#4. Keep growing and improving in your abilities. Leaders are learners. What are you reading? How much are you reading? Who are you listening to? Who are you watching or observing? Who are you asking questions to? Are you putting into practice what you are learning? Are you evaluating your actions?
#5. Don’t get weary in doing good things. You must develop habits to manage stress. Weary means physically or mentally exhausted; fatigued; tired. It can also mean impatient or dissatisfied with something. Learn how to refresh yourself and add stress relievers to your life style. The ministry can be a very stressful occupation. 2 Corinthians 4:8 and 9 says “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. This is the attitude of someone who has moved from good to remarkable. Mr. Webster defines stress as “the physical, mental, or emotional pressure, pull or force exerted on one thing by another; strain; tension.” Just because stress exists doesn’t mean it cannot be managed and controlled. Electricity like stress can be deadly but when it is harnessed and controlled it is a powerful and helpful resource. You never can be sure of your strength or your ability to lead till it is tested by pressure.
#6. Keep a great attitude always. Guard your heart towards leadership, towards others, towards our feelings and our circumstances. Our thoughts should line up with the Word. I love this scripture, Philippians 2:5-7 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who,
being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Your attitude can move you either toward remarkable or keep you from it.
#7. Be a leader. My favorite definition of a leader is a person who leads! Leadership is the ability to lead. It’s up to each individual to lead and it’s up to me to improve my abilities as a leader. My favorite question to ask myself is “Am I pointing the way to the next level and showing others how to get there?” If you haven’t already I recommend you reading my book “Children’s Ministry Leadership- The You Can Do It Guide, if you have then read it again until you practice what it teaches by reflex.
#8. Don’t keep doing the same old stuff. Remarkable leaders don’t get stuck. Same action brings same results every time. Why we do the same things over and over and how can we avoid it? Let the creative power of God flow in you. Be an innovator. Expose yourself to others who are doing remarkable things. Go to conferences and seminars and network. Go see what others do in action. Stay away from the “That’s the way we’ve always done it” kind of thinking.
All of us get comfortable with things we are familiar with. We thing our way is
the best way. Don’t be afraid to get outside your comfort zone. Try something new, experiment a little. Allow yourself to be stretched!
Put yourself in the children’s place. Dare to enter the world of a child.
A wrong structure also causes us to get stuck. Remarkable ministries examine their structure on a regular basis to determine if it’s a growth structure or maintenance structure. Remarkable children’s ministries are always on the lookout for ruts. I’ve noticed over the last 30 years some common ruts of children ministry:
1. The order of service format stays the same.
2. We sing same songs.
3. We use the same teaching methods all the time.
4. The same teachers do same segments, make different assignments on a regular basis and keep it fresh.
5. Same props or objects no mater the lessons
6. Same activities, events and special days you’ve always done
7. Same clip art, fonts & art look
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