Training

Most ministry leaders experience hills and valleys as well as twists and turns in their work. Changes of all kinds can leave us feeling uncomfortable in our circumstances, unqualified to do much of anything, or uncertain of the plan God has for us. But this is not a new challenge. Joseph had dreams as a teenager, dreams that led him first into slavery and then into prison. Neither situation came with any kind of “ministry leader” title, but Joseph was doing the work of ministry in the household of Potiphar and in the walls of his prison cell. He was...

Going into my last children’s pastorate, I definitely had several red flags to consider. I was the eighth children’s pastor in eight years. There were not enough volunteers to manage even the kids we had left. We had resistance, distrust and seven different curriculums in use! Yet, in less than one year, the kids’ church attendance doubled. Many fantastic new volunteers came on board to join the loyal diehards who had stayed with us. Parent participation was at an all-time high. And the question I got asked time after time by children’s leaders and lead pastors: “How did it happen?...

It is very common in ministry to take personality tests and giftedness/aptitude tests. It can provide a great framework for understanding strengths and weaknesses. But there is more to ministry than just our “ability.” Did you know that you have an “ability rating” and a “likability rating?” That’s right. You may have an amazing “ability” to get something done. However, your “likability” also plays a vital role in how you can lead others and work in a team. You need to have ABILITY, but you also need to have LIKABILITY. Competence gets you in the room. Character keeps you in...

The goal is not to be THE best. It is to be YOUR best. Always bring your A-Game! One cannot over-emphasize the eternal impact and importance of your weekly investment into the lives of the children God has entrusted to you. It is during these formative years that children make decisions that will shape the direction of the rest of their lives. They need your best! Too often we compare ourselves to others and wish we were better — or get discouraged by what we can’t do. God makes no such comparisons. He asks only that we do our best...

Ministry leaders are no strangers to problems. Resource needs, facility challenges, volunteer shortages — there’s something to tackle every week. If you serve in ministry, you encounter problems. If you want to serve your ministry well AND lead up to your leaders, this is my best advice: Don’t come to them with problems, come with solutions. Overwhelm with excellence by approaching your leaders with proposals, not with problems. Busy leaders do not want to solve your issues. So don’t come to them empty handed. Do not come as a person with needs and no plans for how to meet those...