If you’ve been in ministry for any length of time, you know that it reaches much further than the time you’re officially “on the clock” for your job. Ministry can seep into every corner of our lives – sometimes in beautiful ways, other times in unhealthy ways. 

On a typical day, I may find myself —

• Serving a cold drink to someone in the blazing heat
• Helping someone unfamiliar with my area feel at home
• Providing a place to rest, refresh, and renew
• Showing the love of Jesus through smiles and actions, not just words

Am I talking about my role in a local church? Nope. But I am talking about my ministry, which actually looks a lot like a business because, well…it is.

My husband and younger son and I moved to Belize a little over three years ago now. We own and manage Placencia Beach Club in the tiny little fishing village of Placencia. It’s a business open to the public – local Belizeans, expats, and tourists alike. My days are filled with helping manage our team of 15, chatting with guests, and day-to-day operations. It may not look like a ministry in the traditional sense but have no doubts – our family is on mission here.

You see, our dream is to have a small resort where people in ministry can come to rest, refresh, and relax for little to no cost. How? By tithing back 10% of the room nights at the resort to folks in ministry. My husband and I both grew up as MK’s (missionary kids), in a setting where using “someone else’s money” to go on vacation was a strict no-no. In other words, if you needed a break, you had to fund it yourself. Pretty difficult to do on a typical pastor or missionary salary.

It’s time to retell the story. We want to remove the obstacles that prevent our ministers of the gospel from being able to experience a time of renewal. We aren’t quite to the realization of that dream yet, but God keeps bringing us closer every single day. (Feel free to email me if you’d like to keep up with our story!)

In our case, ministry has expanded past the typical boundaries in a beautiful way. Not a single person pulling into our sandy parking lot for a day at the beach and pool will automatically identify us as a ministry. I suspect, however, that after their experience here, more than one person has left feeling like there was “something different.” (Experiencing the hands and feet of Jesus in action, perhaps?)  

Your ministry story may be a little different than the norm as well. Different doesn’t mean less valuable.

“Bi-vocational” is a term almost exclusively used in the context of ministry. It typically refers to a minister who serves a church part-time and works another job (or jobs) as well. Many of you reading this have other jobs or roles outside of your role in ministry. Some of you are part-time children’s directors or volunteer youth directors. Others are full-time pastors with a side job to help make ends meet. 

When our ministry story doesn’t include a full-time paid position, it can be difficult to discern when to allow ministry to seep into the edges of our lives. 

• Sometimes ministry seeps into our lives in a way that brightens the dark corners.
• Sometimes ministry seeps into our lives and robs us of our sense of self.
• Sometimes ministry seeps in to expand our understanding of our God.
• Sometimes ministry seeps in and distorts our understanding of God.
• Sometimes ministry seeps in and brings with it new relationships and new opportunities.
• Sometimes ministry seeps in and chips away at our relationships.

As you ponder your own ministry story, I pray that God will reveal to you how the gifts, talents, and passions that you’ve been given are part of the whole picture, not just the ministry portion. Seek discernment about where to lean in, and where to lean back. 

You’re not alone. We are in this together!

The post When Your Ministry Story Looks Different appeared first on Ministry Architects.

Bake cookies and take them to the neighbors….check.

Choose gifts for loved ones….check.

Attend holiday parties….check.

Be present with the children in your Sunday school class or small group….check.

Wait.

There are so many things demanding your attention during this season. A good portion of them are beautiful, and sacred, and provide you with wonderful memories for years to come.

But it’s a little too easy to treat the season as a challenge to be conquered instead of an opportunity to cherish.

Being present with your few, those precious preschoolers and children you get to serve, is not something you can simply check off a list.  It’s an intentional choice to focus on during this busy season.

Children know how busy this time of year is, too.

They ride in shopping carts through countless stores as their families prepare for the holiday.  They get to stay up late some nights, sucking on candy canes and sipping barely-warm hot cocoa with groups of friends or family.  They have to put on scratchy clothes and get their pictures taken with a giant man in a bright red outfit.

They feel the stress that threatens to consume as you try to determine what makes Christmas Christmas for you.

So, when these precious ones walk into their rooms this weekend at your churches, the last thing they need is another busy day.

What they really need is YOU.

They don’t need you to be worried about creating a perfect footprint angel craft to send home.  Instead, they need you to listen to them tell you about their week.

They don’t need you to focus on doing every single activity in the lesson plan, no matter how rushed they might be. Instead, they need you to focus on reminding them they are loved.

They don’t need you to be preoccupied about your own to-do list and obligations. Instead, they need you to put everything else aside the minute you walk through the door and decide to be present with them.

Your few need YOU for Christmas.  Jesus is the greatest gift ever given, and you have the privilege of being a physical representation of Jesus to them.

So be present with them – and this Christmas may be the best one they’ve ever had, and you’ve ever had.

The post Children Need YOU for Christmas appeared first on Ministry Architects.

The children were huddled together in little clumps around each table, talking excitedly among themselves as they began the activity. On the otherwise empty table were several chocolate pudding cups and a package of wet wipes. This lesson was about to get very messy and very memorable.

Too often churches rely solely on a lecture-based lesson in children’s ministry. While you may have been taught that way when you were a child, it’s not too difficult to agree that it may not be the best method. God created children (and adults!) to learn best using the five senses – smell, taste, touch, sight, and hearing. Studies show that the more senses involved in a learning situation, the more likely the child is to retain the information.

Whether you are choosing and preparing the lessons or simply implementing them, you can help the children you’re serving hide God’s word in their hearts more completely. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What will the children see that will help them remember this truth?
• What will the children hear that will help them remember this truth?
• What will the children taste that will help them remember this truth?
• What will the children smell that will help them remember this truth?
• What will the children touch that will help them remember this truth?

Aim to be able to engage at least three of the five senses during the lesson. If you’re teaching about the lost sheep, that might mean bringing in a small piece of wool to pass around or downloading a sound clip of a sheep bleating. Often, we default to telling a story as the hearing portion, but there are some great songs out there that might help cement the biblical lesson. Be creative and don’t be afraid to get a little messy!

When it comes to memorizing Scripture, use fun hand motions, or say the verse multiple times using different voices. (One of my favorite memories is of a teacher in the 4-year-old class who was from England. Those kiddos would come out saying their verses with perfect accents.) Try finding a few pictures that represent key elements in the verse, and have the kids put them in order as they repeat the verse with you.

God invites us to experience Him, and there is no better way to help our children do this than by experiential learning using the five senses.

The post Hiding God’s Word Using All Five Senses appeared first on Ministry Architects.

Have you ever had the privilege of being present when a little one takes his first steps?

There’s anticipation and excitement and collectively-held breath… and then joy as he toddles forward, however short-lived.

Those few seemingly insignificant movements literally change his life. They may not seem like much at first glance, but they result in radical change.

Are you looking for longing, significant change in your ministry?

Maybe it’s time to throw everything out and start from scratch. Probably not. It’s the middle of a season and if you’re evaluating your ministry from top to bottom, the timing is probably (always) just not great. Plus, there are likely many good things happening in your ministry that impact lives and bring glory to God. If you’re truly ready for significant change, start with small steps, not giant leaps.

Significant change most often comes from taking small steps, not giant leaps.

What are some small steps that you can take today?

• Connect with your families. That list you have in your head of all the people you eventually want to connect with? Start today. Choose one person and reach out to them – let them know you love them and are praying for them.
• Keep great notes. What huge event did you just finish in your ministry. Take time to learn from it. Write down what worked, what didn’t work, what you must do again next year, and what you never want to do again! Pull together your receipts, volunteer lists, rosters, and schedules and put them together in one place with your notes so that when you start your planning for next year’s event, you have a foundation to start from. Work smarter, not harder!
• Show visitors they matter. New families looking for a church family return where they’re wanted. If you come in contact with someone new, get their info and let them know, “I’d like to talk again this week.” An index card is better than not getting a visitor’s information at all. When you don’t collect a visitor’s information, you are communicating that you have no intention to connect with them.
• Honor your pastor/minister/leader. It takes just a few minutes but can make a huge impact. Write a note of thanks, highlighting something that happened recently or simply thanking them for the influence they’ve had on your life and ministry. Invest in that relationship – it’s one of the most important ones you have.

A toddler doesn’t start out running. She starts out one step at a time.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to change everything in order to get a different result than the one you’re getting. Just change something and before you know it, you’ll be running.

The post One Step at a Time appeared first on Ministry Architects.

These two simple words can be found together hundreds of times throughout the Bible.

“…and then you will be able to serve Me.”  Jeremiah 15:19

“And then the Lord your God will…”  Deuteronomy 7:20

“Andrew…heard…and then followed Jesus.”  John 1:40

Every time the phrase is used, you know something happened first in order to set the stage for the second thing to be fulfilled.

Children’s ministry is a world of “and then.” Sometimes we get stuck in the mindset that the age we work with is the be-all-to-end-all. We forget what happened before the child stepped foot into our classroom for the first time. And we forget that God has an and then in store for our few when they step out of our classroom for the last time.

Before that bright-eyed four-year-old came into your class, he heard the foundational truth that Jesus loves him in his three-year-old class.

Before the spunky third grader volunteered to lead the class in prayer, someone taught her how to pray to our Father.

Before the toddler well… toddled their way into your arms, she was prayed over and loved as a physical representation of the love of her Father.

Before that confident five-year-old marched into your room by himself, a dedicated small group leader took the time and effort to show him that your ministry is a place of love and safety.

You have become part of your children’s and then. You’ve been building a foundation that is getting them ready for what God has next in their lives. Aren’t you grateful that God doesn’t stop with the now but consistently gives us the opportunity for an and then?

Don’t get trapped in the now, either.

You’re not their last and then.

You’re preparing them for the next part of God’s story in their lives.

You may be getting ready for many of your precious ones to transition from the preschool ministry into your elementary ministry, or from elementary into youth. Enjoy these last class times with them. Hug them an extra time or two and look them in the eyes as you repeat those truths to them one more time.

God loves you.

God wants a relationship with you.

But don’t cling to them.

Let them go.

And be ready to celebrate their and then.

The post And Then… appeared first on Ministry Architects.

It was Easter Sunday, and there were hundreds of little feet and big feet strolling through the halls of our kids’ area. Some of the faces were familiar ones while many were appearing in our doorways for the first time. Energy was high, and our Children’s Director zipped from room to room, checking on volunteers, adjusting staffing, and soothing unsure children.

After worship started and things began to settle in for the hour, I glanced down the hallway to see the Children’s Director sitting on the floor, all of her attention on the little boy in front of her. The orange sticker on his back revealed that he was a first-time guest, and as I walked toward them to ask if I could help in any way, I could see that God had blessed this precious little one with some special needs.

We were at 180% capacity in our kids’ area that day. As this family wound their way down the hall, they asked the kids’ check-in volunteer escorting them whether their little boy would be welcomed into a classroom here. The answer so easily could have been, “I’m so sorry, but we don’t have the resources to care for him.” We didn’t have a special needs ministry. We didn’t even have a quiet room to step into with this little boy if the stimulation in the classroom became too much.

What would your response be if a family wanted to bring their child with special needs to your ministry?

Our response was that we would love him the best way we could.

What did we have?

A love for all of God’s precious children. We also had a system in place anticipating that God may send us families who have children with special needs. It was a simple system. We had identified a handful of volunteers who had a heart for children with special needs. Some had experience – in school systems or in healthcare. Others simply wanted to love at a higher level.

These volunteers were on call to be a “buddy” should the need arise. When parents came with their child, they would be assured that we would love to care for their child that day. We explained our buddy system to them and introduced the buddy to the child. We asked the parents all about their child – likes and dislikes, things that upset them, and ways to soothe them. We showed them the age-appropriate classroom where their child would be included, and then gently reassured them that if their child needed time away from that environment, we would take them into the hallway (a safe and secure area that was closed off from the rest of the church.)

That’s where I found our Children’s Director that Easter Sunday. Loving on a little boy with all her heart.

Is the system perfect? Nope.

But we didn’t let the desire for perfection or lack of specialized training or equipment keep us from taking the first step. We chose to start where we are.

Don’t let the desire for perfection keep you from taking the first step in caring for children with special needs.

Do you know what happened?

That little boy’s family began a relationship with Christ that day. I still see his perfect smiling face most Sundays, when he’s well enough to come with his family. Countless other families since then have come and experienced our love for their child who happens to have some special needs and is made in the image of God.

A few weeks ago, we celebrated the opening of our new kids’ expansion at our church.

Guess what we have now?

A whole room dedicated to kids with special needs and sensory issues, mostly due to the passion our Children’s Director has for loving every child.

Start where you are.

Be faithful.

And watch what God does in your ministry.

Matthew 25:21 – The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ 

The post Special Needs – Start Where You Are appeared first on Ministry Architects.

We have less than 30 days left to accomplish our goals for the year. We have an incredible opportunity to impact lives for God. It’s a season of nostalgia and traditions and joy.

Joy.

We associate it with the holiday season. It’s displayed on ornaments and signs and shirts and on our social media posts. But can I be really honest with you for a minute?

I’m struggling with finding joy.

I know I should have it… I should exude it.

In my head, I know this is the most wonderful time of the year. In ministry we get to remind people about God’s Son and His love for us. We get to introduce people to Him who may have never met Him before. We are supposed to slow down and smell the pine-scented candles and marvel in His presence in our lives.

But sometimes ministry pulls me away from joy instead of toward it.

Yikes.

Ministry is messy… and at Christmas time, it’s busy, and intense, and sometimes very sad. We work hard to create incredible experiences for our children or youth or congregations. We visit and call and write to those who may not come to church any other time of the year. We minister to those who are facing a holiday with a loved one absent.

Suddenly I find myself overwhelmed and tired and with no joy.

I want joy – true joy, not just a smiling façade with an empty heart.

So how do I get there?

Find joy in the past.

The greatest way to know what God is going to do in the future is to remember what He has done in the past.

Take time to remember how God has brought you joy in past holiday seasons. Think back over the past year and celebrate what He has done in your life and in your ministry. Give thanks for how He has shown Himself.

Recognize joy in the present.

Joy is like love… it’s more of a choice than a feeling. Despite your circumstances, God desires to fill you with His joy. Joy is a fruit of the spirit –which means we were never meant to produce it ourselves. We are meant to recognize it comes from God.

Seek joy in the future.

Every day of this season, I pray that you will seek joy for your future. Set yourself up for success by spending time with God and His Word. When we are filled with Him, we will be filled with joy.

If you’re struggling this Christmas season, you’re not alone. And you know what? It’s ok not to be ok – it’s just not ok to stay that way.

Find your joy.

The post Finding Joy appeared first on Ministry Architects.

It can be easy to get overwhelmed with all of the platforms and options available today. Figure out which two or three platforms are the best for your ministry. In our experience, Facebook and Instagram are two of the best for engaging with families.

Once you have chosen your platforms, you may still find yourself staring at your computer or phone screen, fingers poised to type, but mind blank.  We are here to help!

Here are seven things that parents are looking for from your social media:

Help me see what my kids are doing. 

Almost all parents ask their kids the same question in the car on the way home from church. “How was church? Did you have fun?” And kids often give vague answers like “Good.” It can be difficult for parents to really know what’s going on in your ministry! Help them “see” by posting pictures of their kids in action. Take a picture of them worshipping, or doing an activity, or listening attentively to the Bible Story. You can even reference the Bible Story and let them know where they can go in their own Bible to read it again with their kids!

Be a resource for me.

Help your parents by posting things like which local restaurants they can take their kids to eat for free after church on Sundays, or boredom-buster ideas, rainy-day ideas, etc. Promote community events as well as your church-wide events.

Interact with me.

Post some questions that parents can ask their children around the dinner table or while they are in the car together. Then ask parents to share how their kids replied! You can get some very funny, or some very poignant interaction this way.

Don’t overload me. 

You want to give enough information, but not so much that parents are overwhelmed. Don’t cross-link accounts so that what you post on Instagram also posts to your Facebook account. You can post about the same material, but present it different ways.

But remind me frequently.

If there is an event coming up, post about it multiple times. The day of the event is a nice reminder, but make sure that’s not the only time they hear about the event.

Create Facebook events and invite me.

If you have a fun event coming up in your ministry, create a Facebook event that parents can share with their friends. Sometimes inviting people to church is hard and scary, and this makes it easier!

Make me laugh.

Life is stressful. Posting funny pictures and videos helps people de-stress, and parents can have a great laugh with their kids!

So, flex those fingers and get ready to post about your ministry! When you do, you’ll be creating a connection point that may play a part in lives being changed for eternity.

The post Seven Tips for Connecting with Families Using Social Media appeared first on Ministry Architects.

Have you ever found yourself discouraged in ministry?

If you’ve been serving in ministry for more than eleven days, I’m going to guess that your answer is “yes”!

I hit an all-time low several years ago. The church was growing, and we had just opened a new facility, but volunteers were starting to get burned out. Things seemed to be spinning faster and faster, and I couldn’t keep up. I had to ask a volunteer to step down from a leadership position, parents were frustrated with some of the changes happening, and I found myself resenting the very children God had called me to serve. Somewhere along the way, doing the work of God stole my heart for God, and I wasn’t quite sure how to get it back.

God was gracious, and he gently but firmly pulled me back to himself over time. But that experience prompted the question – how do we lead in our ministries without losing heart? Pastors Jason Isaacs and Jeremy Isaacs address that very question in their book Toxic Soul. It’s no surprise that we will face difficulty in ministry. Learning how to process those struggles and difficulties is what will keep our souls from becoming toxic in the process.

It’s ok not to be ok, but it’s not ok to stay that way.

When you find yourself frustrated with the results of your ministry, challenge yourself to find a different way to measure success. Instead of comparing your attendance with the church down the street, start taking note of how many youth are connecting with a loving, caring adult from your congregation each week. If your classrooms aren’t as full as you want them to be, challenge the volunteers serving in those rooms to begin praying specifically for the opportunity to increase their influence. Reframe how you define success, and your eyes may be opened to incredible works of God in the process.

If the realities of ministry start wearing you down, step back and take a look at God’s model for ministry. He didn’t ask Moses to lead the Israelites all alone. He didn’t even ask Jesus to work alone! Instead, both men invited others to be a part of what God was doing in their communities. Develop and pour into the people surrounding you, who desperately want to be used by God through your ministry.

How often do you panic about a current need because you forgot about the miraculous faithfulness of God in the past?  (Toxic Soul, p. 121)

Sometimes the weight of our current needs blind us to our God’s provision. Your need may be financial, or it may come in the form of manpower. When you find yourself starting to worry and stress (every Saturday night?!), take a few moments and deliberately look back at the times God met your needs in the past.

It’s easy to resent the places that you’re stuck, but what if you choose to worship instead of whine?  (Toxic Soul, pg. 27)

It’s difficult to be anxious and worried when you are celebrating. Think about that! The last time you were at a graduation party or birthday, were you discouraged? Or did choosing to focus on the celebration shift your perspective? Celebrating is FUN. My pastor had a birthday recently, and the staff celebrated by playing balloon piñata, eating cupcakes, and singing him “Happy Birthday” after sucking helium out of the balloons decorating the room. When we take time to intentionally celebrate and have fun in ministry, we find we are energized instead of losing heart.

Last, but certainly not least, always, always seek to surround yourself with truth. Surround yourself with people who will speak truth into your life. But even more importantly, surround yourself with God’s truth. His truth about who you are, how much he loves you, and how he wants to work in and through your life.

I have told you all this so you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.   John 16:33

Take heart, my friends.

The post Take Heart appeared first on Ministry Architects.

And one standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer; three is even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.  Ecclesiastes 4:12

This passage makes me smile when I think about it in the context of children’s ministry.  Have you ever been the only volunteer in the room for just a moment?  It’s pretty easy to get attacked and defeated by a few rambunctious preschoolers, or a set of sly fourth grade boys!  Of course, for safety purposes, we know that it is never okay to be alone with a group of children – for their safety and for your own.  But back to the passage…

Two volunteers could stand back-to-back and conquer…

But THREE volunteers – well, you won’t be easily broken!

Yes, I know that may stretch things a bit from the original meaning of the passage, but think about it:

• When you try to do ministry alone, you will end up feeling attacked and defeated. God did not create us to be alone – in any context. He created us to be in relationship with others, and more importantly in relationship with Him.  That means that doing everything yourself and in your own strength doesn’t make you a hero – it makes you ineffective.

• When you know someone is with you, you’re confident they have your back. There’s a difference between someone being for you and someone being with  you. When someone is for you, they may agree with your vision and efforts and generally accept what you are doing.  But when someone is with you, they put skin in the game.  They come alongside and help carry the burdens you are carrying, and push toward the goal right next to you.

When someone is with you in ministry, they are not simply standing on the sidelines agreeing that your ministry is worthwhile.  They are leveraging their knowledge, skills and effort to making sure the ministry thrives.  You have someone to celebrate the wins with and grieve the losses with.

• None of this would be possible without God at the center of our ministries. None of it.  He is the center of our three-strand cord.  He is the reason that we are not broken. He gives us the strength and passion to minister, and to thrive.

Look around you.

Are you alone?

If volunteers and supporters surround you, then take a moment to thank God for them.

If you are alone, choose to make today the last day that you are.  Ask for help.  Look for a mentor.  And spend time with our marvelous Creator who never intended for you to stand alone.

The post Don’t Stand Alone appeared first on Ministry Architects.