How To Bring Joy Into Your Ministry

It was just before 5am and my oldest son was wide awake. The anticipation of Christmas was way too much. In fact it was so much that going to sleep felt like an impossible task. When we have that much excitement the ability to sit still can feel daunting.

Imagine having that type of anticipation and excitement towards your ministry. I’m willing to bet you’ve had those moments. Maybe it was anticipating a conference you were about to attend. Maybe you were excited about a talk you were going to give, or a former student you were about to see again. You love those moments because that’s when you experience God’s joy.

Unfortunately, our joy gets tested and our anticipation goes from hope to reluctance. And if it’s not addressed it can burn us out. While ministry isn’t always easy the way you can bring joy back into it is by:

CARING FOR YOURSELF FIRST

You can’t lead when your tank is on empty. As a leader you need to make sure that you are constantly asking, “How’s my souls, mind and strength?” That means:

• Looking at how much time we are spending investing in our personal relationship with God
• Investing in professional development through conferences, courses and coaching
• Embracing a healthy diet and being physically active

To get that done is going to require putting it into your schedule. Write it down and have people ask you about your commitment to yourself. The more you can care for yourself the more you can care for others.

INVESTING IN THOSE AROUND YOU

One of the reasons we get through the juggernaut of ministry is because of the volunteers that surround us. Especially, when those volunteers are like a team. It means not carrying all the responsibility and never having to face challenges on your own.

But, to keep that team together you need to invest in them personally and professionally. Let them know that their sacrifice matters by writing them notes and buying them a little gift. Show them that their development as a leader matters by sharing with them the resources that have helped you grow.

The more you pour into your team the stronger they will be. They’ll come to the ministry with joy because they know they are cared for and given purpose. And that joy will remind you that God has you right where you need to be.

COLLABORATING WITH LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE

Have you ever wondered, “Am I the only one who is dealing with this?” Have you ever looked at another church’s ministry with a little bit of jealousy because it looks like they are ROCKING IT? Have you ever found yourself feeling alone in ministry?

When we find ourselves feeling alone or comparing ourselves to other ministries we can feel our joy disappear. The way to combat that is through collaboration with other church workers. Without a community of like-minded leaders it’s easy to let the voice of the evil one creep in and destroy your joy. That’s why you need to reach out to the local churches and invite them out for a bite to eat, or a cup of coffee. Get to know them personally before you talk shop. Share your stories and your ministries and you’ll realize that you are not alone.

That’s why we created the Marathon Youth Ministry Huddle. It’s through the Huddle where you work on specific areas of ministry like small groups, Confirmation preparation and volunteers with like minded youth workers who want to see you succeed. To join the MYM Huddle click HERE.

Loving God, and loving others through ministry should be and can be filled with joy. It brings fulfillment to what we do and the endurance to lead for the long haul. And a joyful leader is one worth following.

How do you bring joy into your ministry?

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