Children’s Ministry Insights

Delegation or Die

Jim Wideman discusses the importance of delegation when he writes,

Mr. Webster defines delegation as a person or persons appointed to represent us. Delegation is not finding someone who is willing and dumping part of your ministry responsibilities on them. We need others to represent us. But this cannot happen if you don’t take the necessary steps to make it happen and develop volunteers through action. We must allow others to get involved.

Read Jim’s entire posting.

A healthy children’s ministry is one in which opportunities for others to serve abound and are clearly articulated. As a children’s ministry leader, it’s not enough to simply make a list of the opportunities that you have for others to serve. Go the next step…clearly articulate the qualifications, responsibilities, tasks, etc. for each position. Whether in the form of a job description, ministry opportunities catalog, or some other form, make sure to articulate the available ministry opportunities.

Then, as God is faithful to provide volunteers to serve in your ministry, empower, delegate, and release them to serve. You always should be looking to train your replacement. Early on in ministry God impressed on me that he’s called me to do what only I can do. I’ve always tried to take the approach that if I can train someone else to do what I’m doing, then I need to do that so that I’m free to do what only I can do.

As a children’s ministry leader, what has God called you to do? What are elements of your ministry that only YOU can do? Once you identify what those items are, then work at training and releasing others to do the other things. You’ll be blessed and you’ll open doors for others to be blessed as they serve God’s children.

Tags: delegation