Holding On For Dear Life...

Some folks really hate change...and will hold on for dear life to something that is literally eroding underneath them. That foundation you once placed all your trust in is no longer supporting your weight! Change gives you permission to explore areas you may not have ever explored before. You cannot stay paralyzed in fear by change. Eventually, you will be forced to transition.

However, as a leader, I have to know that not everyone is going to come with me on the journey. As I make changes in my ministry, not every leader is going to transition. Some will transition into other ministry positions within my ministry; some will transition into a completely different ministry altogether. Let me just say this, "That is not a bad thing."

This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. (habakkuk 2:3)

Change Can Be Exciting!

I love change, especially when it is initiated by me. Coming from someone else, I have to understand the reason behind the change in order to get excited about it. With that knowledge, I try to use Simon Sinek's philosophy of "Start With The Why." Why do we exist? Why are we willing to go to great lengths to impact our community for Christ? "The Why?" comes first in ministry. "The How?" and "The What?" come after you have communicated "The why."

We are about to make some great changes in Children's Ministry; I have to be sure to communicate and inspire "The why" as we make these changes. My goal is to keep the people who serve in our ministry excited about where we are going. I want them all to come with us, as we are stepping it up!

Unexpected Energy

Did you know that an orange could generate electricity? Well it can, with the proper metals and wires attach, you can generate and extract electricity from an orange. I wouldn't try to charge my iPhone with it necessarily. Nonetheless, it is an unexpected source of energy.

I have been asked on several occasions, how do I invite people to serve in our ministry? My answer is always the same; it boils down to building relationships and simply inviting people to serve. I do not say "no" for people. I give them the opportunity to decide for themselves. I have found such unexpected energy from people I have invited to serve in children's ministry, when the circumstances are right. Just like our orange, when you have the right people serving in the right environments, it can be electric!

Build change into the DNA of your ministry. Encourage your volunteers to try out different areas of ministry. Watch for the sparks! I believe in placing people where they are passionate, because that is where the greatest energy is produced. I like to put it like this, you must fit, function and flourish. The ministry position must be a good fit. If it is a good fit, they begin to function, when they are functioning well, this is when you see them flourish!

Sometimes You Have To Get Out Of Your World.

I had the privilege to get out of my world this weekend and see what some of my peers are doing. All I can say is, "wow!" It was incredible! I have attended many conferences and I have visited many churches. However, when you compare apples to apples and then see it in action, you can learn so much more than you ever expected to.

You can use the same curriculum, have the same programming format, play the same exact games. Compared in conversation, you are understanding it to be the exact same thing because you are looking through your own personal lenses. However, going to a church on a weekend and watching how things are done, can be quite eye opening. Leaders are learners. If you are a leader, I'm challenging you to get out of your world.

Our Opportunity...Our Privilege...

This picture reminds me of how a child is like a blank canvas.

when I invest in a child, I leave behind a colorful mark.

In turn, that child leaves their mark on the world.

One thousand kids...One thousand marks...We can obliterate the world as we know it!


YAYOI KUSAMA’S Obliteration

A Balancing Act...It's Not Just For Clowns...

I am very passionate about my ministry. I believe God has given me an incredible privilege to lead such a crucial ministry. Everything I do relates to my ministry in one fashion or another. It is so easy to get caught up in my ministry calling and forget to balance out the rest of my life, i.e. my spouse, my children and especially myself. I am at times extremely driven. Driven in what I think my ministry should look like... what my leadership should look like... I have the timing and expectations down and it should be excellent. How can it be anything else? Right?

Balance Out Knowledge, Experience and Arrogance
In the past, There were times when someone would try to give me advice, I would hear them however I may not listen to them. I didn't necessarily listen to them, because I believed I knew what was right. I was so confident, at times arrogant, that I was doing everything right based on my past experiences that I would miss the golden nugget. There is always some truth to what is being said. Now when someone gives me advice, criticizes me, my leadership or my ministry, I not only hear them, but I listen to them. I take some time to process what was said, balance out my knowledge, my past experiences and then pick out the golden nugget of truth. Then, I lay down my pride and I work to make changes that will make me and my ministry better.

Balance Out Passion and Timing
Here is what I know. God's timing is always perfect. Sometimes, I have to honor and respect authority above me and trust that the same spirit in me, lives in them. I must extend grace as they learn and grow, just as grace has been extended to me. I must wait patiently as God reveals to them the timing of things, even the things that I am passionate about. I have to balance out my passions with God's timing. God has placed them in authority over me. I have to trust God in them by honoring and respecting their authority. Leading without honor and respect is not Godly. It is undermining their authority. If I have a strong belief in a situation or have a value that I am passionate about, then I should go to my leader and discuss my passion. Ultimately, I should trust God in my leader. Most times, when I have decided to trust God and let God's timing unfold, I have found that God was working on my heart not theirs.

Balancing Out Myself
Ministry is 24/7 and it never ends. There are times when I have to be told to stop. I need to balance out my time and energy. Yes, there are seasons where I have to launch a program, a new church service or a special event that will require more of my time. However, on those off seasons, I must take some time to balance out my heart, rest my soul and refresh my calling. It is ok to take that time. I have to give myself permission to take the time. Plan for it and be faithful to commit to it.

Transparency Defined

Defined by Wikipedia: Transparency is the physical property of allowing the transmission of light through a material.

Be Transparent
What does it mean to be transparent? Using our life experiences to glorify God. God wants us to be transparent about our challenges to help shed light on His goodness and connect people to Christ. Have you ever noticed that the people you connect with have similar challenges in their life?

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," He made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Have Character
I often joke about having so much character that God can stop allowing trials and sufferings in my life now. But the truth is, those sufferings have produced great character in me. I have many ministry points because of those sufferings, as well as, many opportunities to link people with Christ through those challenges. I have used my many trials in life to prepare my very own children for life and for their ministry opportunities.

Romans 5:3-4
Not only so, but wet also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Point people to God, for He is the only One who can give them Hope.

Share His Comfort
Throughout every challenge in my life, I have experience God's compassion and His comfort. I have had the privilege to share that very same comfort with others as they journey through their trials.

2cor 1:3-4
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

Here is my challenge to you; where have you experienced the God of all comfort? Where has God given you a point of ministry? Don't let those ministry opportunities pass you by. Find a place to leave a legacy...Be transparent for Christ.