Leadership matters in your ministry. In fact, your ministry will only rise to the level that you and your leadership team can take it.
Think about that statement for a moment. It has possible implications for both expanding your ministry beyond it’s current state, but also for limiting your ministry to little more than it is now. Leadership will raise your ministry, or lower it.
In either case, it’s true. If you are a high capacity leader who can develop high capacity leaders, your ministry has far greater potential than if you are a leader who is not growing, or are surrounded by others who do not wish to grow.
Your ministry will only rise to the level that you and your leadership team can take it. #KidMin #FamMin Click To Tweet
If you want to know what high capacity, growing leadership looks like and how to become one, check out these articles:
- 18 Ways to Be a Better Children’s Ministry Leader in 2018
- Six Personal Leadership Habits That Will Ignite Your Ministry
- 10 Phrases to Describe the Most Effective Children’s Ministry Leaders
But what about your team? How do you develop a high capacity leadership team? Whether it’s staff or volunteers, a developing a high capacity starts by identifying high capacity leaders. At Ravenscroft, a PreK-12 Independent School in Raleigh, they identify high capacity leaders in children, and are passinate in believing that leadership can be taught, amongst many other opportunities they give students. Nevertheless, here are a few thoughts on essential traits to look for in potential leaders.
5 Essential Qualities You Want in Every Member of Your Leadership Team
Character
- You cannot give away what you do not yourself possess!
- Our kids are watching the leaders & teachers in our churches – what they are will show through sooner or later.
- Character is the inner person, is responsible, adds value to the team & to individuals, commands respect, & follows through on commitment.
Our kids are watching the leaders & teachers in our churches – what they are will show through sooner or later. #KidMin #FamMin Click To Tweet
Commitment
- Commitment is a necessary ingredient to quality relationships, which is a necessary ingredient to effective Children’s Ministry.
- Commitment is a quality greatly sought after and highly valued by today’s kids.
- Commitment is following through regardless of change in circumstances, difficulty of the challenge, or lack of response by those invested in.
Connection
- The ability to connect with kids is natural in some, learned in others, but stems from the same basic skills & beliefs – value of the child, willingness to give of oneself on the child’s level, and an understanding of that child.
- Connection seeks to encourage others in matters of importance.
You can connect with people and lead them only if you value them. John Maxwell #KidMin #FamMin Click To Tweet
Communication
- Communication happens best when words are backed up by actions.
- Effective communication in Children’s Ministry is essential to the teaching process.
- Communication can be learned and improved by anyone committed to the process.
Creativity
- Creativity CAN be learned.
- Creativity leads to attractiveness – of the program, of the message, of the person.
- Creativity lends itself to opportunity – for fun, for seizing the teachable moment, for making an impact on another’s life.
What would you add as an essential quality for a
Children’s Ministry Leadership team member?
(please share in comments below)
I serve as the Vice President of Global Resources in the Global Mission department at David C. Cook.
I love what I do as it is the outflow of 25 years of ministry experience as Children’s, Family & Administrative Pastor, consultant, trainer, speaker and short-term missions leader.
