12 keys to transforming your children's ministry

12 Keys to Transforming Your Children’s Ministry

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) “Do not conform any longer to the

pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:1-2 (NLT) “Don’t copy the behavior and

customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way your think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.”

Key #1• Begin with Prayer

Charles Spurgeon “Every real teacher’s power must

come from on high. If you never enter your closet and shut the door, if you never plead at the mercy seat for your child, how can you expect that God will honor you in its conversion?”

Stanley Grenz “Moral revival in a nation begins

with the willingness of God’s people to seek the face of God in prayer. God is the author of renewal, but in this task God wills the cooperation of human instruments, especially in prayer.”

Dick Gruber “This aspect of ministerial life is

more important than learning to operate a puppet or give an altar call.”

Why spend time in prayer?

1. The more time we spend with someone, the better acquainted we become

2. Extended time in prayer affords you ample opportunity for personal renewal and reflection

3. It will allow greater time of intercession for others

4. It offers deeper preparation for service

Stanley Grenz “The greatest thing anyone can do

for God and for man is to pray. It is not the only thing. It is the chief thing.”

A few important steps…• Elicit people to pray regularly for

you and your CM• Make prayer the cornerstone of

every event, activity, & meeting• Pray for the ministry; for one

another

Key #2• Write down your vision

Paul “So then, King Agrippa, I was not

disobedient to the vision from heaven.” – Acts 26:19

Andy Stanley “People who follow us are exactly

where we have led them.” “When leaders are no longer willing

to dream, it is only a matter of time before followers are unwilling to follow. So dream! Dream big. Dream often.”

Why write down a vision?

• Selling a vision is much easier when key lay people own it

• People will buy into a specific vision• A vision is an embarkation point to

future success. This is the start of something big.

• We must have clear goals if we are to lead others

• New life in ministry is generated by vision

Key #3• Build relationships – put people first

General Norman Schwarzkopf

“I have seen competent leaders who stood in front of a platoon and all they saw was a platoon. But great leaders stand in front of a platoon and see it as 44 individuals, each of whom has aspirations, each of whom wants to live, each of whom wants to do good.”

Maxwell’s Law of Connection

• Leaders touch a heart before they ask for a hand

Key #4• Share your vision

Vision…a To-do List• Share it• Simplify it• Say it• Show it• Sell it• Speak it

“IMPACT” Example• Introduce children to the gospel• Minister to their needs• Pray for them, that they will• Accept Christ as Savior• Connect them with other

Christians, and • Train them for a life-long

relationship with Jesus Christ

Key #5• Keep your head up

Henry Ford

Key #6• Start making lists

Things to List…• Your goals• Things needing your attention• Your praise reports• Your prayer requests• Your needs Your dreams• …anything that’s important that

you will want to come back and review again or act upon in the future

Key #7• Be clear on paper

Why communicate in writing?

1. Record of communication2. Replication of the communication3. Multiple was of communicating

are better than one

Key #8• Prioritize, Divide, & Conquer

Robert Louis Stevenson “Don’t judge each day by the

harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.”

Key #9• Be real

Be Real…• with yourself• with your expectations• with your workload• with the time you spend• with others

Key #10• Build teams – equip & empower

Ephesians 4:11-12• “It was he who gave some to be

apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”

2 Realizations…1. You can’t do everything yourself2. Others may do it better than you

Quick Tips for Building Teams

• Seek to remove all barriers to people serving in ministry

• Allow people ownership of ministry• Allow people the opportunity to fail

in order to succeed

Jim Wideman “There is no success without a successor.”

Key #11• Be a good steward

Jerry Strandquist “Leave it better than you found it.”

Max Dupree “Succession is one of the key responsibilities of leadership.”

John Maxwell “Success comes when a leader

empowers followers to do great things with him. Significance comes when he develops leaders to do great things for him. But legacy is created when a person puts his organization into a position to do great things without him.”

Key #12• Commit for the long haul

What’sthe

Step?Next

What’s preventing you from taking the next step?