect and honor to other team members when they are sharing their thoughts, ideas and insight.  This applies to meetings and to one-on-one conversations.  Let them finish their thoughts before jumping in with yours. 

Active listening takes effort.  Our natural tendency, when we hear something we don't agree with, is to stop listening and internally begin formulating our rebuttal.  Resist the temptation to do this and continue listening and receiving their thoughts.   

Help other team members.  Be willing to chip in and help your fellow team members, even if the task is not on your job description. 

Treat other team members with respect and honor. If you want respect, then you have to show respect. 

Admit it when you are wrong.  There will be times when your thoughts or direction is wrong.  Lay aside your pride and admit it.  Your team members will respect you for it.

Ideas are ideas.   When you share an idea, detach yourself from it and see it for what it is....an idea.  Lay it on the table and let everyone think about it and discuss it without you pushing for it simply because it was your idea.

Be a problem solver.  Others may shrink back or avoid having to solve a problem.  Especially if it's not their problem.  A great team member steps up and helps solve problems.

Be flexible.  Change happens.  Often.  Great team members don't freak out when changes directly affect them.  They compromise when needed versus rigidly demanding that their idea is the best. 

How are you doing right now as a team member?  Consider these questions and work on areas that you score low in.  You can be a great team member, if you will focus on these areas.

 

Volunteer TEAM.  Do your volunteers function as a team?   A successful team is formed when people rally around a vision they believe in, function in their unique role on the team and support one another. 

One way you can strengthen a volunteer team is by doing activities together.  

Here are 5 great team building activities you can take your team through.  Each is designed to bring your volunteers closer together and remind them of the important part they play on your team.  

#1 - THE BLINDFOLD GAME
In this game, team members must rely on each other to navigate an obstacle course. It helps build communication skills, listening skills and trust between team members. 

Instructions...

1. Scatter furniture and objects around the room before the activity begins. Your course should be challenging, but still safe to navigate around.
2. Put team members into pairs and ask them to stand at one end of the room.
3. One person from each pair should put on the blindfold.
4. The sighted people must guide their partners across the room and give instructions to help them avoid the obstacles.
5. When each team reaches the other side of the room, Team members should switch roles and then repeat the exercise.

 Talk about it...

• Why was it important to listen to each other in the game?  Why is it important to listen to each other in our volunteer roles?  
• What are some communication obstacles we face at times?  How can we improve our communication with each other?
• You had to trust one another to navigate through the course.  Why is it important for you to trust the people you are serving with?

#2 - HUMAN KNOT 
In this activity, team members must work together to untangle themselves.  It helps build communication skills and working together to solve a problem. 

Instructions...

1. Have the team gather in a circle.
2. Tell everyone to put their right hands in the air and grab onto someone’s hand across the circle.
3. Then tell them to link left hands with someone else across the circle. 
4. See if they can untangle themselves without letting go of anyone’s hand.

Talk about it...

1. How is this like what happens to our team at times?
2. When we get tangled up as a team, how can we work together to get back on track?
3. Are there any specific areas of our team work that seem to currently be tangled up?  How can we untangle them?

#3 - MARSHMALLOW TOWER 
In this activity, groups will use the supplies to build a tower.  The marshmallow has to be at the top of the tower and the tower has to be able to support itself. 

Instructions... 

1. Divide your group into teams of 4-5 people.
2. Give each team 20 sticks of uncooked spaghetti, 1 roll of masking tape, 1 yard of string and 1 marshmallow.
3. Using the supplies, see which team can build the tallest tower.  The marshmallow has to be at the very top of the tower and the whole structure has to stand on its own. 

Talk about it...

1. How is building the marshmallow tower like building our children's ministry?
2. If the marshmallow represented children and families, what are some key things we must do to see their faith stand strong?
3. What elements do we need in our ministry to build children and families up?

#4 - DON'T FALL BETWEEN THE CRACKS
In this activity, teams will see how long they can keep a tennis ball from falling between the cracks.  

Instructions...

1. Divide your group into teams of 6 to 8. 
2. Give each group a tarp and a tennis ball.  Ahead of time, cut a hole randomly into the middle of the tarp.
3. Ask each team to hold the tarp stretched out between them
4. Drop a ball onto the tarp. The team has to hold the tarp as long as possible without the tennis falling through the hole.  The team that holds the tarp for the longest time wins.

Talk about it...
1. What are some cracks that kids and families can fall through? 
2. How can we help kids and families not fall through the cracks?
3. Why is each person on the team important to help kids and families not fall through the cracks?

#5 -PUZZLING
Teams work together to complete a puzzle.  But some of the puzzle pieces are with the other teams. To finish their puzzle, they will have to work together with other teams.

Instructions...
1. Create teams of 8 to 10 people. 
2. Give each team a puzzle (100 piece at the most). Swap 4-5 puzzle pieces with another puzzle ahead of time. 
3. Teams will have to work with other groups to find their missing pieces and finish the puzzle. 

Talk about it...
1. How is our team like a puzzle? 
2. How can we help team members find their unique part in the puzzle?
3. What is the big picture we want to see formed as we work together?

Your turn.  What are some other games or activities you've used to help build teamwork?  Share your ideas in the comment section below.

p.s. You can get more team building ideas in my book "The Formula for Building Great Volunteer Teams."  It is available at this link. 

Average leaders get a few things done through Iwork.  Great leaders get tons of things done through TEAMwork. 

If you are just starting out in children's ministry - remember this - the success of your ministry rises and falls on the strength of your volunteer team.

If you're a veteran, measure how much you're doing that someone else should be doing. Give it away.
If you want the ministry to go up,  then you've got to give up as much of the Iwork as possible. This will enable you to build up the TEAMwork. 

You can get more great ideas for your children's ministry from my book - If Disney Ran Your Children's Ministry.  It's available in both ebook and paperback formats.

You can also get more great ideas for building up your TEAMwork in my book - "The Formula for Building Great Volunteer Teams."  It's available in both ebook and paperback formats.

Your turn. What are your thoughts on building volunteer teams?  What has helped you shift from Iwork to TEAMwork?  Share your insight with us in the comment section below. 

It's not always easy to keep your volunteer team excited about serving.  Especially over the long haul.

There will be times when you find morale declining.  It might be due to disunity among team members, a drop in attendance, a budget decrease, a negative attitude from someone, a key volunteer quitting or people just being tired from a hard season of ministry.

One of the most important tasks you have as a leader is to monitor the morale of the team.  If morale gets too low, it can wreak havoc on the team and cause people to quit.

So how can you boost morale when you find it taking a nosedive?  I mean, ministry should be a joy for your team rather than something they endure, right?
 
Let's look at 5 steps you can take to get the team smiling again...from the inside out.

Check your own morale and adjust if needed.  If the morale of your team is tanking, the first place to look is in the mirror.  The morale of a team will never supersede the morale of its leader.  Has your own morale been slipping?  Have you grown discouraged?  Are you weary in well doing?  Has your passion started fading?

I'm not saying this is definitely the cause of your team morale being down.  But it's definitely the first place to check.  You know the principle - everything rises and falls on ____________?

If you do find your personal morale has dipped, then take some steps to rekindle it.  This may mean getting alone with God for an extended time.  It may mean taking a break and getting some much needed rest.  It may mean asking for forgiveness for wronging someone.  It may mean narrowing your focus.  It may mean asking God to renew your passion and vision for the ministry.

Make sure you lead by maintaining your own personal morale.  You are the only one who can adjust it.  Crank it up and your volunteers will see the difference and follow.

Revisit the mission.  Children's ministry is not easy.  People on the outside don't understand everything it takes to make it happen, but you and your team do.  Week in and week out, you fulfill the tasks that make the ministry possible.  Making phone calls.  Sending emails.  Following up with guests.  Preparing crafts.  Making copies of handouts.  Managing social media.  Preparing for big events.  Making trips to the store for supplies.  The list goes on and on.

Over time, the natural tendency is to get bogged down in the tasks and forget why you are doing the tasks.  When this happens, morale begins to dip.  Duty replaces delight.  Mundane replaces mission.  Boredom replaces blessing.

This is why one of the keys to keeping your morale up is to stay focused on the mission.  The mission is why you do what you do. 

In this post, I share how you can keep your team focused on the mission.
 
Raise their value.  Another cause of volunteer morale going south is lack of appreciation.  When volunteers feel used, their morale declines.  When volunteers never hear the words "thank you," their morale declines.  When volunteers are not made to feel valuable, their morale declines.

You can show your volunteers how valuable they are by regularly saying "thank you."  You can show them how valuable they are by investing in them.  You can show them how valuable they are by having the children thank them for the impact they are having in their lives.  You can show them how valuable they are by sending them notes of appreciation.  You can show them how valuable they are by providing them with solid training and giving them the tools they need to be successful.  You can show them how valuable they are by having a party in their honor.  You can show them how valuable they are by asking for their input and ideas.  You can show them how valuable they are by listening to them when they share with you.

In this post,  I share 50 ways to show your volunteers you value them.

And in this post, I share 3 secrets for showing volunteers you are thankful for them. 

Have fun together.  All work and no play makes a volunteer team's morale decline.  Laugh together.  Tell jokes.  Get together with no agenda but fun.  Hang out together outside of serving.  Don't take yourselves too seriously.  The team that plays together stays together...and enjoys the journey!

By the way, you should schedule "fun."  If you are not intentional about making it fun to be part of the team, it won't happen.

In this post, I share how to create a culture of fun in your ministry.

Have hard conversations when needed.  As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, sometimes conflict on the team or a person with a negative attitude can hijack morale.  As the leader, you must guard the unity of the team.

Unity doesn't happen by accident, you have to fight for it.  And this means having hard conversations when needed.  You can't let backbiting, murmuring, arguing, division or competing values weaken the morale of the team.  It only takes one negative person to damage the morale. 

Most of us are not naturally good at hard conversations.  But the good news is this - it's a skill that can be learned.  Here are some articles that will help you have hard conversations like a pro.

5 questions to ask before you have a hard conversation.

3 simple words that will help you have a hard conversation.

You can get more proven ideas for leading a volunteer team in my new book "The Formula for Building Great Volunteer Teams."  It is available in hard copy and ebook formats - click here for ordering info.

Your turn.  The floor is yours.  How do you keep the morale of your team healthy?  Share your thoughts, ideas and insight with everyone in the comment section below.

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.

I love studying the life of great leaders.  Through reading you can get an inside look at the leadership qualities of some of the greatest leaders in history.

Recently I read this verse and it caused me to begin thinking about how the greatest leader of all times led.

The LORD is my shepherd, I have all I need.  He lets me rest in green meadows; He LEADS me beside peaceful streams."  -Psalm 23

How did Jesus lead?  Let's take a look at His life.

Jesus led with a towel.
The place is the upper room.  The conversation among the disciples is about who would be the greatest in the kingdom.  Jesus gets up, grabs a towel and begins washing their feet.  The point is startlingly.  A great leader is a servant.  Leadership is not about a title...it's about taking a towel and serving others. 

Jesus led with truthfulness.
The place is Pilate's courtroom.  Charges are being brought against Jesus by the chief priests and teachers of the law.  Pilate's verdict?  "I find no basis for a charge against this man."  Great leaders lead with integrity, character and honesty.

Jesus led with tenacity.
The place is Golgotha.  Jesus is enduring the cross.  His eyes are on the joy set before Him.  He utters the words, "It is finished."  He completes what He was sent to do.  Great leaders go the distance.  They finish strong. 

Jesus led with trust.
The place is Mt. Olivet.  Jesus is about to ascend to heaven.  Before He leaves, He gives the disciples the promise of empowerment from the Holy Spirit and instructions to carry the most important message to ever be uttered on earth...the Gospel.  Great leaders empower others and then trust them to do the work of the ministry.

Jesus led with teamwork.
The place is the sea of Galilee.  Jesus is calling Peter and Andrew to join Him.  They are two of twelve that He will gather around Him.  Great leaders are team builders.  They know teamwork brings success.

Jesus led with tears.
The place is a road outside Jerusalem.  As Jesus approaches the city, He begins to weep.  His tears fall as He says, "You did not recognize it when God visited you."  His heart is breaking for people who are lost.  Great leaders lead with a tear in their eye.  Their heart breaks over a lost world.  They shed tears over what really matters. 

Jesus led with a theme.
The place is a lake near Capernaum.  Jesus is sharing the theme of His life with the disciples.  He says, "For I have come down from heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Him who sent Me.  And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day.  For My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”  Great leaders know God's purpose for their life and they've made it their theme.  They are laser focused on fulfilling God's will. 

What an honor to serve the greatest leader of all times and strive to follow His example.

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.

• Acknowledge each other's strengths and weaknesses. 

• Engage in conversation that leads to great communication.

• Correct in private.

• Be open to other people's ways of achieving goals.

• Resolve disputes quickly.  Go directly to the offender and address the issue.

• Discuss new ideas frequently.

• Suggest solutions instead of complaining.

• Ask for feedback.  

• Offer feedback after you are asked to give it.

• Help each other succeed.

• Compliment each others successes.

• Share the limelight.

• Learn to relax. 

• Have a party and celebrate.

• Get to know one another.

• Be prepared to scrap ideas that aren't working.

• Forgive one another when mistakes are made.

• Keep in close contact with each other.

• Designate roles.

• Listen to words....spoken and unspoken.