5 Leadership Skills Every KidMin Leader Should Know

When I first got into children’s ministry, I thought the job was pretty simple.

Love Jesus. Love kids. Teach the Bible.

Then someone handed me a budget…And a volunteer quit…And a parent wanted to talk to me about why her child didn’t get picked for the game…And the senior pastor asked me for my five-year ministry strategy while I was unclogging a toilet.

That’s when I realized: children’s ministry requires a surprisingly wide range of leadership skills.

You don’t have to be great at everything. Nobody is. But after more than 25 years in children’s ministry, I’ve found that there are a handful of skills every KidMin leader needs to develop.

Here are five of the biggest ones (along with book suggestions for further growth):

People don’t want to volunteer just to fill a hole in your schedule.

They want to be part of something that matters.

Great KidMin leaders know how to remind people that changing diapers, leading a small group, running the check-in desk, and getting hit in the face with a dodgeball are all part of something bigger.

We’re helping kids become lifelong followers of Jesus.

That’s a vision worth giving your time to.

Want to grow in this area? Read this book: Start with Why by Simon Sinek 

Sooner or later, every children’s pastor has to learn how to ask people to serve.

I know. It’s uncomfortable.

For some of us, asking someone to volunteer feels only slightly less awkward than asking a stranger if you can borrow their toothbrush.

But recruiting is part of leadership.

And great recruiting isn’t about begging people to fill empty spots. It’s about helping people discover where their gifts can make an eternal difference.

Want to grow in this area? Read this book: The Volunteer Revolution by Bill Hybels 

There are two kinds of KidMin leaders:

Those who delegate.

And those who are currently at church at 11:47 p.m. cutting out 300 paper sheep by themselves.

You cannot build a healthy ministry if everything depends on you.

Delegation isn’t dumping tasks on people. It’s giving people real responsibility, clear expectations, and the freedom to lead.

Your job isn’t to do all the ministry.

Your job is to equip others to do ministry.

Want to grow in this area? Read this book: The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey by Ken Blanchard, William Oncken Jr., and Hal Burrows 

Most ministry problems are communication problems wearing a fake mustache.

The volunteer didn’t know they were scheduled.

The parent didn’t know the event time changed.

The senior pastor didn’t know you needed approval.

The small group leader thought “bring a snack” meant one granola bar for 14 kids.

Great leaders communicate clearly, consistently, and probably more often than they think is necessary.

If you think you’ve said it enough, say it one more time.

Want to grow in this area? Read this book: Everyone Communicates, Few Connect by John C. Maxwell 

The best leaders don’t just build programs. They build people.

They notice potential. They give encouragement. They provide feedback. They hand people opportunities that are just a little bigger than what they think they can handle.

That’s how leaders grow.

One of the greatest measures of your leadership isn’t what happens while you’re in the room. It’s what can happen when you’re not.

Want to grow in this area? Read this book: Multipliers by Liz Wiseman 

So here’s a question worth asking:

Which of these five skills do you most need to grow in right now?

Don’t try to tackle all five at once. Pick one. Read a book. Ask a mentor. Try something new. Get a little better.

Because your ministry will rarely grow beyond your ability to lead it.

And the good news is that leadership isn’t something you either have or you don’t.

It’s something you can learn.

Cheering you on!