Skip to main content

Category: Ministry Leadership

Covers topics such as leadership skills, sustainable leadership, women in leadership, leading teams, developing leaders, meetings

40 Must-Have Skills For Every KidMin Leader

Kathie Phillips 9 Comments

Today is a very special day – it’s my 40th birthday!  Recently I read an article that shared 10 skills all homeowner’s need to have and that got me thinking…What skills should kidmin leaders possess?  Since ’40’ is the number of the day, I made a list of 40 skills, none of which are in any particular order.

As a kidmin leader, you should know how to:

  1. Clean up vomit.
  2. Have a difficult conversation.
  3. Invite people to serve.
  4. Answer a child’s ‘curve ball’ question.
  5. Deal with an irate parent.
  6. Handle criticism.
  7. Build an effective team.
  8. Stop a nosebleed.
  9. Take a day (or two or seven) days off.
  10. Unplug with a non kidmin-related hobby.
  11. Identify current movies, music, video games, apps that kids are using.
  12. Buy in bulk.
  13. Prepare and stay within a budget.
  14. Celebrate the ‘wins’.
  15. End ineffective programs.
  16. Lead a child to Christ.
  17. Clearly cast vision and strategy.
  18. Collaborate with a team.
  19. Submit to the authority over you.
  20. Laugh – a lot.
  21. Plan a great meeting – with an agenda.
  22. Stick to the meeting agenda.
  23. Step out of your comfort zone.
  24. Be flexible.
  25. Own your mistakes.
  26. Continue investing in yourself with workshops, conferences, books, etc.
  27. Set healthy boundaries.
  28. Give credit where credit is due.
  29. Know when to cancel a meeting.
  30. Regularly appreciate your volunteers and staff.
  31. Carve out regular, quality time with your family and friends.
  32. Bribe with food – yep, I said it!
  33. Know when to let things go – physically and literally.
  34. Say ‘no’.
  35. Not only delegate tasks but delegate responsibility.
  36. Work basic a/v equipment.
  37. Be a servant – dump trash, sweep floors, etc.
  38. Allow God to be in control.
  39. Pray without ceasing.
  40. Stay in the fight when you feel like quitting.

Now I can go and read Dale Hudson’s article for children’s leaders over the age of 40!  (You can read that article here.)

In the meantime…What would you add to the list?

5 Reasons Why Every Leader Needs an Inner Circle

Kathie Phillips 1 Comment
Photo Credit: thenextweb.com
Photo Credit: thenextweb.com

When I started out in kidmin, I likened myself to a sponge.  I wanted to soak up as much knowledge as I could.  I also deeply craved being around other leaders who did what I did.  I learned so much from listening to and engaging with other leaders – many of my own ideas were birthed as a result of being in such environments.

As the years have passed, the desire to be around other kidmin leaders hasn’t waned.  In fact, it has increased!  While I still love to learn and swap ideas, I now listen more intently to the heart of the leaders.  We share the same challenges and disappointments.  We are all trusting God to do big things through us for His glory.  We are just trying to survive week to week!

Having my circle around me has made me a better leader.  One piece of advice I always give to new ministry leaders or those having a rough time is GET AROUND OTHERS WHO DO WHAT YOU DO.  Having a circle of support doesn’t mean you’re a weak leader; it helps make you a stronger one.

How?

1. You can share in a safe place.  Every leader needs a safe place to share frustrations, challenges and tears.

2. You can bounce ideas off of other brains.  Some of my best ideas have come from a brainstorming session.

3. You can be supported in prayer.  Ministry is hard work and can often be lonely.  Having prayer support will be invaluable.

4. You can be affirmed.  Sometimes when you hear what others are going through, you realize that your situation is not all that bad.

5. You can be challenged.  You’ll hear other points of view and be challenged to think outside of the box.  You might even be encouraged to take a risk.  Being challenged might help you take the next step as a leader.

If you don’t know where to find that inner circle, here are a few suggestions:

Look within your church.  There are people in your church who are passionate about kidmin, love and support you or both. This group might not ‘do what you do’ but they can be a great source of support for you.  Keep them updated on ministry and personal needs.

Look within your community.  Are there church leaders in your community who you can network with?  I strongly believe that having a support system of like-minded people will be of great benefit to you.  I am part of a network of leaders who meet quarterly but out of that group, I have connected with one leader in particular who meets with me once a month for lunch and fellowship.  She is my kidmin sister and I always look forward to getting together with her.  Don’t have a group nearby?  Start one!

Look on social media.  Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, and CM Connect provides platforms for you to connect with other kidmin leaders.

Look within your denomination, if you’re part of one.  Many denominations have Christian Education groups that meet regularly.  If not, start one!

Look for discussion forums within other websites, like Kidology.  You might also be able to find discussion forums for the curriculum that you use.  Visit their website to see if one exists.

What have been effective ways for you to connect with other kidmin leaders?

This is How I Work

Kathie Phillips 2 Comments

Late last year, my friend Trevor Lee and I spoke about me being included in his “How I Work” blog series, which is dedicated to sharing the tools, technology, wisdom and resources ministry leaders use to lead.  Something about this was intriguing but I was very apprehensive.  So apprehensive that I told Trevor – and this is an exact quote – “If you need an average, run-of-the-mill kidmin leader, let me know.”  His response – “Average…LOL!  Seriously, is there such a thing as an ‘average’ kidmin?”  

So, I decided to do it.  Trevor and I have connected on social media but it wasn’t until last week that we made a face-to-face connection (virtually – gotta love technology!)  I even had a chance to meet his lovely wife.

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to get a peek into the life of an average kidmin leader, today’s your lucky day.  You can learn more about how I work by jumping over to Trevor’s blog and reading all about it.

Thanks, Trevor, for a great conversation and for nudging me out of my comfort zone!

 

Creatively Advertise Your Ministry – Without Breaking the Bank

Kathie Phillips 4 Comments
Photo Credit: forbes.com
Photo Credit: forbes.com

Yesterday, my family and I enjoyed a long-standing tradition – getting together for the Super Bowl. Yes, the guys are interested in the game – and we ladies were, too, last year when our Baltimore Ravens were playing.  But fellowship, great food, 2 birthdays (my dad & my sister’s birthdays always fall around Super Bowl weekend), and funny commercials are the REAL reasons we enjoy our annual Super Bowl party.

Speaking of commercials..The Washington Post reported that a 30-second advertisement cost approximately $4 million this year.  With over 100 million viewers expected to tune in to the game, corporate sponsors are able to reach a plethora of potential consumers.  Might be a good investment then, right?

Most of us in kidmin would never have a $4 million budget, let alone $4 million for a 30-second advertisement but there are some ways to creatively ‘advertise’ your ministry without breaking the bank.  Here are a few suggestions:

  • Word of mouth is always a winner.  People will tell their friends about the wonderful things happening in your ministry. (Sadly, the opposite is also true.)
  • A great church/ministry website is also a winner.  More and more of our families find us via the internet nowadays, so having a top-notch website is a great investment.  Our ministry will be updating our website in the coming weeks and I am very excited about that!
  • Bulletin ads are an effective tool in getting the word out about your ministry.  There have been debates on whether or not to use church bulletins to recruit volunteers but bulletins can be a great way to give a brief snapshot of what’s happening in your ministry.
  • Reach the masses by having upfront announcements, videos, and skits presented to your entire congregation at weekend services.  Having a ministry staffer or key volunteer do this is awesome.  Having your Senior Pastor do this is also awesome.
  • E-newsletters are another great (and oftentimes free) route to choose.  I use Mail Chimp to send weekly updates to our ministry parents.  The information hits their inbox and is always available at their fingertips.
  • Social media, like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, are also free tools that are very effective in getting the word out.  Many members of our congregation use social media so getting information to them in this way is extremely effective.
  • Getting the word out via text alerts is something that many ministries use.  I currently do not use this type of advertisements but those that do have shared how awesome it is to send a mass text to parents, students, and/or volunteers.
  • Quality colorful, eye-catching posters and banners are great ‘oldies but goodies’.  Pair them up with a creatively decorated table, printed materials, a smiling volunteer and food is also a winner.  Read here about how our ministry pulled this off this past summer.
  • Other great options include diaper bag tags, buttons, ink pens, hats, backpacks, water bottles, t-shirts – anything that can be printed with your ministry’s logo.  Many times these items help strike up great conversations outside of your church walls.

How have you creatively advertised your ministry on a budget?  I’m always looking for ideas, so please share yours by leaving a comment below!

error: Content is protected !!