Free Children’s Ministry Handbook: . https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zqfpdn222xfgv03hko4n4/Church-handbook.docx?rlkey=gsx6js8iwn9336gvwq9hopmdk&st=yd4vngls&dl=0

Building Foundations Curriculum. https://revivalfire4kids.com/shop/building-foundations-curriculum/

http://revivalfire4kids.com

So we are finally getting to the planning stage, the final episode of Spirit-led leadership. When you are saturated with the Holy Spirit, inquire of the Lord, and abide in Him, then you will be able to hear clearly from the Lord. Planning is an important aspect of being a leader, but it must be Spirit-lead. Remember, without Him, you can accomplish nothing.

Don’t ever plan first, and then ask God to bless what you have planned.

Once God has spoken and you have planned, it is in God’s hands to bring about the results. They may not look like what we expected. The apostles probably didn’t expect the church would grow through persecution and martyrdom. What we can do is initiate His plan, then trust Him to bring Glory to His Name.

Take time each week to plan. Most people who want to become organized never take the time they need to plan because they think they don’t have time. You don’t have time not to plan. Decide what things you need to get done this week, and make a to do list. Then go through and decide which are important and which can be delegated. Remember when you make this list to make time for the important, not only the urgent.

Schedule your time. Plan chunks of time to do certain things. For instance, morning might be your most productive time. Don’t plan meetings or take phone calls in the morning. Use that time to plan your day and tackle your to do list. If emergencies come up, and they will, that take you away from your schedule, get back to it as soon as you can. Remember that if you schedule your time, you’ll get more done, even if emergencies happen. If you don’t schedule your time, you’ll waste a lot of it.

Learn organizational and project management skills. Schedule time in your week to work on these skills and to read leadership and organizational books or listen to podcasts about organization.

Learn to multitask. Multitasking is not doing a bunch of different things at the same time. Multitasking is learning to have different projects to work on in the same time period. For instance, as a children’s pastor, you may be in the beginning stages of planning a Christmas program. At the same time, you’ve just finished up a back to school activity and are in full swing for your Harvest party. Then there’s VBS on the back burning. You’re starting to look at VBS materials for next summer. If you schedule correctly, you can plan times to work on each of these projects throughout the week. Of course, the Harvest party and Christmas program will take most of your time, but by devoting time to upcoming projects, you won’t feel under the gun when that event gets closer.

Project Management 101: The first tool in project management is to make a timeline for each event you have planned. Decide what you need to do or delegate and when. Then move everything back at least three weeks to avoid unexpected surprises. You’ll be amazed how organized you’ll become by doing this.

Work with your pastor. Let him or her know what you’re working on. If he asks you to do another task and you don’t have time to do it right away, let him know, and ask him when he needs it done. It may be that you were dropping everything to do what your pastor wanted when there are some things he is willing to wait for.

Remember that people are more important than what you have to do. You’ve planned an entire day to work on an important project when a parent comes in concerned about her child. The work can wait. The parent can’t. This is real ministry.

Pray before you start you’re day. God knows what we need to do, and He will give us the wisdom and direction if we start by giving Him our day.

That’s it for Spirit-led leadership. Check out past episode in case you’ve missed a week in this series. Join us next week for another kidmin podcast. Also subscribe and click notifications so you won’t miss a single episode of Ignite Kidmin. God bless.

Spirit Led Leaders Respect Authority

Spirit-Led Leadership Part 4

Pastor Tamera Kraft, Revival Fire for Kids

Hebrews 13:17 (NIV)

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

In 2 Kings 2, Elisha had followed Elijah to where he was to be taken to Heaven. He had served Elijah for years. When Elijah left, Elisha received double his anointing.

There is a principle there. When we honor our spiritual authority, we will receive a greater anointing. But what if the authority doesn’t deserve honor? It doesn’t matter. I was under an abusive pastor for a few years, but I covered his faults whenever I talked to my team. Finally, God removed me from the situation, but I still refused to dishonor him.

David also was under an abusive leader. King Saul tried to kill him on more than one occasion, but twice, when David had the chance to get retribution, he refused.

The first time, David found Saul in a cave relieving himself. David cut off a small portion of his robe, but even that small act made David feel guilty.

1 Samuel 24:5-7 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

The next time, David found Saul and his men asleep. His general, Abishai, encouraged him to kill Saul while he had a chance.

1 Samuel 26:10-11 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.

Abusive leadership is wrong. I’m not suggesting you remain under abusive leadership forever, but until God removes you, honor your leader if you want to be anointed. The leader may change. You may change. God may release you from that leader or church. Whatever the case, you do your part. Honor and release the rest to God.

So how do we honor those in authority over us when they don’t deserve honor? That’s coming up next, but first, I have a free gift for you. Click the link below to download free Scripture puppet skits.

Also, check out Revival Fire for Kids blog with some great information and posts about kidmin.

Now, here’s some ways you can honor your pastors and leaders.

First, pray for your leaders. Pray God direct them, give them wisdom, and bless them.

Next, obey your leaders. The only exception to this is when, by obeying your leader, you have to disobey God.

Cover your leaders’ fault. Whenever you talk to someone about your leader, never reveal fault about that person or disagree with him publically. Never gossip or sow discord.

Romans 16:17-18 (NIV) I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.

Finally, when it is time to leave, leave in the right way. Tell the pastor first that you’re leaving because God is leading you elsewhere. This is not the time to tell him everything he’s done to cause you to leave. Refuse to criticize or encourage others to join you in leaving. If the pastor or leadership chooses to vilify you or spread lies about you, allow God to take care of it and defend you. Don’t defend yourself. If someone specifically asks you if you’ve done the thing said about you, you can tell them the truth, but don’t gossip about those spreading the lies.

That’s all for today. Don’t forget to click subscribe and notify so you won’t miss a single episode. God bless.

Free Memory Verse Puppet Skits

Spirit-led Leader empowers and mentor Spirit-Led Leadership, Part 3 Pastor Tamera Kraft http://revivalfire4kids@att.net Free Gift: The Great Race - Children's Annointing Service

Partial Transcript: Finding help in children’s ministry is every childrens pastor’s nightmare. Many times, it’s because when they do find someone to help, they don’t give clear direction or mentor those workers on how to do ministry. Most leaders don’t understand how to empower or mentor those under them. But don’t worry. Help is on the way.

In Exodus 18, Moses father-in-law warned him he would wear himself out. He needed to mentor and empower people to help him.

Exodus 18:24-25 (NIV) Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.

Moses listened and learned he couldn’t do it on his own. Neither can you.

Paul also encourage leaders to equip people for ministry.

Eph. 4:11-12 (NIV) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

But how do we do that when we can’t find anyone to help?

Pray for Workers in the Harvest. Matthew 9:38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

Don’t just pray for anyone. Pray for the right people to help. Make serving in children’s ministry a blessing and an honor. When you stand in front of the congregation asking for help, let them know the wonderful things that are happening. Draw them in. Don’t recruit out of frustration.

Ask God for your number 2 to mentor to train in the ministry. You can’t find that person on your own, but God will bring that person to you when you are determined to mentor that person.

That means you allow that person to make mistakes, and you allow that person to be trained in ministry. You will pour into your number 2 until that person is able to take over the ministry. If you try to control everything, you won’t be able to allow that person to flourish. Also encourage your #2 to find his or her own #2 to pour into. It also means you, at some point, will probably lose your number 2 to another ministry or church. That’s okay. It means it is time to mentor another #2. If your #2 has mentored someone, you already have the next #2.

Develop a team. A team is developed out of relationships, not out of ministry needs. Build relationships with people in the church, and it will be easier to find workers. Once you find those works, develop close relationships with them.

A word of warning. Don’t always choose people who are like you for your team. God gives team members different gifts and personalities to fill different needs just as He does the body of Christ. I’m a big picture organizer. I see the big picture then fill in the details. A detail oriented person who is a perfectionist is a great team member for me because she will remind me of details I’ve missed.

Be creative about choosing team members. All the people on your team won’t be teaching during children’s church. Some will be parents or spiritual leaders in the church that offer different perspectives. Others will want to help with big events or intercede with you. This committee will assist you in so many different ways by giving you support.

Find other resource people. Not everyone God puts in your path will be a front person or helper for children’s ministry. You might find a music or drama person that helps with Christmas plays. An artist might be willing to help you with set design. Then there are those who like to sew costumes or bake cupcakes. An organized person might want to help you organize your resources. Think outside of the box, and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to the right people.

Equip your students for ministry

Many children’s leaders ignore their best resource for children’s ministry, the students. Teach students to run sound and projection, to be on the praise team, to contact visitor, to run the church store, and eventually, to lead worship, do object lesson, and even preach. Not only will you have more workers, you’ll be discipling children for ministry.

That’s all for today. Join me next week for Part 4 of Spirit-led leadership. Don’t forget to subscribe and hit notify so you won’t mess a single episode.

You can find out more about Yancy's ministry and resources at these links:

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The Christmas Tree Advent

Building Foundations Curriculum

Revival Fire for Kids

Many children's pastors struggle to continue serving in children's ministry. Pastor Eric Stephens and Pastor Tamera Kraft have both been in children's ministry a long time and share their stuggles along the way and what kept them going.