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Category: Ministry Leadership

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

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!

KidMin Interview Tips

Kathie Phillips

Last week, I posted two kidmin job opportunities here on the blog.  A few days later, I was contacted by someone who asked for interview tips for someone considering a job in kidmin.

I shared a few tips with them.  Actually quite a few would be more accurate.  I thought I’d share some of my main points, not in any particular order, with all of you:

1.Pray for direction from God.  Has He called you to kidmin?  Do you feel pursuing a ministry position is the right thing for you at this time?  Are your motives pure?

2. Do your homework about the ministry you are considering.  Visit their website/social media page to learn their vision, core values, philosophy of ministry, Statement of Faith, etc.

3. Look carefully at the job description provided.  Know what they’re looking for and determine if the position might be a good fit for you.

4. Contact the ministry to get additional information before applying.  I’d suggest doing this by phone rather than by email.

5. If you feel God is calling you to apply, update and clean up your resume. (I’d suggest doing this occasionally, even when you’re not looking for a new job.) Make sure it’s visually appealing, formatted properly and free of spelling and grammatical errors.  Highlight your education background, ministry experience and qualifications.  Remember: your resume is making an impression on the potential employer.

6. Prepare for the interview by:

  • thinking about what skills/abilities/passion you bring to the table, not just what the ministry can do for you.
  • embracing being a team player.  Many churches lean towards a team approach to ministry.
  • bringing along some sort of portfolio with lessons you’ve written, print materials you’ve created, etc.
  • knowing that some ‘corporate’ skills are usually desired, especially for larger churches.  You know those ‘buzz words’: innovative, strategic, creative, etc.
  • highlighting ways that you’re still learning and developing your skill set, i.e. training, conferences and classes.
  • showing a fun, personal side.  Talk some about your family and your interests outside of ministry.
  • making a list of questions to ask the interviewer.  Ask good questions.

This list is by no means exhaustive but it made for a good conversation.  Just a few thoughts from someone who’s been both the interviewee and interviewer.

What would you add to the list?  What tips would you give someone looking for a job in kidmin?

Own Your Mistakes

Kathie Phillips 1 Comment

Last week, I received an email from Target’s CEO regarding the store’s recent data breach. The email contained an apology for the incident and steps the company was taking to be proactive in remedying the situation.

No one in a leadership position is perfect.  We all make mistakes.  The real test comes when things go wrong.  Will you own the mistake and take steps to correcting the situation or will you sweep it under the rug, pretending that nothing happened or – gasp – passing the blame onto someone else?

In my opinion, smart leaders:

  • listen intently before speaking
  • take ownership for any wrongdoing
  • ask for forgiveness
  • work to find a solution to make things right
  • listen some more

Doing these things will not only make you a stronger leader but you will gain and keep the trust of those you lead.

What would you add to the list? What else can leaders do to remedy situations gone wrong?

Simply Put: First Things First

Kathie Phillips 2 Comments

Happy New Year, friends!  I hope your New Year is off to a fabulous start!  My New Year started with a vacation – my first cruise – to the Caribbean.  It was a long overdue vacation and I did not have any problem relaxing…the weather was warm, the food was great, the company was sweet and the views were amazing.  See for yourself:

The view from my room on the cruise ship – Sunset over the Atlantic Ocean

When I returned home, there were lots of things to catch up on – opening mail, unpacking, laundry, grocery shopping, email, catching up with my family (who stayed behind while I was away).  “Where should I start?”, I asked myself.

Have you found yourself asking the same question?  Ministry – and life in general – can be filled with long to-do lists.  It can be overwhelming knowing where to start.  Here are a few pointers that have helped me:

Make a to-do list.  Simple, right?  It is a burden lifted when I take a few minutes to simply write down all of the things swirling around in my head.

Prioritize the list.  Take an honest look at what you’ve listed and determine what’s immediate, what can wait, what can be delegated, what can be eliminated.  

Move forward.  Work your list and make your list work for you.  Jump in and start knocking things off of the list.  Don’t procrastinate!

Set time limits.  What can you do in an hour?  What can you do in five minutes?  You might be surprised how much you can knock out when you’re focused and have a time frame to work within.

Eliminate distraction.  No social media.  No email.  Put your cell phone on vibrate.  Set your desk phone to “Do not disturb.”  Go to a quiet place (I love working at the library).  You get the idea.

Cross things off of the list as you work.  Seeing things scratched off the list can be one of your biggest motivators!

How do you keep ‘first things first’?  I’d love to hear what you do!

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