By jimwideman on 5/26/2010 11:37 PM

 When you get down to it, you must realize that all levels of leadership are judged by performance. In other words your leadership level is not based on where you think you are, it’s based on what level you can lead and perform at. When I left my old church I found my original resume. As I read it, it dawned on me that the job I was leaving had grown into a job I was not qualified for 17 years earlier. I’ve learned that you can strengthen your leadership in the same way that you can increase the amount of weight you can lift. 

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By jimwideman on 5/25/2010 11:34 PM

 What would happen if your responsibilities, your stress, and your workload all doubled? This is exactly what has happened to me five times since 1993. It forced me to learn delegation, to make lifestyle changes and to stop doing things that I was doing that someone else could do and grow and strengthen my own leadership to do what only I could do. At the time I thought I was in over my head. I was, without the Lord but with Him all things are possible. Sometimes the best thing to get us to grow is to come face to face with the largest challenge we’re ever faced. It sure worked for David. David was given an opportunity to be used by God to solve a problem for the army of Israel.  The soldiers as well as King Saul saw Goliath too big to defeat. David saw the same challenge but instead of seeing him too big to defeat he saw Goliath too big to miss. David knew the God that had strengthen him before would help him again.

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By jimwideman on 5/24/2010 11:31 PM

 Over the last several years I have talked a lot about how leadership can be learned in my children’s ministers leadership club. Leadership like any skill can be increased and strengthened. But before you can know what your next leadership level is you must first locate your present leadership level. A great place to start is to identify where you are by comparing where you think you are now to where you esteem the top is. Identify perfection then consider yourself. My mom always told me things are not as bad as I think they are and that I was not as wonderful as I think I am. It’s somewhere in between. Make sure you compare your definitions with that of the leaders above you. What is a five to you might not be a five to me. It really doesn’t matter where you think you are. Align your thinking with that of the leaders above you. Be honest!  Are you a legend in your own time or a legend in your own mind? Realize definitions change with time. Big & busy are both relative terms. My definition of a big church or a busy life has changed as my abilities and experiences have changed. Another way to determine your present level of leadership is to examine and rate your efficiency and abilities in every area of your life. Including your walk with the Lord, your family, your finances, and even your work.

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By jim wideman on 5/23/2010 12:00 AM

  13. Give your volunteers the tools they need.  It’s easier to do quality work with the right tools. Make sure you give all who serve what they need to minister effectively. What do they need?  Start with creative environments; mix in exciting curriculum and teaching supplies plus audiovisual gadgets and gizmos. If we want folks to reach the sight and sound generation then give them sights and sounds to work with. 14. Check on volunteers systematically. People only do what’s inspected, not just expected. I found out years ago I couldn’t spend all my time teaching the children. I was more valuable as a problem solver and leader of leaders than just a teacher of kids. See for your self what’s going on. Observe your workers in action. 15. Conduct regular equipping meetings. If you give your workers knowledge and wisdom, then you should also give them the power to do the ministry with excellence. Teach them what to do and show them how you want them to do it.  These kinds of meetings are more about developing skill sets than information. 

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By jim wideman on 5/22/2010 12:57 AM

  3. Give them a model or example.  People do what they see. Show is a much better way to train than tell. When you model ministry on an on going basis, it keeps every one moving forward on the same page.  4. Build trust. If you want your volunteers to trust you be a person of integrity and do what you say. Prove yourself, don’t lead by position only, show people you are worthy to be followed. 5. Be real and transparent. People like a leader who puts their paints on one leg at a time. Be normal; admit your struggles and shortcomings. Be approachable. Put yourself in the volunteers place and look for ways to make their load lighter.  6. Invest your time in others. The time you spend in others is never wasted. You cannot develop leaders without investing your time in them. Discipleship is taking someone who is Christ like in an area and let their Christ-likeness rub off on others. 7. Believe in them. Give them a chance to do ministry. Let them learn by doing. But Jim, they’re not as good as me, there was a day you were not as good as you but you learned by doing, now it’s time to return the favor. 8 Encourage others. Everyone I know could use a little encouragement. They not only respond well to it but they flourish. Here’s a great habit to develop, catch people doing things right!  In fact have your key staff write three thank you notes each week this practice will change your ministry.

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By jim wideman on 5/21/2010 12:54 AM

You can’t develop people until you locate them. Here’s how I find and identify potential leaders. Get on the offensive. If I want to recruit children’s workers I look for parents who like kids. I’m always on the lookout for people who show interest in their own kids, chances are they’d be willing to help with others’ kids as well.

Encourage your team to recruit others. Jesus allowed his team to recruit two of the twelve. I should have to say this to people in the ministry but be touchable, available, and friendly. I’m on the lookout for potential workers at church, special meetings, Starbucks, Sam’s Club, if fact I’m on the lookout for workers everywhere I go.            Identify giftings you are looking for and be watchful for people who display them. Look for people who vocationally manage people. Look within your organization for people to promote, your answer to your need for workers isn’t always someone from the outside. Pray team members in. Philippians 4:6 says “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Be specific- Make a list of what you need and want. If people were no problem where could you use a worker?  Make sure you qualify all candidates. I require potential volunteers to complete an application, submit references, allow us to do a criminal background check if they are working with minors, and conduct an interview.

 

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By jim wideman on 5/20/2010 12:45 AM

 On any given Sunday it can be heard from thousands of pulpits in churches of every size, “We need workers, we need workers, we need workers, we need workers, WE NEED WORKERS!” Wouldn’t it be nice if recruiting workers were like a game of red rover? You remember, “Red rover, red rover, send workers right over!” It’s would be nice if it was that easy. I have had the privilege of working at some wonderful churches of different sizes and the one thing they have all had in common was I was always on the lookout for more workers. The truth is the bigger the vision the more people serving and helping it takes to make that vision reality.

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By jimwideman on 5/16/2010 11:37 PM

 Secondly we should be an example of “flowing with authority” or being submitted to the leadership above you. Lot of leaders claim to be loyal to their Pastor and leadership but the proof of this attitude is reflected in your actions.

You’re really not loyal to your leader if you treat his or her representatives differently than you treat them. It’s always the right thing to say no to sowing seeds of discord. Sharing a non-Biblical opinion with others can be a form of this. I have found gossip is never a good thing. Being teachable is also a form of submission to authority. Fighting change is not standing with authority.

Going where you’re needed to go is an example of one who is under authority. Jesus said if you have seen Him you have seen the father can that be said of us if people see us they also see those we represent and serve?

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By jimwideman on 5/15/2010 11:34 PM

 Children need role models, so do the adults we lead and the staff we direct!
If leaders are to desire to be examples, what should we be examples of:

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By jimwideman on 5/14/2010 11:30 PM

  You may have heard me teach about the five duties of a shepherd from1 Peter 5:2-4. It says “Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers --not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.  And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

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