There is a wealth of information and experiences out there to grow you in your children’s ministry leadership.
But other leaders are our best resource.
I love the Q&A portion of most webinars, online events, seminars, and breakout sessions I attend almost more than the sessions themselves.
The questions other people ask can be ones I would never have thought to ask myself but are some of the same things I struggle with.
Or, I may actually have a solution for someone because I have already been in their shoes.
When we share our leadership, we all win.
That’s why every children’s ministry leader should be in some type of mentoring relationship.
Those of you who have been doing ministry for many years should be looking for up-and-coming leaders to mentor.
Newer leaders should be watching for the more seasoned ones to see what you could learn from them.
No matter your age or experience, we can share our gifts with each other.
As it says in 1 Peter 4:10, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
Experienced Leaders Need Mentorship
I realize the younger generations were born “knowing everything”.
My children tell me how much more they know than me all the time.
Let me suggest that perhaps both sides of the equation have something to impart AND something to learn.
And, might I add, us old dogs should always be looking to learn new tricks.
To those experienced leaders, is there someone in your life who you are mentoring?
Is there someone with whom you are sharing what you know, pouring knowledge into their career growth, asking them challenging questions to stretch them and make them think, and pushing them to be a better version of themselves?
If you have wisdom to share, you really need to be looking for someone to raise up.
And if you are more mature in your leadership journey, how are you staying relevant?
Who are you learning from in the ministry world that has a fresh take on leadership?
Are you being mentored by anyone?
As we grow in our own calling, we cannot allow ourselves to become stale and obsolete.
The world is constantly changing.
If we are not keeping our fingers on the pulse of what is happening in ministry, we will quickly go the way of the dodo bird.
New to Children’s Ministry
If you are newer to children’s ministry, you should be combining any education you received, and employment experiences you have banked, and should be watching those in ministry who are already doing the work you aspire to do yourself one day.
Reach out to these people to see if you can schedule time to pick their brains.
See if you can learn what they know and how their information may set you up for future success if you listen and apply what they share with you.
See if they or someone they recommend is available for a mentoring relationship.
Just because they may be older and have been doing this a while doesn’t mean they don’t have great experiences you can learn from.
You should always be looking to glean from someone who has been doing what you are doing longer than you have been doing it.
