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Just a quick reminder that there's only a few days left until the Super Early Bird Deadline.
If your register for the Conspire Conference by next Tuesday, February 5, you'll automatically receive the lowest regular registration price.
I just got back from spending the weekend in Kansas, where I was consulting with the children’s ministry of a cool church mid-state. I’ve never been there before…you may be surprised to know that Kansas is not actually in black and white like I thought. Anyway, while I met with my new ministry friends and tried not to make any cliché “Wizard of Oz” jokes, I was reminded of something that’s been ping-ponging around in my brain.
Somewhere along the way, many of us have decided that the value of our ministry is measured in volume. In how many different programs we offer, rather than in the amount of transformation and effectiveness that each program leads to.
Think about the sheer number of programs that we feel compelled to offer the kids and families of our churches. Name your program (VBS, Awana, Family Service, Mid-Week Basketball Palooza, Friday Night Preschool Vegetarian Recovery Group, whatever), we are addicted to offering as many of these as possible. Nothing wrong with any of them as stand-alones. Well, the Vegetarian one might need some rethinking.
However, the troubling truth is that this lengthy list of programs we offer usually has a direct correlation to how effective, dynamic, and excellent we are at executing ANY of them. The more programs we run, the thinner we spread our volunteers, our resources, our frazzled nerves. If you’ve recently developed a tick in your right eye and a tendency to yell at the cat, due, in part, to looming summer program planning, you know what I’m talking about. Sometimes feels like the whole thing’s being held together with duct tape, doesn’t it?
That’s some of what my amigos from the flat state of Kansas were feeling this weekend. They were feeling stuck. Clogged. Ministry constipation, let’s call it, just because that’s so fun to say.
This church in Kansas has a LOT going for them…teachers with real ability, a new small group structure that’s moving in all the right directions, volunteers with great hearts who were embracing change very well and excited about ministry, a newly christened volunteer “Operations Director” (if you’re wondering where you can get one of those, it’s called a secretary with leadership chops)…lots of cool stuff to celebrate. But they were running very hard and very fast and very tired with a bunch of programs, but not feeling like they were doing any of them very DEEP. The diagnosis…ministry constipation. Their POWER was being blocked from trying to keep so many programs moving forward. And that can lead to volunteer burnout, leadership frustration, lack of transformation and power, and some intense pressure around the lower abdomen, among other symptoms. Ouch.
Well, I’m not in Kansas anymore, Toto (and you thought I couldn’t work it in). But by the time I headed for the airport on Sunday afternoon, some exciting things were happening among my Kansasonian pals. In a word, they were SIMPLIFYING. They had a plan for doing less…better. They’ve decided to let some things go and funnel their energy, time, and resources towards their “A” and “B” priorities…in that order. And as I looked around the table on Sunday afternoon, I saw faces filled with PEACE. And POWER. And that manic half-crazed look was starting to fade (which is always a good thing). They were feeling the release of becoming unconstipated by so many programs. And I have high expectations that power is about to flow.
Speaking of constipation, there a dinky little sports bar right next to Gate 77 at the Kansas City Airport. A word of advice…the nachos…while intensely cheesy, are not the best choice right before a flight.
I’m just sayin’.
Are you trying to do too many programs in your ministry? What’s got your ministry constipated? What’s blocking you from going DEEP on your “A” priority and clogging up all the POWER that God has in mind for you?
Aaron Reynolds is the author of The Fabulous Reinvention of Sunday School, and a twelve-year veteran and former Artistic Director of the Promiseland Children’s Ministry team. These days he spends his time training and consulting with children’s ministries all over the country, including Kansas. Visit him at www.creativekidsministry.com.
This year I want to be more… More lovely and loving, and thoughtful of myself and others. I want to be filled with Jesus’ mindset, thinking and acting only like Him. I want you, Jesus to be on the forefront of my mind – to be the filter and the stream thru which all things flow, from both my mind and heart. How can this be? Read the Bible. Pray often. Practice regular love and care for myself and others. Spend time with children. Serve and give to those in need. Lead. Find joy in my career but not total fulfillment nor dependence. Have fun laughing, telling jokes, and smiling. Rest. Celebrate occasions like my brother’s wedding and my 30th birthday. Listen carefully. Tell the truth – when it’s hard and when it’s easy – so that friendship and community mean more to me. Dream with my husband about our future, and our family, and our city life.
I want to be more this year.. More like you, Jesus, and more like me – who you dreamed me to be in creation. And less like the world wants me to be, and the terrible voices in my head telling me to be less.
What is your vision for this New Year?
Amy Dolan is the founder and leader of Lemon Lime Kids, a consulting company that seeks to lead and teach kids in a fresh way. She has served as Children’s Ministry Director at The Chapel in Libertyville, Illinois and as a curriculum writer for Promiseland at Willow Creek Community Church. Amy is a contributor to Children’s Ministry Magazine and Group Publishing. She is currently serving as the WCA Children's Ministry Leader.
