Hey Fletch … A woman wanted to start an outreach ministry activity. She has good character and a right heart for the target audience. Now she’s drowning under the weight of being at the helm of the new team. Do you have thoughts on how I could have prepared her better for leading?
Fletch—I love it when people want to launch new ministries. What she is feeling is common to first time leaders:
- There are many moving pieces to starting a church ministry.
- Unforeseen factors take up a lot of time.
- Leading others is both an art and a science.
Let’s look at each one of these areas. The questions and issues will help you with those who want to start a new ministry in your church. We are going to assume that the person has the character to be a leader. The following will help you measure their capacity as a potential leader.
Identify the Moving Pieces
Step 1 is to identify the many moving pieces for leading a new ministry in your church. These moving pieces revolve around people, materials and time. Start a list of the moving pieces and repeatedly check it. Have multiple conversations about your list with paid staff, volunteers and a mentor. Be as realistic and inclusive as possible about the size and scope of the pieces needed for the new ministry.
For example, if someone starts a new for-profit business, there are important things to do. File a permit, obtain resources in buildings, develop plans for communications and workers, and buy supplies. Then you can hire workers. With all those in hand, you can advertise your new business and interact with the buying public.
There are similar things in a church ministry. Permission needs to be obtained from church leaders to begin the new ministry, rooms need to be reserved and a budget obtained for supplies. Some new ministries may hire workers but most will need volunteers.
Getting volunteers for a new ministry is harder than most people think. Since it is a new ministry, people don’t know exactly what they are volunteering for. Draft role descriptions for the leaders and workers in the ministry. Include the specifics of what you are asking the volunteer to do, along with how many hours a week are required. Be clear about delegated authority and how decisions are made.
Step 1 is to be intentional about listing the various pieces of this new ministry. Write them down and consult with others about what you may have inadvertently omitted. That consultation should be with church staff, existing volunteer leaders and workers in other ministry areas, and a mentor. A mentor will guide the new leader in the upcoming challenges.
Unforeseen Factors
Step 2 is to acknowledge and be ready for unforeseen factors. Be prepared for these as they take up a lot of time. In most new ministries, there are unforeseen issues that arise. As hard as you try to list all the areas, something will arise. A challenge isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it can bring wonderful and creative solutions.
For example, it might be that the new leader is just now honing their leadership abilities. The team meetings might be less polished, even a little rocky, because the new leader is just that—new. With time and the input from a good mentor, this can be worked on.
It might be that the new ministry needs more hours than anticipated to begin it. Instead of two hours a week, the start-up time might be eight. The leader is unhappy about the extra work and those on the leadership team are grumbling. It could be that people on the new leadership team have other ideas about how to do the ministry or need coaching on creating this new ministry.
For example, what if the new ministry includes watching kids while the moms are in another room doing a study? First the aspect of childcare needs to be identified. Is it merely childcare or are the children going to be instructed in some sort of curriculum? You need to identify whether volunteers or paid people will watch the kids. Where will that salary money come from? Where will your volunteer pool realistically come from? There are other issues such as rooms for childcare, training for workers and background checks. Just one area, such as childcare, can cause a major bump in creating a new ministry.
Step 2 is to be ready for unforeseen factors. Affirm that, Yes there are going to be things that I don’t see yet, and they are going to require more time than I plan on. By simply affirming that proposition, you are a step ahead. You know there are going to be new areas of challenge and won’t be surprised when something arises.
Leadership is an Art and a Science
Step 3 is to see that being a leader is both an art and a science. The science of leadership points to getting all the data points on paper. Put in print the role descriptions, good and organized team meetings agendas, along with the process of recruiting workers and leaders.
The art of leadership is navigating the relationships with others who are involved in major and minor ways with the ministry. This includes both those who volunteer their time and paid staff. It is the challenge of presenting a compelling vision so others will want to join in. There is an art to balancing the varied interests of church leaders with their policies, communications protocols, and budgets.
Conclusion
It is so exciting to launch a new church ministry. Hardship will arise in some measure. That’s fine because a little adversity and challenge hones even the most experienced leader. Adversity also shapes and forms new leaders.
Make sure that your new leader has an understanding of the moving pieces and that there will be unforeseen factors. Help them see that leadership is not a static thing. It is a dynamic process of art and science. The goal is to motivate and empower people to accomplish an exciting vision for ministry.
Ensure that your new leader has an experienced mentor to coach and guide them. The new leader may need help with the basics of organization, meeting management, inspiring volunteers, following church policies, and overcoming challenges.
You can help a new leader expand their leadership capacity by walking with them. The best place to mentor a leader is in an existing ministry area—it’s just less complicated. However, you can mentor a new leader as they begin a new ministry area at your church. Plan for a few more complications and challenges though!
