How are you doing, ministry leader? How is your team doing? This season feels long and while some churches are beginning to open doors again, our nation is in no-way at the end of the covid-19 journey. There is a healthy tension for leaders as they grapple with questions like ‘Are we reaching people?’ ‘Are we bringing value to kids and families?’ ‘Are people going to return when we re-open the doors?’ If any of this is true for you, I’m so glad you are here. Remembering, WHY it still matters is more critical now than ever before.
“Clarity is more important than Certainty.”
– Joel Manby
Think back to when you first started serving or leading a family ministry capacity.
What was it that motivated you to step into your ministry role and what is it that keeps you coming back?
Clarity of Vision is more important than Certainty of details.
The ‘WHY’ is what motivates us to continue finding creative ways to reach kids and families. From moving out of buildings to church-at-home, to partial, phased re-openings and even to continuing to revamp and improve online family ministry for the future. It keeps us pushing through the questions, the uncertainty, the frustration and even perhaps, the discouragement.
Maybe the answer to your ‘WHY’ sounds something like this….
- Help the next generation meet Jesus and experience an authentic, personal relationship with Him.
- Identify, develop, equip and connect leaders to roles that use their gift.
- Partner with families.
Regardless of the exact language you would use to explain your ‘why’, I would bet that while your methods have changed in this season, the WHY has not.
There is still a weekly ebb and flow as regulations change, data is collected, and communities respond to the data. It is unlikely that the initial reopening of your building has been or will be the last change for your team.
How will you get through additional weeks or months of uncertainty? What is it going to take to encourage volunteers that their return (when it IS safe and when they FEEL safe) is vital? Why should we work hard to roll out and even improve our digital reach when we don’t know with confidence that we will do it forever.
Remembering WHY it Still Matters & Moving Forward…
The mission (or the HOW we do things) may change but the VISION has not. Connect every decision to the ‘why’.
Kids still need to meet Jesus and learn about an authentic, personal faith.
Leaders are longing to use their gifts and make a difference.
Families are struggling in brand-new ways and need support.
‘WHY’ by the numbers:
Barna Research Group has shared data that lets us know that the majority of people have their world-view (that will steer them throughout their life) in place by the age of 13. In a nutshell, this means that most people who WILL have an authentic relationship with Jesus in their lifetime, begin that relationship before they are an adult. How we lead in our buildings and digitally while ‘church’ happens at home, MATTERS.
Ask Questions:
Ask questions. If a strategy, decision or resource doesn’t connect to the ‘why’ then it likely is unnecessary and not the best use of time or resources. Hold ideas up against the why. ‘Will this help us partner with parents?’ ‘How do we connect with kids and students right now so they experience Jesus in an authentic way?’ ‘Is my team feeling equipped and connected?’
Culture Carrier:
In what ways are you, the leader, carrying culture for your team? Are you intentionally sharing stories of WINS? Unless your ‘why’ had a specific number attached to it – then EVERY single story of a child worshipping from home, learning a new verse, praying with mom or dad to receive Christ, or connecting with a small group leader – IS A WIN. Find them. Celebrate them. Do not let the wins go unnoticed!
Keep your team up-to-speed:
Even if you can’t explain to your team exact details about what is next; you CAN still keep them informed. Silence is the enemy of culture. Bring clarity, with what you DO know. Kids and families matter, that has not changed. Here is what we can do, right now. Here is how you can pray, right now.
Pray and then Pray some More:
Start everyday asking:
-How do I serve you Jesus?
-What can our team do to serve kids?
-How do we best support & serve all families? (Those who may be returning to our campuses AND those who may choose to continue church-at-home?)
“We are just ordinary people with an extraordinary God.” -author unknown
It is important to make a plan or a couple plans and then to hold them all loosely. Wisdom and discernment are critical for every single decision. Their are creative brains and leaders troubleshooting the same things. Utilize the people around you as a resource.
We get to show up, do all that we can do and then trust God to do what only He can do.
Check out this video to hear about one of my most memorable Sundays…
IF you lead a team of volunteers, the personal, intentional way that you make them feel SEEN and KNOWN will directly correlate to the way they make kids and students feel SEEN and KNOWN.
At the same time that you are casting vision and reminding the team WHY it still matters, it is important to make sure you are modeling for your team how to care for kids and families. Check out the post, Improve Team Culture by Sunday for some ideas that are relevant in this season for leading your team in a personal and intentional way.
Don’t forget…while you’re here, make sure to subscribe so we can keep in touch and click through to connect with me on social media. The contact form is a great way to reach me, if I can do anything to support you or your team in this season!