Children's Ministry Buzz » Volunteers http://cmbuzz.com Answers for Todays Children's, Youth & Family Ministry Leaders Tue, 07 Sep 2010 07:30:54 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Jumping Back In… http://cmbuzz.com/2009/11/16/jumping-back-in/ http://cmbuzz.com/2009/11/16/jumping-back-in/#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:49:57 +0000 Keith http://cmbuzz.com/?p=724 lionWell it’s been a busy few months since I last wrote for my blog.  It’s easy to put off and get out of the habit.  So, now I’m going to jump back in and begin writing again.  What have I been doing since my last post?  Let’s see…a trip to Tanzania, new Children’s Building planning, Capital Campaign for CM building, and coaching my son’s youth football team. Oh, and Sunday keeps on coming every week!

First, I thought I would share about our trip to Tanzania along with some general thoughts about missions.  We took a team of 3 women and 2 men to Tanzania for the purpose of presenting a VBS program to missionary children.  AIM, African Inland Missions, is the group who extended the invitation to our team and provided housing for our team.  AIM has missionaries that serve in several different areas throughout Tanzania.  Each year AIM hosts a missionary conference as a way to connect and encourage the missionaries throughout the country.

We looked at this as an opportunity to provide a much needed service to the missionaries and at the same time expand the influence of our CM beyond our community.  I think with those goals in mind we achieved both.  Another goal was to expand the life-experience of some key members of our Children’s Ministry Team and hopefully give them fresh eyes for ministry.  The ladies that traveled with me are key leaders here at Desert View and they were great on our trip. I know that this experience has influenced the way they view our role in both the community we live in and the world we are trying to reach.

Being among people who have given their lives to sharing the gospel with unreached people groups is truly a stretching experience.   Every time I’ve visited a place like Tanzania I am reminded of how spoiled we are and how much sacrifice these missionaries have made to reach others.  Suddenly, the things that seem so important – CM budgets, staff shortages, etc – don’t seem to be that much of an obstacle.  When you are in a place that the electricity may or may not continue working and where you are staying is patrolled by armed guards you get a fresh perspective.

So what about missions in general?  One of our 2010 goals here at Desert View is to refocus our mission efforts.  We have a couple of local mission efforts we support and we have a couple of global mission efforts we support.  It has been said that you must give up some good things to accomplish great things.  That is the view we are taking as we move forward with our mission planning.  What questions are you asking about missions?  What experiences are you seeking as a team?  Have you given thought to how you can engage families in local mission efforts?

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]]> http://cmbuzz.com/2009/11/16/jumping-back-in/feed/ 1 Dealing with Complaints http://cmbuzz.com/2009/08/31/dealing-with-complaints/ http://cmbuzz.com/2009/08/31/dealing-with-complaints/#comments Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:43:19 +0000 Keith http://cmbuzz.com/?p=693 Dealing with ComplaintsThis morning I opened three different emails from parents who all had a complaint. Don’t you just love starting your week with those types of things? So, I thought I’d give you my take on steps to resolving this type of conflict without creating more problems.

Step 1
Remove your Emotions from the Situation.
Take a deep breath, walk out of the office for a minute and maybe get something to drink (not that kind of drink!). This step allows me to be objective as I begin to evaluate the details of the issue. Too often our first response to a complaint is emotional which can lead to poor communication and serve to exacerbate the issue.

Step 2
Look for the Humor in the Situation
I often find that if I look at the situation clearly there is typically a way to see the humor in the issue. Maybe that’s because I simply have a twisted sense of what’s funny or I just like to laugh. However, this step does allow me to lighten the mood and make processing through to the resolution easier.

Step 3
Seek the Advice of Others
If you are on staff then use the wisdom of your team members to help you sort through the issue before you respond. Often an objective observer is the best person to help us recognize when we need to make corrections. I find that another voice speaking into the situation is invaluable to finding resolution.

Step 4
Evaluate the Legitimacy of the Complaint
Sometimes we can become so invested in a particular way of doing things that we don’t see what others see clearly. Take a step back and walk through the details of the issue with a fresh perspective. We may find that there is at least some need for change and our ministry could possibly benefit from making the change.

Step 5
Pray
Pray for wisdom. Pray for direction. Pray for acceptance.

Step 6
Make Contact
Once we have processed through the issue and have arrived at a response then we should respond quickly. Open lines of communication are the best was to resolve conflict. Don’t just let it go!

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]]> http://cmbuzz.com/2009/08/31/dealing-with-complaints/feed/ 1 The Game Plan – Part 1 http://cmbuzz.com/2009/08/11/the-game-plan-part-1/ http://cmbuzz.com/2009/08/11/the-game-plan-part-1/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:03:45 +0000 Keith http://cmbuzz.com/?p=673 The Game PlanWhat’s our game plan for the fall?  As we enter into a new season of ministry what’s the plan?  Have we taken the steps necessary to move our ministry in the direction we would like to go?  So how do we develop a plan for success?

Step 1 Evaluation

Taking an honest look at how your ministry is functioning is the first step to moving forward.  So what type of things should we look at as we evaluate?

Recruiting seems to top the list whenever I talk to someone about Children’s Ministry.  So how can we improve in this area?  What if God blessed you with everyone you needed right now?  When these individuals make contact are we ready?  Do we have a list of positions that need to be filled?  Do we have a detailed job description for each of these positions? Is there a step-by-step process in place to move someone from being interested to being plugged into a place of service?  Is there a training process that would include a mentor in place for a newbie?  What about an initial evaluation once someone is in place and serving? Thinking through these steps and making the proper preparation sets the ministry up to succeed long-term.

Curriculum is another area where I receive a number of questions.  Do we take the time to evaluate whether or not the materials we are using are accomplishing the goal?  Has the goal been stated or the “win” clarified?  Once we have clarified in detail what we are trying to accomplish in the lives of our students we must take a hard look at the material we are using to teach.  Is it relevant?  Is it attractive?  Is it fun? Is it helping our families? Does it provide tools for parents to engage with their children at home?  All of these questions will help us critique the curriculum we are using?

Watch for Step 2 tomorrow…

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]]> http://cmbuzz.com/2009/08/11/the-game-plan-part-1/feed/ 0 What’s Your Passion? http://cmbuzz.com/2009/07/30/what%e2%80%99s-your-passion/ http://cmbuzz.com/2009/07/30/what%e2%80%99s-your-passion/#comments Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:39:01 +0000 Keith http://cmbuzz.com/?p=641 passionAsk yourself: What would I do if money were not an obstacle?  Would you be serving where you are and doing what you’re doing if you had an option?  What are things in your ministry that really motivate you and move you to action?  What are the things that you would stop doing today if you could just walk away?

Passion is the fire that ignites creativity.  Passion is energy to keep things moving.  Passion is the desire that just will not go away.  Passion is what drives the bus when things look bleak.  I believe in each one of us there is a God-instilled Passion to do incredible things for His Kingdom.  We as leaders need to look inside and discover the God-inspired Passion that will enable us to do “more that we hope for, more than we can imagine.

Who wants to be mediocre?  Why would you just want to be average?  To do something extraordinary requires us to dig deep and find the thing that God has imagined for us.  As parents we all have hopes and dreams for our own children.  Do we really think that our awesome, incredible, amazing Heavenly Father desires any less for His own children?

So are we really chasing after God sized dreams or do we settle for something less?  As we begin a new ministry season I am searching and asking for God’s revelation for our ministry.  Just being ready Sunday to Sunday can’t be all that he has for us.  We have an incredible opportunity to influence this generation and I know that is God’s desire.  I want His Vision, His Goals, and I know He’ll give me the Passion, the People and the Plan to attain it.

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]]> http://cmbuzz.com/2009/07/30/what%e2%80%99s-your-passion/feed/ 2 Preschool Ministry – It’s Not Just Toys & Goldfish! http://cmbuzz.com/2009/07/27/preschool-ministry-%e2%80%93-it%e2%80%99s-not-just-toys-goldfish/ http://cmbuzz.com/2009/07/27/preschool-ministry-%e2%80%93-it%e2%80%99s-not-just-toys-goldfish/#comments Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:00:39 +0000 Keith http://cmbuzz.com/?p=613 Preschool MinistryWe had our first Preschool Leaders Meeting preparing for the fall today.  I think the Preschool leaders are the unsung heroes in Children’s Ministry!  There is not much recognition or many accolades given to those who toil in what is too often an overlooked ministry.  Thanks to the people at ReThink and First Look for helping everyone see that you can really make a difference in this age group with some focus and planning.

One of the first things we wanted to do this fall is define the WIN.  I think too often it is considered a win if there is no “Ouch Report” and the child’s claim tag matches the parent’s receipt.  While both of those are good things I think we are shooting a little low if that’s the goal. Preschoolers are like a sponge constantly learning all the time.  We have the opportunity to pour into those little hearts and minds, molding their character and their first impressions of God.  We know that society is constantly pushing information down to younger and younger ages and we as the church need to be actively communicating God’s message to the youngest of our children.

For our Preschool Ministry here is how we have defined the WIN:

Kids feel safe and loved.

Kids are engaged in the small group, Bible story time, worship, and prayer.

Kids are participating in the small group activities.

Kids are having fun.

Kids leave able to say the lesson’s ‘Bottom Line.’

Kids feel connected to their leader and the other kids in the group.

Essentials to WINNING in the Preschool Ministry:

Build meaningful relationships with the kids.

Learn kids’ names and their parents’ names.

Interact with every child in your group.

Interact with parents when they pick up their kids.

Pray for the kids in your small group.

Connect with your kids outside of Sunday Morning.

Remember birthdays and celebrate special events of your kids.

Spend at least 20 minutes preparing each week for your small group lesson.

We have a great group of dedicated Preschool Leaders who understand both their opportunity and their responsibility.  Our continued prayer is that God will draw more and more committed adults ready to invest in these little lives.

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]]> http://cmbuzz.com/2009/07/27/preschool-ministry-%e2%80%93-it%e2%80%99s-not-just-toys-goldfish/feed/ 0 Leadership is Tough http://cmbuzz.com/2009/07/24/leadership-is-tough/ http://cmbuzz.com/2009/07/24/leadership-is-tough/#comments Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:00:03 +0000 Keith http://cmbuzz.com/?p=606 Leadership is ToughLeadership is tough. Real Leaders know that and don’t shrink back from the job.  Whether it’s in business (been there), coaching (still there) or teaching (always there), when you’re the leader everyone has an opinion about how you’re doing your job.  Whenever someone criticizes your leadership you know that at the very least you’re doing something.  The only leader that never gets criticized is the one who’s doing nothing.  Make a change, try something new, or stop doing something and somebody is going to criticize your decision.  Just get used to it.

So if you’re going to be the leader here are some things you’re going to need to stay in the game:

  1. Determination – it inspires people.  Others want to know that you’re determined to accomplish your goals and that you’re not going to quit the first time trouble comes your way.  Guess what? If you’re the leader you’ve got to have goals and be committed to see them through to completion.  This builds confidence in those who are following you.
  2. Consistency – it’s the glue that keeps them team together.  Plans change, feelings change, team members change.  A strong leader is going to know the objective and keep pushing forward when things get tough.
  3. Passion – it’s the fuel that drives you.  Leadership is hard.  Leadership can be exhausting.  Leadership can be lonely.  You have got to love what you do and have an inner fire that burns brightly to keep going.   When you’re passionate about something you will do what it takes to succeed.

Leading a Ministry can be a difficult assignment.  It is not for the faint of heart or for the easily discouraged.  When God calls you to do something he will give you the skills to get it done.  That doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy.  Remember “we battle not against flesh and blood but against principalities of darkness.”  If you’re not being criticized, or in some fashion hindered, you may not be accomplishing anything for the Kingdom.

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]]> http://cmbuzz.com/2009/07/24/leadership-is-tough/feed/ 6 Football & Children’s Ministry – Go for the WIN! http://cmbuzz.com/2009/07/22/football-children%e2%80%99s-ministry-%e2%80%93-go-for-the-win/ http://cmbuzz.com/2009/07/22/football-children%e2%80%99s-ministry-%e2%80%93-go-for-the-win/#comments Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:11:24 +0000 Keith http://cmbuzz.com/?p=587 What does your team look like?  What are the roles on your team?  Do your team members know their specific responsibilities?  Does your team know it when they score? Do you celebrate the wins?Football and Children's Ministry

I coach 7, 8 and 9 year old boys on a tackle football team.  Go Wolfpack!  I love working with these boys.  One of the great things about football is that it takes every player on the field knowing and doing their job on every play to be successful.  It’s the ultimate team experience.  Too often boys and their parents think it’s all about the quarterback, running back and receiver positions. They think the “glamour positions” are what counts.  People involved in Children’s Ministry can fall into the same mentality.

You know what I mean.  The Large Group communicator is one of the “glamour positions along with the Large Group worship leader.  We forget about the guy at the sound board until something goes wrong – it’s like being an offensive lineman – nobody knows your name until you miss a block and the QB goes down.

At the very first Parent Meeting with our football team I begin communicating the idea that our team cannot be successful unless every boy takes pride in his position and knows his responsibility on every play.  We will do the same thing with our first Leaders Meeting of the fall with our CM team.  Every team member needs to know their position, know their responsibilities and know what a win looks like.  It’s funny to me how after the game concludes one of my little guys will come up to me and ask “Coach did we win?”  Occasionally I catch myself thinking “Dude, weren’t you’re here?”  Sometimes I think our CM leaders could have the same question they’re just afraid to ask.

So, have you clarified the “WIN” for your team members? Here’s an example for the Tech Guy (Offensive Lineman J):

*Arrives on time making sure the audio and video equipment are set up and ready to go by the designated starting time for the rehearsal.

*Executes a flawless service flow.

*Knows how to troubleshoot technical problems quickly and calmly.

*Works well with all team members involved with the Kid’s View Theatre service.

At the end of the service this guy/girl knows if they won, they don’t have to ask.

The next step is the celebration of the Win.  One of the best moments of a close game is that final drive when the offense scores to win a game or the defense prevents the opponent from scoring preserving the win.   My little guys have experienced both and the celebration is electric.  Do your leaders ever have that same feeling?  Do you celebrate with encouraging words and high-fives?  Try it!

Take some time to write out the Positions you have on your team.  Describe in detail the qualifications, the time commitment, the expectations and the WIN.  Creatively plan some celebrations for both individuals and the entire team.  Now take the field and move the ball!

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]]> http://cmbuzz.com/2009/07/22/football-children%e2%80%99s-ministry-%e2%80%93-go-for-the-win/feed/ 1 Coffee Anyone? http://cmbuzz.com/2009/07/21/coffee-anyone/ http://cmbuzz.com/2009/07/21/coffee-anyone/#comments Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:24:22 +0000 Keith http://cmbuzz.com/?p=579 coffee meetingsThe new school year is just around the corner and for us that means a new ministry season.  Communicating new plans, ministry reminders, and vision for the Children’s Ministry will be one key to having a successful year.  We have large group lunch meetings planned for our Preschool and Elementary leaders with alternative meetings in the evening for those that cannot make the lunch meetings.  While a great deal of valuable information and training will happen during these meeting there is another venue that I really enjoy and I think has just as much value.  One-on-One coffee, or soda if you prefer.

Our ministry includes over 150 volunteers and getting to know them all can be difficult.  One of my goals this year is to have a one-on-one meeting with each of our volunteers.  Hearing their joys, challenges and frustrations in very personal setting will change the dynamic of our interpersonal relationship in a very positive way.  Will this be time consuming?  Certainly.  Will it take planning?  Without question. Will it be worth it?  I’m certain.

What are some of the things to discuss at these coffee meetings?

∙ What is your favorite part of the ministry?

∙ When do you feel most effective?

∙ What is the most challenging aspect in your position?

∙ What changes would you like to see happen?

∙ How can I assist you better?

The list goes on and on.  The important factor is to make the effort to connect on a personal level and get to know how your volunteers are feeling about the ministry.  Establishing a relationship outside of Sunday morning and/or a large group meeting can make a huge difference in the “feeling valued” factor in ministry.  Give it a try and let me know how it goes.

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]]> http://cmbuzz.com/2009/07/21/coffee-anyone/feed/ 2 Is Eeyore in the House! http://cmbuzz.com/2009/07/10/is-eeyore-in-the-house/ http://cmbuzz.com/2009/07/10/is-eeyore-in-the-house/#comments Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:00:23 +0000 Keith http://cmbuzz.com/?p=492 Youth Ministry ResourcesI have six kids and “Winnie the Pooh” has been a staple in our house for many years now.  I’ve always found the characters and relationships at Pooh’s Corner fascinating.  You have Pooh the loveable, sometimes clueless, friend to everyone.  Rabbit, the bossy rule follower of the group.  Piglet, whose afraid of just about everything including sometimes himself.  My personal favorite, Tigger (whom I once played in a High School Production – my kids have seen the pictures) whose always moving and full of fun.   Gopher, the builder who’s constantly building and working even he doesn’t quite know what or why.  Then there’s Eeyore, gloomy and discouraged, never looking on the bright side of things.  These characters all inhabit the hundred acre wood together.

So which of these characters are you?  Which of these characters do you see in your volunteers.  It’s Eeyore that gets to me the most and dealing with an Eeyore can be tough.   Surely you’ve had one – they always see the down side, the glass half empty, trouble just ahead.  The problem is an Eeyore volunteer can do great harm to your ministry team and the ministry.  So what do you do with an Eeyore?

Get to the Root – do they just have a negative outlook on everything or is there something more?  Sometimes their complaints are a reaction to change – many people struggle with changes, but Eeyore takes it personally.  Maybe their complaining is just a fear of the unknown or fear of failure.  Dig into the real issue and communicate, communicate, communicate to help ease those fears.

Stay Positive – when they bring their concerns to you listen quietly without interruption and pre-judging. Assure them that you take their concerns seriously and will look into the situation.  Also, offer suggestions that will help ease the situation.

Set the Example – anytime someone brings negative feedback assure them that it is welcomed.  That does not mean you’re going to immediately agree with them or that change will be the result.  It will communicate that you are open to hear their concerns.  Always remind them that critique is helpful where criticism is harmful.

Remember as a leader dealing with personalities is part of the job.  How we deal with those personalities will go along way in determining our success or failure.

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]]> http://cmbuzz.com/2009/07/10/is-eeyore-in-the-house/feed/ 0 Meetings, Meetings, Meetings! http://cmbuzz.com/2009/07/09/meetings-meetings-meetings/ http://cmbuzz.com/2009/07/09/meetings-meetings-meetings/#comments Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:00:32 +0000 Keith http://cmbuzz.com/?p=481 Children's Ministry MeetingsWe’re in the midst of preparing for our Fall Leaders Meeting for both our Preschool and our Elementary leaders.  We have begun inviting new people to join our CM team for the fall.  As we get them plugged in we also want to encourage and challenge our current leaders as the new season approaches.  Our desire is to make the event something everyone enjoys attending and at the same share expectations.  With that in mind this is a list of the basic elements involved in our Leadership Meeting:

Time – this is huge to me.  Respect the time commitment of volunteers.  Start on time, stay on schedule and finish on time.  Keep the event short and allow time for fellowship afterward.

Serve Food – many of our meetings are held immediately after the Sunday morning service and lunch is served.  NOT PIZZA!  Choose a menu that will express your appreciation to your volunteers.  Depending on the time of day your meeting is held it could be snacks or dessert, just be sure it’s done well.

Decorate – what is the theme for your ministry?  What’s the theme for your next series?  Be creative and keep it simple but show that you care.

Teach – use this valuable time to cast vision, share victories, and challenge them to grow.  Describe your expectations for the ministry and the individuals who serve.

Creative Elements – include a drama, show a video, or play a game.  Find ways to develop interaction and camaraderie among your staff.

Follow Up – contact your leaders and ask for feedback.  Make notes to improve the next meeting.

Leadership Meeting should be something that our leaders look forward to rather than dread.  Making it valuable, creative and fun will go a long way toward increasing the attendance.  So what’s the best things you’ve ever done in a meeting?  Let me know.

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