Blast Off Into A New Galaxy With Extraordinary Leadership Ideas – Part Two

Part two…

Part two…

Below are the rest of the twelve blast points to encourage you as you develop your own leadership style in children's ministry.  

Blast Point 7:  Stay Organized and Humble…Proverbs 29:23 – “A person’s pride will bring him low, but one who has a lowly spirit will gain honor.”  Romans 12:4-5 – “For just as in one body we have many members, and not all the members serve the same function, so we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually we are members who belong to one another.

A good leader will develop a team of individuals that will complement each other in the overall running and operations of the ministry.  Volunteers should serve with a humble spirit, so don’t select people because of popularity, but instead seek people with a heart for children and a desire to serve with humility. Seek dedicated individuals that will work together as a team, performing their task in service to the Lord with integrity and excellence.  Be known as the leader who serves alongside the team as a supportive team player.  

Blast Point 8:  Offer Training for Spiritual Growth…Colossians 1:28-29 – “We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ.  Toward this goal I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully works in me.”

A good leader will encourage and implement training opportunities for volunteers in order to grow them in their relationship with Christ.  Don’t let volunteers get burned out because their spiritual needs are not being met while serving.  Seek opportunities to implement Bible studies, workshops, classes, and reading materials in order to encourage spiritual growth in your volunteers.  Be known as the leader who cares about the spiritual needs of others and shepherds the flock well.  

Blast Point 9:  Connect and Communicate…Matthew 7:28-29 – “When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed by his teaching, because he taught them like one who had authority, not like their experts in the law.”

A good leader will communicate clearly and connect with volunteers regularly.   Don’t spend all of your time doing paperwork and thus, fail to communicate with volunteers all necessary information.  Keep them informed about upcoming events, training opportunities, procedure additions or changes, etc.  Good communication will keep the ministry running smoothly.  Seek different ways to inform your volunteers of what is happening within the ministry via ministry newsletters, meetings, handouts, etc.  Be known as the leader who is a great communicator.

Blast Point 10:  Respect the Team…John 13:15-17 – “For I have given you an example you should do just as I have done for you. I tell you the solemn truth, the slave is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  If you understand these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

A good leader will respect every team member who serves in the ministry.  Seek ways to encourage and empower your volunteers to serve effectively in their respective job responsibilities. Don’t miss opportunities to offer affirmation privately or in public.  Keep volunteers encouraged with small tokens of recognition occasionally.  Be known as the self-sacrificing leader who makes volunteers feel important and valued.  

Blast Point 11:  Be Supportive and offer Encouragement…Luke 17:6 – “So the Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this black mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled out by the roots and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

A good leader will be supportive of the needs of the team and offer positive encouragement to those who are discouraged.  Don’t let volunteers become negative or discontent within the ministry.  Seek to provide opportunities for volunteers to schedule office appointments in order to share legitimate concerns about the ministry.  Be known as the leader who cares for the well-being of others.   

Blast Point 12:  Offer Transition with Grace…Colossians 3:16 – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God.

A good leader will support those who move from serving in children’s ministry to serving in another ministry.  Don’t let your emotions cause you to feel rejected or abandoned when people leave your ministry.  Seek methods and proper procedures to implement when volunteers transition out of children’s ministry.  Be known as the leader with grace who allows volunteers to exit in style.

Not all people are called to be leaders.  Many people fall into leadership roles and lack basic skills that would enhance and equip them to lead with authority and respect.  According to Hans Finzel in his book, “The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make,”…”few call themselves or volunteer for leadership.  It is a calling for the appointed.”

If the role of leadership is a calling for the appointed, then no one should take this position for granted.  Therefore, seek only God’s council and His methods of leadership.  

A successful leader will take people on a journey to places they would never go on their own.  He/she will encourage them to attempt new things that they otherwise might overlook because of fear or lack of confidence.   According to A.W. Tozer, “I believe it might be acceptable as a fairly reliable rule of thumb that the man who is ambitious to lead is disqualified as a leader.”

The true leader will have no desire to lord over God’s heritage, but will be humble, gentle, self-sacrificing and altogether as ready to follow as to lead, especially when the Holy Spirit makes it clear that a wiser and more gifted person has appeared.  

1 Corinthians 12:28 – “And God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues.” Romans 12:8 – “if it is exhortation, he must exhort; if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; if it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness.”

Use God’s giftedness and lead with grace as you make a difference for His glory and His Kingdom purposes.

Resource

Finzel, Hans, The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make.  (Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries, 1994).