I had just gotten back from my honeymoon, and as I sat down with my leaders, I could tell something had gone wrong. I had been away for three weekends, which meant three nights of middle and high school ministry. They sheepishly said, “Chris, it was a mess. We didn’t plan enough, and it wasn’t clear what needed to be done.”
I apologized to them for not leaving them with better instructions. Fortunately, it had not soured their experience to a point where they quit. Instead, it taught us a lesson and revealed that our ministry had a few holes. Over the next few years, we would work hard to build something more sustainable. And when it came time for me to leave my position, a culture of sustainability kept the ministry going until the next leader stepped into the role.
When it comes to building a sustainable ministry it’s important to be adaptable and flexible because being:
ADAPTABLE means knowing thaare t what works has a shelf life. Over my tenure, in ministry, I’ve gone through various programs, curriculums, and structures. Some work for a few years,while others shorter th. A great example is whatlettingthrough the pandemic. Many of us quickly learned that virtual ministry was great for a few weeks, but then lost its fun quickly.
FLEXIBLE means being willing to let go of control and allowing others to take the lead. A flexible ministry is allows different perspectives, and strategies. If I wanted to grow the ministry, I oversaw I had to be okay with letting other people teach in a way that I did not and I had to allow others to develop systems that I did not create. When you are flexible, you allow room for growth.
If you want your ministry to be flexible and adaptable, then it all starts with you. As a leader you have to take a look yourself in the mirror and wonder, “Am I standing in the way of this ministry growing?” That can happen if:
When dealing with success, it’s hard to make adjustments. No one likes to be uncomfortable, but change brings plenty of discomforts. When you’ve been in your position too long, it’s not a sign that you have to leave or blow the entire program up to start over. If you’ve been in your position for a long time start by looking at your formation. Where do you need to grow spiritually, intellectually, humanely, or pastorally?
You’ll learn what needs to change and how to approach it through your formation. A growing leader is one who knows how to adapt and stay flexible because they are attuned to God’s plan. Make sure you don’t grow stale by settling on one style of leadership.
You are not perfect. It’s a truth we all know, but one that we can take too far. Instead of embracing our weaknesses and addressing them properly, we’ll try to hide them. Instead of looking for people or resources to help us grow, we’ll dismiss or ignore them. I’ve met plenty of leaders who will never recruit volunteers because they fear rejection. There are leaders who won’t connect with parents because they feel inferior and leaders who struggle with coworkers because their educational aptitude is not equal.
The insecurities we feel as leaders are the voices of the evil one. God has placed you where He wants you and is giving you the skillset and resources to fulfill your purpose. And anything you don’t have, He will provide. If you struggle with insecurity finding a coach, spiritual director, mentor or therapist can help you grow your confidence.
On day one of your job, you need to think of who will succeed you in your position. I know that’s weird, but it’s a healthy way of being future-focused. Your position is under your stewardship, not something you own. If you look at what you do as something you’ll do forever, its sustainability will rise and fall with your presence.
To invest in your replacement means constantly inviting others to serve, create and lead alongside you. Spend your time mentoring other leaders, giving them responsibility and encouraging them to do the same. When we invest in our replacement, we guarantee the ministry a future.
Want a sustainable ministry, then start thinking strategically, invest in your formation, and don’t be afraid to let go. God has called you to do something great, and you have the ability to get it done. If you are ever looking for support, check out our coaching, cohort, and membership resources.