The Business of Making Ministry Like a Family
We have something like 50 ministers in our student ministry (5th -12th grade), that’s a significant change from when I first started with 12...
It’s Okay Not To Be The Smartest
Christopher Wesley
Jul 25, 2018
My team looks to me for the direction our ministry should be heading. That’s why when they ask questions I want to make sure I have answers. But, there are always those moments when I have to simply respond, “I don’t know.” If I’m not feeling confident I can panic, shuffle for an answer and even develop one out of thin air.
While I might satisfy their need for an answer if it’s the wrong one it will not only misinform them but possibly give them a reason not to trust my leadership. As a leader, you don’t have to be perfect, and you don’t even have to have all the answers. So, instead of pretending to be a solid leader by:
COMMITTING TO LEARNING ON A REGULAR BASIS
There are so many ways to learn from podcasts, videos, webinar, seminar, workshops, conference, and books (To name a few). Leaders are learners and they are committed to sharpening their skill and opening their perspective.
To grow as a leader you want to commit to a time when you can regularly learn. I recommend daily designating 30 minutes to an hour of reading a book, watching educational videos or listening to a podcast.
Then tap into your diocese or community for workshops and training opportunities. Lastly, make sure you are attending at least one conference a year where you can learn new strategies and ideas from people in your field.
SURROUNDING YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE SMARTER THAN YOU
On my core leadership team, I have men and women who know things that continuously blow my mind. One of those people is Joanne who is a Six Sigma Black Belt (Not making it up, check it out here) and she advises me on management practices. There are people on my team who sharpen me spiritually, challenge me relationally and hold me accountable to growing.
It can be intimidating to sometimes talk with them, but I trust that they are there to bring the best out of me. In the end, it makes me a better leader and I know I have an arsenal of wisdom helping me be the best youth minister possible.
FOCUS ON HUMILITY
If you find yourself concerned about how people view your competency then it’s time to embrace humility. God picks imperfect people to do his ministry. In fact, it’s through our weaknesses where he lets other people step up.
If you don’t know how something can get done or how to get through a certain season, go to prayer, lean on God and He will give you what you need to endure. Humility will not only help you focus on what’s most important but remind you that you are not alone.
As a youth ministry coach, I love helping youth minister connect to new resources and opportunities to help them grow and that’s why I’m excited to announce my NEW and FREE WEBINAR called:
JUMP START YOUR MINISTRY THIS FALL
In this webinar, we’ll be looking at 4 BASIC STEPS that you and your coworkers can take to give your ministry that extra push this fall. All you have to do is sign up for a time that works for you.
Plus, if you REGISTER TODAY I’ll send you a 50% discount off of ALL DOWNLOADABLE MATERIALS in our MYM Store, but don’t wait because this offer only lasts until 11:59 pm PST on August 16th. And not only do I want you to join me for this webinar, but I want you to stay for the entire thing because we’re going to have some big giveaways at the end of it. To sign up just select the time that works best for you.
11 AM EST AUGUST 14TH, 2018 WEBINAR