Tag-Archive for » Leadership «

What Have You Been Reading?

19 Feb 2010 by Helen

I have mentioned before that reading was not something I grew up loving to do.  My fourth grade teacher made me read in front of the whole class and after the entire class laughing at me…I decided I HATED reading!

Over the last few years I have grown to love reading though I am still not very fast with it.  It takes work for me to read and retain anything I have read.  The past two weeks I have felt like a sponge though.  Check out what I have been reading.

This was an amazing book that gave practical information about how to help the people that serve in your area of ministry be successful.  It was focused on Children’s Ministry but could be used in any area of ministry.

book1

I loved this book.  I love thinking about what makes people tick.  If you have ever struggled with feeling like you were spinning your wheels trying to imitate some great leader only to find yourself farther away than when you started, this is the book for you.

book2

 

I just started this book last night.  I read one chapter and thought “Man this is hard to hear!”  If you work with kids of any age, you need to read this book!book3

So I want to hear what you have been reading?

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

Category: Leadership, Ministry  Tags: , ,  Leave a Comment

Confessions of a Children’s Director

25 Oct 2009 by Helen

I am not perfect.  I am human.  I get frustrated, make mistakes, say things without thinking, think about saying things I’m smart enough not to let come out of my mouth.  I can get in moods where I even get on my own nerves.  So there you have it….yes, I am in desperate need of a Savior…glad I have one!  Thank you Jesus!

In my frustrated, grumpy mood, I decided I would look up some curriculum stuff and upon googling, I came across this blog that was written over a year old but spoke volumes to where I was at the moment.  Sometimes you can have incredible leaders, like my amazing senior pastor speak things to you that you just don’t get but when someone else says it in just the right way you get it.  You have the “light bulb”  moment that is followed by “oh, that is what he has been trying to say”! 

So are you curious as it what my light bulb moment was tonight?  Here is part of it….

  • Things are caught, not taught (Craig in reference to the importance of leaders who model faith to the kids)
  • Buy curriculum, you can’t buy leadership (Craig in reference to CP’s who love spending time writing their own curriculum at the expense of developing leaders)
  • Work on your Children’s Ministry, not in your Children’s Ministry! Stop subbing! You’re robbing when you do this.
  • Build depth to your volunteer teams. Develop your second string.

    • Check out the entire blog here.  I love my job.  I have never been happier in my life but the truth is I get  I’m still human! I don’t get it right all the time and tonight I was reminded that I still have a lot to learn.   I love the volunteers that serve in Kid’s ROCK, I love the kids in Kid’s ROCK, and most importantly I love the God that this is all about!

    Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

    Category: Ministry, Work  Tags: , ,  2 Comments

    To Be Offended or Not Be Offended That is the Question

    06 Jul 2009 by Helen

    Today I was faced with a choice…an opportunity to be offended or an opportunity to chose NOT to be offended.  I am thankful that God gave me the grace to choose the latter. 

    It would have been very easy for me to become defensive and feel attacked with the situation I was dealing with but that’s exactly what the enemy wanted me to do.  He wants us to turn on each other, bloody each other up, and forget what the fight is really about. 

    Why was I able to look past the offense? 

    1.  Because I prayed before hand that God would give me grace. 

    2.  Because I knew the heart behind the words.  (Note – importance of building relationships with people)

    3.  And because I know there have been countless opportunities for God to be offended with me, yet all those times, He, in his mercy,  has looked past my humanity to the heart He created me to have.  And I am grateful for that.

    I didn’t walk away offended.  I walked away reminded of the awesome responsibility God has entrusted me with, humbled by the fact that He trusts me with it, and determined that the enemy will NOT have his way!   I am so blessed.

    Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

    Category: Uncategorized  Tags:  Leave a Comment

    Clear Expectations

    11 Mar 2009 by Helen

    Sometimes it is easy to assume people know what you need or what you expect.  Sometimes it is easier to compensate for people not doing what you need them to do because that one little thing doesn’t seem like a big deal until that one little thing leads becomes a bigger issue and that bigger issue becomes so big you have to address it.  Then you look back and think if only I had addressed the same issue maybe those other issues would have never become issues at all.

    Expectations are so important but are some times so hard for me to articulated.  Sometimes I don’t even understand why something is so important that it makes me want to let it slide. Then  I later realize that when I  get slack on one area I have set the  precedent “my expectations are not really required just optional!Do it if it works for you but if not I’m sure there is a good reason and it’s OK!”

    Wow!  I have really got to remember this….EXPECTATIONS must be clear, consistent, and and followed through on!

    Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

    Category: Uncategorized  Tags: ,  Leave a Comment

    Installed by SimpleScripts