Tag Archive - teaching

Making it Easy To Leave

May 20, 2009 in Ministry with 2 Comments

This week I’m reposting some thoughts I had around this same time last year.  I’m really hoping I can get some comments, and would love to hear if anything resonates with you:

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Yesterday I asked the question:
First Question: How do I get current volunteers to recruit their own replacements?

I got moderate response to the question, but I’d love more. Today I’d like to tackle an issue that I see constantly amongst my volunteer workforce.

Second Question: How do I make it easy for people to leave my ministry?

Let me explain. I don’t want my volunteers to leave. I love and appreciate their time investment in my area of service. But at the same time I don’t want them to feel like working with me is a death sentence. There are other things in the church, or outside the church for that matter, that people might find fulfilling. There I said it. It’s true. What they do for me, or my area of ministry, isn’t the most important thing in the entire world. So how do I consistently make people feel like they could comfortably leave if they felt called to something else?

I think the biggest factor to creating this kind of environment, is to encourage participation in other areas of the church. I also go to great lengths to praise other areas, and celebrate success in other areas of the church. I also think that just having a healthy environment for my workers to exist in will eliminate the bondage to my ministry.

I have spoken with a family recently that feels held hostage to the class they teach. They aren’t happy with what they do, but feel that if they leave the class will only get worse. They’ve been tricked into believing that they can’t leave. Changes will be made soon, whether they like it or not.

Let the comments fly!

Volunteers that Replace Themselves

May 18, 2009 in Ministry with 8 Comments

This week I’m reposting some thoughts I had around this same time last year.  I’m really hoping I can get some comments, and would love to hear if anything resonates with you:

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I’ve been experiencing a difficult season in regards to getting those involved in serving. It’s always a challenge in church ministry, and specifically Children’s ministry to get people involved in serving. I mean ALWAYS a challenge. Even when people are getting plugged in to the ministry in big numbers, I could always use a few dozen more. It’s the nature of the beast.

However, this past month I’ve seen an exodus of volunteers. Most of them for perfectly decent reasons, and I’ve celebrated their leaving with style, class, and grace. It’s just that I haven’t seen the replacements come in the timing I would prefer. In the spirit of this challenge I would like to get some opinions from these great readers of mine. For the next few days I’ll throw out a question and see how much knowledge (or lack thereof) I can gain.

First Question: How do I get current volunteers to recruit their own replacements?

I have always strived to make my leaders take ownership in the areas that they serve. I figure that they know their class/area/age group better than I do in most cases, and their opinion is of high value to me as the leader. When someone approaches me about leaving, moving on, or transitioning to a different area of service the first thing I say (after thanking them for their bravery) to them is, “Do you have anyone who has been working alongside you that may be able to step in and take over your class?” or, “Could you pass along some contact information for someone who might be interested in taking your place?” or “Better yet, could you contact someone who you think might make a great replacement for your class?”

I’m amazed sometimes at how a volunteer will invest a year of their life working with a collection of kids, and then leave with a customary 4 week notice; and never seem to give a thought to who will be taking their place. Isn’t this weird? Of course I know that I have a slanted perspective, being the department leader.

So again let me pose the question: How could I get current volunteers to recruit their own replacements?

I’m expecting some comments, let them fly! I’d love comments from those inside and outside of ‘church’ ministries. Give me some different perspectives!

Dear Parents

May 15, 2009 in Ministry with 5 Comments

This week I’m reposting some thoughts I had around this same time last year.  I’m really hoping I can get some comments, and would love to hear if anything resonates with you:

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I’ve had this rattling around in my brain for a few months now. I’m reluctant to post it, because I wouldn’t normally characterize myself as the embattled Children’s Pastor, who’s disgruntled at the parents in my church. I just take the kids they give me, and pray that the Holy Spirit can use some of what I do with them to make a positive impact where maybe there isn’t one currently being made. And this letter is not specifically addressed to any one parent, or the parents at any one church. It’s aimed at a wild collection of parents I’ve met over the years. I can honestly say that most parents I meet are wonderful servants of the Most High God. (Most, not all…)

Dear Parents,

Hi, I’m a pastor at the church you attend. Yep, that church. But I’m not your typical pastor. I’m a pastor to your children. It’s hard to define exactly what that means, but basically you could say that I work with the kids. Which in turn, means that I work with their families. Which you being in their family, means that I work with you. In fact, you could call me your pastor if you wanted to (or you could just call me Jonathan.)

I wanted to make you aware of a few things as it pertains to your kids’ Church Experience. So here goes.

  • You are invited to be a part of what is happening. I’ll need a background check, and I’ll get you a name badge; but after that you’re home free into the world of your kid’s church experience.
  • You never inconvenience me when you ask what’s going on in your kid’s areas. I love the questions. Yes, read that again…. You are free to question me about anything that you see or hear while in and/or around the children’s areas. I’d love some feedback, and I’d love to share what we’re exploring in the bible with you anytime. I’ll even buy you lunch and we can talk at length. I love talking about what’s happening in the lives of your children. I never tire of the questions, bring them on!
  • I am not in the business of childcare. True, I do provide care for your children while you attend church, but what my team and I do is so much more than that. From the people that change your newborns diapers up until they leave the 5th grade my team is pouring into their lives through teaching, prayer, and relationship. But you ask, How can you teach my 3 month old? Well, we don’t exactly teach them; as much as we prepare an environment that is coated in prayer for the future of your little one. Yep, we really do pray over your babies.
  • Please don’t ask me if your kid is “saved.” For goodness sake, ask them! We give your kids ample opportunities to receive Christ at church; but it’s always better if a parent walks them through those steps. If your confused about what that means, then I’ll make sure your saved; and then I’ll tell you how to talk to your kid about it. It’ll be great, just wait and see!
  • If your kid gets in trouble at church, then they really got in trouble. We do everything in our power to make church as fun, and as NOT like school as humanely possible. We give second and third chances to just about everyone; but as some point we have to protect the integrity of our areas and eliminate the presence of those children that choose to be a distraction. I have years of experience with this, and if you will just support what we’re trying to do then it won’t take but a few short weeks for your kid to step in line and never (or rarely) be a problem again. Did you read that? I need you to support what we do.
  • Be nice to my team. I know that getting kids ready for church on a Sunday Morning can be a challenge; and sometimes leads to bad feelings and ugly dispositions. (I do in fact have three of my very own.) But remember that those people standing at the door, checking in your kids, and giving of their time to serve your family are doing it for free. Just be nice to them. You can write me all the nasty emails you want on Monday morning, but try and be nice to these wonderful servants at your church.

Finally, I want you to know that I really do love your kids. Sometimes they can be difficult to love, but they are all lovable in their own unique way. Really! It’s true.

Sincerely,

Me

The Power of Imitation

May 4, 2009 in Bible, Ministry with 8 Comments

As both a Children’s pastor and father I have learned that all children possess the great ability to imitate those around them.  They’ll imitate the things they see and hear, and even imitate the things you think they haven’t seen or heard.  A month or so ago, my wife posted these pictures on her blog and I wanted to revisit them.

To set the scene, the boys and I were outside in the backyard playing a game of twirl.  It’s a simple game really.  I grab them by their hands or ankles and twirl them until I get sick.  They ask to do it again and again and again.

However, my daughter will have none of that action. She keeps a safe distance from me, and tells me over and over, “I do NOT want to do that Daddy!”  I’m a good Dad, so I let her be and eventually stumble into the house trying to figure out who is more wore out, me or the boys.

When I get inside, I find Lauryn doing this:

 

The great power of imitation at work.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he Gave…”

When I give I am simply imitating the one that gave that great and wonderful gift.  My gifts of service, money, or time don’t in any way compare to the great gift of God’s only son, Jesus; but they should be a reflection of His heart when He gave.  God gave to us because he loved us.  In our desire to imitate our father in heaven, we give because we love those around us, we give because we love God, and we give because he first loved us.  Giving in it’s very essence is much like my daughter spinning the bear in the living room.  The bear is much different that what I was doing, but in essence it is the very same thing.  What a great thought that my Heavenly Father set such a great example of giving for me.  As my daughter unashamedly twirls the bear in the living room, I pray and hope that I can be as great a mirror of what God has done for me.

{This is a little adaptation of something I did at Trinity Church on Sunday, April 19th.}

Give and Take

April 16, 2009 in Bible, Ministry with 0 Comments

jonathancliff_giving

Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

Romans 12:6-8 is the famous “Motivational Gifts” passage in scripture.  Paul lines up the 7 gifts that we all should have in some degree, with some being more natural to us than others.  Prophecy, Ministry (serving), Teaching, Exhortation, Giving, Leading, and Mercy.  Let me expose my sinful nature (aka: who I really am), and just say that I love to be around people that have the gift of Giving the most.  I love a good exhortation and teaching moment, but when push comes to shove I’d much rather have a friend that buys me lunch.  Is that really wrong?  Some of my best friends are givers. You know them, and probably have a great pool of givers in your life as well.  Here’s how to identify them: They’ll insist on buying lunch, they are the ones you send your kids to when they’re selling fundraiser junk, and they never ask for anything in return.  In fact, they get angered when you try and offer something in return.  What would we do without these wonderful people? 

But let me turn the questions on ourselves.  What if God was calling you to the gift of giving?  Do others desire your presence because they know that you GIVE more than you TAKE?  Are you inclined to give away what you have instead of listing it for sale on Craigslist as soon as you don’t want it anymore?  Let’s give God the time to speak to our hearts about what he may be leading us to give.  In fact, let’s pray that we all are blessed with the Gift of Giving!

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