Your influence as a leader will only ever be as large as your ability to communicate to those who are following you.

Here’s a few thoughts on clear communication:

1. Clear Communication Clarifies Expectations.

When there is no clarity of expectations the leader will find themselves constantly frustrated with team because of the huge difference between what they wanted to see happen and what actually happened. For example in order to run multiple services in my Children’s Ministry I have allocated leaders to oversee the team for each service, however if I do not clearly communicate what that role looks like then I am leaving the doors of frustration wide open and inviting misunderstanding to take residence in my relationship with my team.

2. Clear Communication Conveys Heart.

True servant leadership always has people and their bests interests at the fore front of every decision
that gets made. For example it is not right to ask a leader claritin online pharmacy to step up and sacrifice something else if the only reason you are asking them is because you want something from them, it also needs to be something that will be of benefit to them and their leadership. Having said that, if you are wanting to grow a leader then there will be times that you are going to be stretching them and in those times clear communication is vital so that they know your heart and that your heart is for them not simply trying to get a task done. A team member that knows your heart will always stick closer to you and be more of an asset.

3. Clear Communication is Created in Habit.

For me communicating heart comes easy but communicating detail does not. I order to ensure I am the communicator that I need to be I need to create a habit of communication or a structure if you like. For example in order to communicate to my key ministry oversights for my teams I have a key team meeting at a set time where we all get together and I have the opportunity to communicate, on top of this I create a weekly booklet with all the info they need to know to run their services. To communicate to my broader team we do a 5 minute training video weekly that includes all the information they need to know about what is coming up and how it effects them. These are just some of the ways that I need to make communication a habit in order to keep it clear.

To save you some time I have included this week a few of my favourite decision messages. Please claritin on sale remember that these are just simple illustrations to give you ideas, children still need God’s Word as well as illustrations and a message needs to be based in the Word not just based on a nice concept.

Flash Paper:

For this message I talk about how we have all sinned and our sin seperates us from God. I take a piece of flash paper (Piece of paper that can be purchased from most illusion shops that when lit on fire burns really quickly and leaves no residue – see link to the place I get it from) and discuss with the crowd what sin is. As they give you examples of sin write them on the flash paper.

Read psalm 103:2 ‘As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us’.

Take the flash paper in one hand and a lighter in the other, explain how when we ask Jesus into our lives he takes our sin and makes it as through it were never there. Light the flash paper and throw it in the air burning (Note: it takes practie to master this so please try this before you do it in front of kids or risk burning the front row!)

Human Wordless Book:

This is an adaption of the standard wordless book in which colours tell the Gospel. In this variety though you wear different coloured shirts to tell your message. Note: The final colour you wish to talk about must be put on first as it will be the last to be revealed.

Black – Represents the wrong doing or sin in our life that separates us from God. Rom 3:23

Red – Represents the blood of Jesus who died on the cross and took the punishment for our wrong doing or sin. Rom 5:8; John 3:16

White – The white bead tells us that when someone becomes a Christian through accepting Jesus into their life, their sin is washed away and they are clean before God. Rom 10:9; 1 John 1:9

Green – Green is the colour for growth as in plantsand grass. It reminds us that we should grow as Christians by praying, reading God’s Word, going to Church and telling others about Him. 2 Peter 1:2

Gold – Gold speaks of Heaven, the place God has prepared for those who love and follow Him. The Bible says the streets are made of Gold in Heaven. John 14:2

When you have finished talking about the black shirt / jacket then remove it to show the next colour and so on.

Go preach and have FUN!

This week one of my AMAZING leaders Kieran Short, who’s role is to action these thoughts, started emailing the entire key team from his age group  (only 6 or 7 people) with what came through on these forms and what changes we are making to improve this.  The brilliant thing is even if it isn’t the right time to action an idea the person who presented it still feels like it was valued enough to be considered.  Also when, like most thoughts, they are outworked, the team leader who suggested it immediately feels valued and empowered to take OUR ministry forward.  It gives them ownership and I promise you they will only step up as leaders because of it.

Now, does this mean you, as the leader, have to spend your time running around fixing the problems your claritin generics team raise?  No, of course not! If it is not the right timing then be strong and tell the team where you ARE going, but it places value on them for having the idea in the first place and empowers all your key team to action the outworking of the plan.

Thus ends the lesson.

I don’t know about you but early on in my time as a Children’s Pastor I began to feel like I couldn’t do it all. I can’t be claritin generic expected to run a program for every service and event that happens in the life of the church, be responsible for the creative design of the stages and rooms, be held accountable for growth in our families attendance, look after the pastoring and discipleship of our kids, oversee the curriculum and teaching of our children as well as countless other things and if I am expected to do all that then don’t ask me why I cant get more leaders because I don’t even have time to speak to the team I have let alone time to recruit others.

Very soon I came to the vast conclusion that I CAN’T DO THIS ON MY OWN. Yes I need Jesus but like Jethro advised Moses in Exodus 18, I also need others alongside me.

Key Point: The leader does not have to do everything, but they have to ensure everything gets done!

At Hillsong Kids the way we ensure everything gets done is through our Key Team’s. Your Key Team are those few leaders that help you make everything function in your children’s ministry. They are not always the people with the most time of their hands but are those with the capacity to take areas of oversight for you and run with it as their own. Once you have established your key team then much of your time needs to go into ensuring they are equipped to do what you have asked them to do. My goal is to build a key team leader over every area of ministry so that my role as the children’s pastor is to do what only I can do and take the ministry forward.

Key Point: Try to have 1 or 2 young (not quite ready) leaders in your key team so that you are developing them to take over any role that is required when they are ready.

HOW TO LEAD A KEY TEAM
1. Key Team Meetings

These are regular meeting with all of your key team together in the one place. These meetings work best when they are regular so can be scheduled in, do not go for too long and are at a consistent location. For me I have breakfast with my team once every 2 weeks (unless my Senior Pastor has a leadership night on in that time block, big picture church comes first!)
2. One on One Meetings
3 John 1:2 reads ‘Dear friends, I pray that you may be in good health and that all may go well with you even as your soul is getting along well.’ Your Key Team is the soul of your ministry and if they are passionate, in love with Jesus and keen to build with you then I believe your entire team will be healthy. In one on one meetings you can focus on how they are doing, challenge on areas specific to them and motivate them in the way they need it. Remember these do not always have to be face to face and can be done via a phone call every now and then.
3. Weekend Booklets
A weekend booklet is simply a document that gives your key team all the information that they need to know in order to lead their area of ministry. It may include information on the curriculum you are teaching, preaching roster, leadership training for the leaders on their teams, feedback forms to let you know how there area is going (this also serves as the basis for your next one on one meeting), upcoming events, and whatever you feel they need to be empowered to lead their area. Part of your role as leader is to be the chief communicator.

Be blessed and remember Eph 4:12 says our role is to’equip the Saints for the work of the ministry’ not to do all the work of the ministry ourselves. Build team and be set to do more then you could ever do on your own!

Most new leaders when they first start leading a small group want all the children to like them and thus struggle to set clear boundaries for the group. Leaders don’t want to be the one that all the kids say is the grumpy leader so instead of setting boundaries they allow the children to run riot. This is not the way we are meant to lead!

Over the years I have discovered that the opposite is true, children look up to and respect those who set clear boundaries. They actually like the leader that is firm more than they do the soft leader who let’s them run riot but only if ONE VITAL ingredient claritin 100 mg is included…LOVE.

It’s no good being the leader that sets boundaries if you aren’t also the leader that tells them they are a champion, asks them about their sport match and prays with them. If you couple setting firm boundaries with lots of affirmation than every boy will love you and you will lead a controlled group also!

The message was based on Proverbs 29:18 – Where there is no vision, the people perish but rather then just speak on the need for vision we took it further into the how to of casting vision.

The most frequently asked questions I get in regard to Children Ministry is “How do I recruit new volunteers” and “how do I raise up leaders to carry the ministry in a greater capacity”. If either of these are your questions then I’m telling you that adopting a simple vision casting strategy will help solve much of the problems you face in this area. People want to be part of something bigger then themselves, so if you can cast the vision for your church and how your area plays a part in that, not just retell what your Pastor has said to motivate you but actually own it to the point where you are actually casting it as your vision then it will provide people with an opportunity to make a difference with their life! If people feel they will make a difference then you have solved much of the problems we face such as motivating leaders, getting them to recruit for us, getting them to grow in their involvement. Cast the vision don’t just tell it.

Three areas you need to include in casting:

1. Tell the ‘YOU’ story within the vision

When sharing the vision with potential leaders or those you are wanting to see step up make sure you personalize the vision. Share the impact it has had on your life personally, how you are adding to the big picture, how ministry is helping you fulfill your call in life, how the church has helped you.

2. Explain the possibilities if the vision

When casting vision you need them to ‘IMAGINE’ what life would be like if the vision was achieved. Imagine if every person who calls themselves a Christian actually stepped out of their comfort zone and lived like one. Imagine if every leader actually went out of their way to welcome every single new person. Imagine if…when you get people to imagine the thing you are trying to get them to step into then they begin to see the need for it and are compelled to be part of the answer. Outlining possibilities helps them to see inside your head and dream with you!

3. Outline what needs to happen

Once you have got people realizing that where we are currently at is not where we intend to stay you need to mobilize them by outlining strategies how to get to the vision. People don’t expect you to have all the answers but if you show them that the river is flowing then they are more likely to jump in then if it is a still stagnant pond. You have more grace also as a leader if you are trying to get something happening then if you are just bend on criticizing what isn’t working.

So there is the beginning of Vision Casting…next 2 weeks will be part 2 and 3 but here’s a quick summary to wet the appetite:

Part 2 – Winning people to the vision. In order to mobilize people you must first capture them. Part 1 included what to include in vision casting but this week will build on that and establish areas of a persons life that we need to speak to in order to win them to the vision.

Part 3 – Communication of the vision. It isnt enough to just have a vision in your heart nut you need to be able to pass it on and communicate it in all different settings and forms. This post will explain what settings you need to master and the how to of casting vision in each setting.

Until then be blessed and I pray you grow as a leader this week!

Nath

Check out more in this blog from citalopram without prescription Sam Luce

http://uptownkids.tv/wordpress/

Presentation – Smile to parent and reassure them that you have got the situation under control even if the child is kicking and screaming. Get down on child’s level and speak to them in a reassuring voice. Do all you can to come across well to the child.

Distraction – Try your best to distract the child with a toy, playstation, bubbles, a walk outside, whatever you can use. If you can distract them long enough to get them to forget why they are upset they may just settle.

Play – Once you have got the child distracted then continue to play with them as when you leave they may just do the same thing and loose it again. Make them your little helper for the day and focus on them.

Reassess and Reassure – If after a while they haven’t settled then reassess the situation and if needed get the career to come and help. If they are doing fine then continue to reassure them tat you are a legend!

If all else fails pass them on to someone else as it may just be you they don’t like!