A Vision for the Future

After looking at our community and the needs of our church. I have developed the following vision for our church, but children's ministry specifically. Everything that we do should be focused on this vision.

We will build up strong Christ centered families and individuals, offer meaningful opportunities for families to learn, grow, worship and have fun together and equip youth and adult leaders to be servants and to effectively share God’s Word in the church and the community.

Vision Across The Board

As I pray for our church and God's plans for our church, I am reminded of all the different visions that leaders have for our church. I pray that we will wait upon the Lord to unite us through prayer. I am asking God to lay upon the hearts of leaders in our church one vision- the same vision. This will be confirmation that we are following God's will for our church. I pray that we will provide a vision for the church that comes not from our own minds, but from the mouth of the Lord. I know that the Lord has a plan for our church. In seeing His vision, we are better focused on what He desires of us and waste less time furthering our own plans and selfish motives.

Retrain us to Train

I think that our church desires to train and equip volunteers or leaders in all of the ministry areas of the church, but we have been trained to just fill positions. We need to retrain ourselves, our pastors and our leaders to
- plan and organize ways for lay ministers to serve
- find positions based on a lay person's God-given gifts
- equip our lay ministers for success through simple resources and trainings
- direct & disciple our leaders

I would like to see our church develop a volunteer ministry. This ministry would oversee all volunteers in the congregation. They would help to provide spiritual gifts assessments and seminars in order to invite and place volunteers in the ministry that is best suited for them. This ministry would also oversee volunteer appreciation by recognizing and thanking volunteers on a regular basis. I would love to see a nice dinner once or twice a year in honor of all lay ministers or volunteers to thank them for following God's call and agreeing to serve in the church.

What does the Bible say about volunteers

Romans 12:4-8 says that we are all part of one body. Each of us has an important role in the body of Christ. "We have different gifts according to the grace given us." (Romans 12:6) How can I work with the leaders and servants in the church to determine what gifts they have and how they can be used in the church? It is so easy to think that as the director of a Children's Ministry that I must do everything for the children. Ephesians 4:12 says that the leaders in the church, the apostles, phophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are to "prepare God's people for works of service". My job is not to be in charge of everything and have my hands in everything, but to train up leaders - to train up disciples to go and serve and to make more disciples.

At our church, we are always trying to fill spots. We need to focus on trainging disciples for the service that God has intended them for. God has chosen each one of us according to His purpose and has given us a gift. We need to focus on
seeking out that gift in our church members and as leaders equipping and empowering them to use that gift. If God desires each of us to be using the gift he gave us, this will create succesful, thriving ministries.

We need to be working together. If we are the body, how can we be so seperated and focused on ourselves. 1 Corinthians 12:26 says, "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." Are we really at our best when every ministry is trying to survive on its own and make ends meat by just getting the volunteerst they need to skate on by? How much more succesful would our ministries be if we worked together, pooled our resources and found the right fit for each person?

What is my job as a leader?

What is my job as a leader in the church? So often I get caught up in doing things. It is easier to do things myself and do it my way than to train someone else to take over. God has a special place for each one of us in His church. Whose job am I taking when I choose to do everything myself? Am I taking away someone's opportunity to serve the Lord and minister to others. As I focus on building up our children's ministry, I desire to really focus on what God is calling our church, our leaders and myself to do.