3 Resolutions for your Church Ministry in 2019

 

January is only halfway over and most New Year’s Resolutions have already failed.

According to Jon Acuff in his book Finish: Give Yourself The Gift of Done, 92 percent of all New Year’s resolutions fail. Not because people don’t try to accomplish them, but because perfectionism stagnates growth and the resolution sputters to a halt.

Below are three simple resolutions to implement in your church ministry that are both achievable and significant.

Resolution #1 – Learn Something New About One Attendee Every Week. 

In children’s ministry this can be both easy to accomplish and forget.  However, committing to learn one new thing about a child each week can make a major impact. What video game are they into this month? Who do they want to be like when they get older? Why are corndogs their favorite meal? Simple questions allow you to connect with the individuals who are attending your ministry on a personal level and send the message that you care about them.

Resolution #2 – Make One Big Ask A Month

Big asks can be terrifying. Asking that volunteer to take on leadership responsibilities, inquiring with a parent if they would prep all the material for your ministry, calling a business to check if they would allow you to use their space for free. Yet scripture is clear that Christ has empowered us with the Holy Spirit which, as it says in 2 Timothy 1:7:

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1:7

Each month in 2019 make a big ask. The worse thing that could happen is for that person to decline and the best is beyond imagination.

Resolution #3 – Try One New Thing

It feels good to have a ministry that is running effectively and efficiently. The dangers of this happening is that stagnation can set in. Simply doing the same thing you did this year as in 2018 can be an easy way out. Instead, plan to try one new thing this year in your ministry. I don’t mean a little thing like serving tea instead of coffee. I mean something major. Change how your small group operates, host one major church event, build an interactive experience for kids. Shake things up and try one new thing.

Small change can make a major impact. You can’t lose twenty pounds in one week, but in the course of a year you can adjust your diet and exercise to accomplish your goal. Pick one of the resolutions above and start making small changes. In one year you will see the fruit of the small but important changes.

Let us know which Resolution above you picked or if you have a different New Year’s Resolution that is still going strong! Want help on resolution #3? Check out our blog post form last year about Five Ways To Create a Fun Kidmin Environment.

Exciting New Updates!

Over here at River’s Edge we have new and exciting things happening. After a long hiatus, River’s Edge is gearing up and getting ready to bring to you new content, ideas, and inspiration –Starting this upcoming week. Keep an eye on your email inboxes Monday. For those who are on the edge of their seats in excitement, we will give you a glimpse of what is to come. 

Creating not surviving.

This afternoon I picked up a book- one in a stack of books I’m hoping to read during my 52 books in one year challenge-The Artisan Soul by Erwin Raphael McManus. I’m only on page 7 and so far I love the book. I can’t say I recommend it yet- since, yeah, only on page 7. But pretty sure this is going to be a keeper.

I had a thought I had to share. Before the weekend services start and we launch into another time of doing what we do.

McManus says, “To deny our creative nature is to choose a life where we are less and thus responsible for less. We see ourselves as created beings, so we choose to survive. When we see ourselves as creative beings, we must instead create.”

I love this.

How many of us are just choosing to survive in kid’s ministry or as parents? We were created to do this so onward we go with the task. Trying to do it and survive.

What if instead of surviving we create? What if we look at this Sunday (or Sat night or whenever you have your big event) as an opportunity to CREATE an experience for kids? To CREATE an atmosphere where they will connect with Jesus and with each other? To CREATE a venue that is safe and fun. To CREATE memories that they will carry with them.

Each of us is a creative being. We can all create in some way. The way we help kids develop relationships. The new administrative skills we use. The eye-popping props or sets that grace the kid’s ministry area. The energetic dance steps and moves we celebrate with. The stories we weave into imaginative minds. Whatever it is that is your strength, use it to create this weekend.

My desktop on my mac says simply, “CREATE” as a daily reminder. I don’t want to forget that I’m made to create. I don’t want to just survive.

How are you creating a space for kids to connect with Jesus and to each other?