Let’s face it, although we strive to live our lives with no regrets, we can’t help but wish we had learned some lessons earlier in life than we did.

Today, I’ll share some candid thoughts about things I wish I had known when I was beginning in ministry.

1. The power of evaluation. A common draw for leaders is to jump in and begin to “do” ministry. However, if we truly believe we should be equipping people to do the work of the ministry, then we must take regular times to step out of a “do” role and find ourselves in an “observe” and “coach” role. Make it a regular practice to evaluate your ministry through different eyes. Keep investing in people. Keep finding ways to train. Keep looking for ways to model the outcomes you are looking for.
2. The power of structure. You cannot build a skyscraper with just the exterior walls. A foundation and structural framework are required. The same is true for ministry. Do the hard work of building your long-term strategy. Plan what the ministry will look like. Take time to work out the details of the roles and responsibilities of individuals and teams. Clarify what is expected and recruit the best person to fill each role.
3. The power of a written plan. We know the importance of a written vision statement. But there is an equal importance to a written plan that can be followed by members of the team. In the same way you would not build a home without a written blueprint that all of the craftsman can agree upon, a written plan helps paint the picture of a preferred future, how you will get there, and allows you to get agreement.

BONUS: As a bonus, I thought you might want to read about the things I learned as a young leader that I would want to make sure to repeat.

1. Invest in the youngest generation within your realm of influence. These will be the kids you will have the ability to see change the most. If you always invest in those kids who are graduating out of your ministry you will never reap the benefit of a long-term investment.
2. Grow in ministry. Once you feel you’ve grown as far as you can at a specific location of ministry it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that you must find a different place of ministry. Not true. When you are committed to personal growth you will always find ways to “lift your lid” even in some of the most constraining circumstances.
3. Realize that discipleship begins in the home. We utilized a “pre-teach” method in our ministry by making the weekly lesson notes available prior to the main service time. This could have been enhanced with greater planning and communication, but it was a step in the right direction. I believe that building your ministry to support the home is a great goal for any ministry.

Whether you are a seasoned veteran in the children’s ministry world or someone who is new to the team, please always make it a practice to be a learner. Learn from your past, learn from others, and look toward the future.