Children's Ministry Leaders: Lead Through Change Like Never Before
If change is inevitable, then knowing how to lead through change is essential. The rate of cultural change in the West is now happening at such a fast clip and far too many church leaders are feeling ill-equipped for the future we are facing. It's one thing to identify the challenges that lie ahead, but it's an entirely different skillset to actually lead through the change. Are you ready? Or, are you ready to get ready? Driving real change in the local church starts with the transformation of your leadership first then your ministry second.
We are headed into one of the most uncertain times in recent history … what future will our kids and grandkids live in? What strategies do we cling to because every child we lock eyes with matters to God and matters to the future of our churches? If we are going to prepare the next generation for this unknown future our local churches must lead through change and we, as leaders must change. But, are we ready? How do we drive authentic, influential church-wide change that will rescue the future leaders of our churches?
In ministry we often assume or perceive "reality" based on the experiences we have in leading, regardless of whether we are in a volunteer or staff role. We all have a desired outcome that we want to reach. For some we find ourselves losing sleep over the urgency of wanting to drive real change toward that end. We know we can't accomplish this dream from God on our own. We definitely need God and we definitely need other ministries locking arms with us. Without these partnerships, we can find ourselves becoming frustrated with the lack of interest from others. Why is this an all too familiar experience of those of us who minister to children? What is interesting is that we can count on there being a gap between our perceived reality and what others above and alongside us perceive as reality. Without being on the same page of today and where you want to go, limited partnerships will be built and church leadership can easily dismiss our voice.
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The truth about being dismissed by others is that it really depends on you. Responding in constructive ways hasn't always been my "go to" response. It is much easier to show disappointment of "the gap" when others don't get on the same page. Why is responding constructively so important? Without this posture of leadership, you won't have the relational bridges needed for those strategic partners inside and outside of your church's structure to move this vision forward WITH you. Helping others see what you see will deepen their desire to partner with you. These partnerships will ultimately influence the grander vision of your church, but it all starts with you! When a leader leads from a secure identity, faces challenges with courage, finds his/her leadership voice within and builds real "we are in this with you whatever it takes" kind of partnerships nothing will stop you from becoming the KidMin change-agent God has called you to become! So, how does a change agent rise up within children's ministry to implement change from the Kidmin seat successfully?
Kidmin Change Agents don't run away from ministry problems; they pursue knowledge.
It is always easier to blame our ministry shortcomings on others. We can become self-righteous and even self-centered at times, but what does a self-respecting KidMin leader do? This leader knows their identity comes from God and doesn't shrink back from gaining knowledge through the accumulation of facts, data and stories being told. He or she knows how to balance protecting their ministry with asking hard questions while being willing to listen to difficult responses. And, this type of KidMin Leader will invite those within their church and those outside of their church because they desire a comprehensive perception understanding. Examining your ministry by choosing the best people to give you the wisest ministry feedback through being objective and clear will challenge your thinking, increase your relational bridges and show church leadership you are dedicated to the bigger vision of your church, not just the ministry you are trying to lead.
This deep dive into your ministry is not for the faint at heart. It will bring you to your knees. It will heighten any insecurity you might have but it will be what God uses to strengthen every leadership muscle within you.
Kidmin Change Agents understand the importance of finding favor within church leadership.
If you want to multiply ministry impact you need to ask yourself if you have built relational bridges that have given you favor from your senior leaders. If your answer is no, it is time to work on this because it is a must if you are going to drive real church wide change from your Kidmin seat.
Imagine if a close friend or a coworker or a spouse looked at you and said, "I just don't know you. I'm not certain I understand you, and I'm not real certain I understand where you are headed and what you hope to accomplish." Even worse, what if they said, "I just can't trust you."
Those are crushing words you'd never want to hear! You want the opposite from these key relationships. You want their trust and you want to have favor granted from their eyes.
Finding favor begins with you looking at your attitude. Does your attitude open doors or close doors? When the door is open, do you have the right posture by letting others see your vulnerability in discovering your strengths and growth areas? Do you ask questions of church leadership that show you are seeking to understand? Through your attitude and posture does church leadership truly believe you are being a student that desires to learn; a student with a heart to do what it takes so everyone wins; a student that works at growing the trust being built as you partner with others?
Remember senior leaders care just as much as you do about today's uncertainty. Finding their favor will bring your ministry to be seen and your voice to be heard.
Kidmin Change Agents influence their church's grander vision by leading from within.
This is central to your work serving God as a change agent within your church. The best Kidmin Leaders make sure they do what it takes to elevate conversations within their ministry and church to move from just talking about the need to change to leading the best change process. If this type of influence is void, they know the importance of getting at the heart of the issues that might be holding them back from influencing others to push up their sleeves and get gritty with them. If they find themselves getting in the way of being a change agent influencer, they look for truth in how they are being perceived and open their heart to find out what part they played in forming this truth.
They will search their heart and develop their unique leadership voice from within. Effective KidMin Leaders are those who, like the apostle Paul in Philippians 3, identifies their calling and pursues it with courage and confidence. They fix their eyes on what is unseen, knowing God sees all. Every day they influence through a myriad of opportunities to lead, serve, speak up, share and act. When their opportunity comes for them to inspire and motivate others to join them in changing the game, they stand with optimism and confidence because they did the inner work that will open the hearts of strategic partners within their church. The potential of their influence will drive the change they've been longing to see.
True, influential, and transformational leadership takes place because somewhere a gritty leader doesn't just explode with passion. This leader stands on God's truth and love, fighting against fear, to lay down his or her perceived reality in wanting to close any gap that limits reaching their desired outcome. This leader decides, "With God's help, I'm gonna figure this out. I'm not going to give up. I'm going to stay humble and figure out how to partner with and serve those below me, beside me, and above me to fulfill and extend the mission of this church." That, my friend, is you. The Holy Spirit has the power to shape each of us to become that type of leader that will be known of driving change in an uncertain world.
The need for you to be a change agent is greater than ever. God hasn't changed. The gospel hasn't changed. The Bible hasn't changed. But our culture has and is changing dramatically. What about you? Do the internal work of growing your leadership so that relational partnerships are flourishing which in turn will cause your ministry to thrive and bring change to your local church.
