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.

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!

1. Intellect
The vision needs to engage peoples intellect in order for them to give themselves to it wholeheartedly. It cannot be some crazy, out there dream that doesn’t seem rationally possible. It needs to be something they can engage with, wrestle with in their mind and come up with strategies to get there. It needs to be presented in a savvy way that does make people think about where you are going and what they could do to help take you there. You can do this by leaving people wrestling the problem claritin 10 mg you are trying to solve though your vision.

2. Heart
Make it personal for people! Put a bit of emotion into it and help them feel for the vision. If you get their heart to be in it then you are setting them up to make it for the long haul. Heart is the thing that will inspire people to go beyond themselves to see a dream come to reality. Heart inspires people.

3. Feet
It must contain something that has action to it. In your vision try to make steps and plans for how you can see it become a reality. Put job descriptions in place so that people can easily see what they could do to help achieve the vision. Vision takes an idea of where you could be and makes it a reality, its the plans that bring your dreams to action.

Follow these and you are well on your way to establishing a team that will run with you and the vision of your church.

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

A quote can inspire you when you feel like giving up, bring hope when all hope seems lost and enable you to dig down inside yourself and find that extra something that is required to be the person who know you are called to be.

My favourite quote and the one I want to share with you today is this:

“Do today what others won’t, so you can do tomorrow what others can’t”

For some unknown reason God has always done things in my life quickly.

• Age 10 – I knew I was called to ministry
• Age 18 – I moved cla lowest price interstate to study at Hillsong International Leadership College
• Age 20 – I became a Pastor (This to me now seems insane as I only turned 20 one month before I came on staff, praise God for Senior Pastors who trust the next generation)
• Age 21 – Got married to the love of my life!
• Age 23 – Had our first little girl, Mikayla
• Now at 24 my wife and I are 3 months pregnant with our 2nd bundle of joy.

I know that many of you would be saying, “Wow, thats nice, I wish God would move along things in my life” but the reality is that when God blesses you by either giving you a wife or a position on staff or whatever it is, it will come with a new level of sacrifice.

For me, when I think about my life I know what I want it to look like in 20 years. I know God has called me to preach the gospel to the nations, Pastor many people, lead teams of leaders and grow His Church to the point where the world cannot ignore it. That’s big stuff which requires big sacrifice from me now.

Whenever I say no to a social event because it’s over the weekend, miss a sporting game due to church, have another night out because of a leadership training or whatever the sacrifice may be I know I can do it because in the long run if I do today what others wont, I can do tomorrow what others cant. I plan on living a big life and to do so will take sacrifice bigger then other but I know above all else that it is ALL WORTH IT!!!!

Tuesday’s from 10:30-11:15am would be my favourite meeting of the entire week. Its our staff meeting at our Church and is the time when we get to worship as a staff and also be challenge in leadership from, in my opinion, the greatest church leader on the planet my Senior Pastor. Its not always our Senior Pastor speaking but it is always a really practical, challenging message on leadership and culture when he does speak.

This week he brought a message on ‘Empowering Upwards’ and I want to share some of it with you. When it comes to the word empowering most of us, myself included, automatically think of the people in our world that we lead and empower to do all they can in life, we are empowering downwards. Our Pastor however challenged us as leaders to empower those above us by making their leadership of us simple.

Now, when it comes to Children’s Ministry, I know that we would never be the ones to complain about not getting enough budget or blame others such as youth for getting more focus. HA!!! We are the worst at it so don’t log off now but read on and be challenge…take on the attitude of my good mate (and boss) David Wakerley who always says “I am not here to build a great children’s ministry but rather to build a great church through the children’s ministry.” So here comes a few thoughts:

1. Put yourself in the shoes of your leader.

If you want to empower up then spend a moment thinking of what they want to see you achieve in the children’s ministry. Don’t work separate to your Senior Pastor but get in his shoes and see what you could do to make his life easier.

2. Picture the decisions that are being made above you

Sometimes we want our questions answered now but the reality is that often our leaders above us are dealing with bigger things then we could imagine so if we need to wait for them to tell us which artwork design they like best then so be it. Avoid pulling your leaders head down to the decisions that you are making when they should be soaring and trying to see vision for the future. You can be the one that releases them to soar!

3. Refuse to blame.

Be the sort of Children’s Pastor who doesn’t blame anything on anyone but rather sees it as your responsibility to do whatever it takes to help your leader take the church forward. If families need someone to inspire them to come to church, be that person. If you need more leaders, citalopram order dont wait for your pastor to announce it to the church, be the recruitment person. If you need more fun in your children’s ministry, be that person.

I think I shall leave it at that for now but I want you to feel the challenge like I did to re,ease those above you and look out for them as they are the Godly leaders you have been given!!!

The other night I was going for my run while listening to Hillsong United praise and worship. The music alone took my mind off the pain for the first 3 or 4km but as I came to the final 1km of my run the pain was building up and I had the urge to slow down to a slow jog…almost walk. At that moment something powerful happened that gave me a second strength. A man started jogging on the opposite side of the road to me but traveling in the same direction. Where my legs previously felt like jelly, they suddenly were revived as the competition of not letting him get too far ahead of me began. If I ever needed confirmation that I was a competitive person then this was it. I did my 5km run in only 26 minutes which was a quick time for me.

As I got home, heaving and out of breath, I got thinking about how simply seeing someone else running inspired me…I didnt get discouraged when he finally did outrun me because it was obvious that he was at a different point in his journey then me, but he did inspire me.

In the same way when it comes to our personal run in life, the race we have been called to live, we can at times get tired and heavy and it is at these times that it can help to connect with others to inspire us. Lift your head and see that others are running too, don’t get discouraged if they are at a different place then you but be inspired that you can run hard! You can keep going in what God has called you to do.

The people in life that inspire me the most are those who have been running their race for a long time, who have kept persevering through it all and are still going strong.

I want to be one of those people also and it is for that reason that I have committed to running hard in ministry for the rest of my life, pacing myself so I’m here at the end but running hard none the less. The purpose of this blog is to encourage you to do the same, to get passionate about what you do and to be inspired that you can do it…you can live your dreams and run your race well.

Tonight at church was a touching Heaven Worship Night which is part of our live album recording. One of my newer leaders who is at Hillsong College studying children’s ministry really wanted to go in but the heat was on with loads of kids and we really needed her. After much churning inside she decided to stay and I saw a leader grow within her. The simple act of putting God and serving His House above your own needs and desires is part of the journey to becoming the leader that God has called you to become. So next time your leader asks you to lead at a time that is inconvenient, remember that it is those moments when the leader within you grows.