The curriculum changed… again.
A scheduled leader cancelled on Saturday night… again.
The finance committee advises you to reduce your budget… again.
Ministry is full of change, much of it beyond our control. Unexpected changes can disrupt momentum, motivation, and threaten to steal our joy—so what must we do as leaders to navigate these changes?
When things change…leaders go first.
Change is inevitable. We say we can handle it—until it’s change we didn’t choose. How we respond when things don’t go our way sets the tone for everyone watching. Our volunteers, families, and kids are paying attention. As leaders, we must go first. We may not have all the answers, but we know the One who does.
As children’s ministry leaders, we live in a tension. We lead teams and ministries while still being disciples in process, growing to be more like Jesus each day. Like every follower of Jesus, we face daily temptations and choices that either draw us closer to God or pull us away. This tension makes us walk a fine line between leadership and sanctification—and we often stumble. If we’re honest, it’s usually more grumbling than stumbling. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we forget what God has already done and give in to complaining. We like to add our two cents and say how we’d do it differently or compare new leadership with old leadership. The truth is: leaders love to make change but struggle to respond well to change.
Leaders go first: to Jesus.
Responding well to change isn’t a checklist item—it’s a process, much like sanctification. The more we spend time with Jesus and rely on Him, the more we know, see, and trust Him—as Provider and as the author of our days. So when change comes our way (and it will), we will meet a fork in the road. One way points to grumbling, stomping our feet, and using our voice to let others know we are upset and not on board with these changes. The other way grants us the opportunity to pause and to grow our “change muscles,” to see God as the author of our days, and to step out in faith, not knowing exactly what the path before us holds.
At our annual Children’s Pastors Conference (CPC), the INCM community learned that being an unleashed resilient leader is not about increasing our strength as individuals to withstand the changes and trials thrown our way, but it’s about our access to the Holy Spirit that sustains us and keeps us going. If we want to be able to withstand all the changes and trials that will come, we cannot rely only on ourselves.
Leaders go first: in humility.
Children’s ministry leaders are in the trenches of making eternal impacts and that often requires change: executing change, responding to change, and dealing with unexpected change. We play a crucial part in our ministries and in the discipleship of kids and families. It is not for the faint of heart. While some changes happen to us, we also get the responsibility of making change decisions on behalf of the kids, families, and volunteers we minister to.
When dreaming of what’s best for our areas and our families, we may think we have the best idea but that doesn’t guarantee everyone will like our decisions. We must model humility in all our decisions and that looks like honoring the feedback we receive in response to our decisions. We want to be trusted and we want our people to respond well to the changes we execute, whether they are planned or unplanned. Because of this dynamic, it’s crucial for leaders to go first in modeling how to respond to changes. If we expect our people to follow the changes we make, we must first model humility in how we respond to changes made on our behalf.
Leaders go first: in surrender.
Sometimes, being an unleashed leader is actually about surrender. Instead of seeing unexpected changes and trials as a negative and frustrating situation, it’s an invitation that the Lord uses to invite us to lay things down or walk away from something that maybe isn’t best for us. God is giving us an opportunity to pause, to reflect, and ultimately to make a choice. Will we trust in His plan over our own?
Sometimes we are simply creatures of habit who do not like changes but other times, the real issue lurking underneath is an idol of control. As leaders who are often in control or in authority, we feel the need to control all the things, even when it’s not in our lane or best interest to do so. When we fall to the idol of control, we lose sight of the Holy Spirit. Surrendering our need to control or the need to completely understand before moving forward means we can step into a full reliance on the Holy Spirit to lead us! We can step out in faith, knowing that our God is going with us, before us, and behind us.
When we don’t understand…leaders go first.
We are the best mirrors to the families and leaders in our ministries. God has placed each one of us in a position of influence to shepherd and to guide our people. The Holy Spirit is our guide and our helper. Present in our time of need, knowing just what we need before we ask of it. Handling change (especially when we don’t like it) requires a willingness to enter into the unknown. And in the unknown is a holy exchange: where trusting God matters so much more than understanding why he does or does not do something.
When we follow Jesus first, leading with a posture of humility, and surrendering with an obedience to follow the Spirit’s leading, we set an example to all the believers. Leaders go first—to Jesus, in humility, and in surrender. We’re cheering you on!
Questions to ask yourself as you process:
- When things don’t go my way, do I turn first to Jesus?
- Am I holding on tightly or surrendering control to God?
- How do I respond to change—modeling faith for those I lead?
- Who can I lean on to support me in trusting the Holy Spirit?
Connect with INCM and Take Next Steps Here:
Weekly Newsletter: incm.org/newsletter
INCM Membership: incm.org/membership
Children’s Pastors Conference: childrenspastorsconference.com
