[Kid Inspiration]

Just one question as we head into the weekend.

For most churches, the weekend is VERY important.

So do you know if you have kicked a goal this weekend?

How do you measure it?
What would you feel good about accomplishing?

Then assess if that is what your senior pastor/leadership would feel good about you doing…
If not (or even if you think you know), then find out what they think is a home run, and what are the things they would assume that you would be doing…

Don’t judge a weekend by your own filter. Get the right filter over what you are doing.

I just sent out an email to our key team… thought I would post it here:

(And if you want to post your answers in the comments).

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Are you growing in your passion to reach children for Christ and grow His church?

We never become mature in our leadership or love for God. The thing about mature fruit is that it is just a few days away from becoming rotten fruit. We have to be leaders that are growing, not stagnant.

Really search your heart and address the issues that are holding you back. This break Beci and I are on right now is time for me to address one of the things that is holding me back. Devotion – I need to develop
the time I spend in devotion to Jesus Christ.

I have something different for our key team meeting this Wednesday.

We will not be meeting at church, instead I would love you to take the time and read this article.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/childrensministry/articles/becominganauthenticleader.html

Then simply reply to this email and write down some thoughts for me about one of the areas Jim talks about.

eg. 2. Leaders are problem solvers. Let me know a challenge or something God has spoken to you about problem solving, or even a problem you have solved in your ministry.

Looking forward to your answers!

God Bless

David Wakerley

So in every service in Hillsong Kids we have various upfront positions rostered for our primary school programs.

And I always forget who ends up doing what.

So if I write them down here:

1. It might just help me remember them
2. If I forget, they are online for posterity

THE THREE M’S

MC – Responsible for the running of the service, welcomes kids etc. They also do the offering.

Ministry – Does our ask God, thank God prayer requests. And any time of ministry/prayer with the children.

Message – Does the message. Every service someone will bring a message to the children. Some services it may be longer than others.

There are a lot of other roles in a service, but these are three of the main one’s in terms of upfront/platform leaders.

As I sit here Friday before a big weekend (our family services), and KIDSFEST next Wed where we record “Follow You”, our new kids album!

It’s a perfect time to assess, dream and strategise about the future. I always have my best ideas in an incredibly busy/creative times…

Here are some thoughts from a staff meeting or something recently… I didn’t make a note in my notes

Leadership is a moral calling

• Leadership is not what I do it’s who I am
• Leadership is a decision to be

Can others SEE your progress… is it evident to all? (1 Tim 4:9-16)

1. Lead in speech – The tongue is a powerful instrument of leadership… It makes words!
2. Lead in life – What word describes your life? (Col 1:10)
3. Lead in love – Be the best lover you can be (does not require Viagra)
4. Lead in faith – We should never live in doubt, always in faith
5. Lead in purity – Draw the line, and keep a marker handy, you will have to keep it from being erased.

Dave out.

Love this thought to think on and ponder while you ruminate…

From Seth Godin

Irrationally committed

If you’re looking for the sensible, predictable, long-term strategy, this probably isn’t it. Except when it is.

Entrepreneurs who are irrationally committed to their business are far more likely to get through the Dip…

Salespeople and service providers and marketers who are irrationally committed to customer service can completely transform an ordinary experience and make it remarkable.

Is being irrational irrational? Of course it is. That’s why it often works.

The most fun people I know are irrational, the most successful people I know do unrational things…

Jesus was an unrational dude.

Maybe we should lead unrationally?

The older you get the more you realize you don’t know.

Just when I think I have an insight or handle on things I see or hear a quote that blows me away.

I am a student of culture. I study it, disect it, look for the good in it and generally spend my life searching for the glimpses of God that can be found in it. Especially the culture as it relates to kids.

So what you need to do is visit the Catalyst conference website and watch their promo video.

(www.catalystconference.com)

“There’s far too much preaching today coming from culture instead of speaking Gods word to the culture.”
- Craig Groeschel

Anyway it may not be life changing to you, but it reminds me to make sure our kids bring God to their worlds and not let the world overwhelm their God.

Dave out.

Last week our team flew to Melbourne to the Kidshaper conference.

We took most of the staff, and a bunch of volunteers, about 20 people all up.

There is MUCH that could be said about the week. The fantastic input from Glen Berteau, the awesome worship from the Planetshakers band and the team from Citikidz in Brisbane. Being massively inspired by the ever youthful Rob Bradbury who is more passionate about reaching kids for Christ than he ever was!

One of the afternoons we sat down as a team and talked about what we felt God was saying to us and others. I really felt that God is pounding the point into my somewhat slow cranium, that I need to pray, believe and expect for miracles with our kids and powerful encounters with God each service!

It’s not just about teaching the word of God, but it is also His presence!

In a country with very few full time ministers to children I am VERY excited to see over one thousand at a conference like this.

So here’s to next year with the statesman that is Jim WIdeman and daughter Yancy!

Even though I didn’t blog much during the conference, I did twitter a bunch, so check the stream out.

So thanks Rob and Team… and I guess I have to write a book now?

There are two things I have negated to do here on this blog:

1. Talk about what my parents are doing in India (building an orphanage).

2. Brag on my awesome team.

Allow me to rectify the second… I will fix the first soon!

How to be a great volunteer: Sarah Petchell

I cannot remember when Sarah started on our team. But for a number of years now I have watched and have been a part of her growth as a person and leader. Despite challenges she rises up and continues to amaze me by taking on what she really believes in!

She currently is one of the Primary Age four key team members overseeing two Sunday night services! This is a team very heavy with young leaders and she has moved from be put into a position to really building trust, respect and relationship with them all!

My lesson for leaders from Sarah is: Be Honest.

Let your yes be yes, and if you have to say no, say it! I am never in doubt about how Sarah is feeling or coping with life and ministry – can your pastor/leader/oversight say the same about you?

Rock on Sarah!

Some notes from a message to our key team…

(Some of the points may not make much sense, but you should get the drift)

TAKING THE MINISTRY FROM GOOD TO GREAT

The Flywheel – No one action is going to make into a GREAT ministry. It is 1,000 brilliant ideas. It was a ton of consistent effort of pushing the flywheel, again and again and again before it finally built up enough momentum and started to take off. You have to keep at it. And it will probably take years.

We weren’t called to merely exist, we were called to do amazing things. That requires greatness. Not for our own glory, but for the glory of our cause.

1. Welcome – Every child getting an exciting personal greeting!!
• The question is not are you new to church, but ‘how long have you been coming to church?’
• You never ask are you new to church? You run the risk of insulting a long time member!

2. There is always a reason for an upset child
• (H.A.L.T.) They are either Hungry Angry Lonely or Tired. SImply find out which and solve the problem!

3. Help kids build relationships – How do we do this?
• Give them a common puzzle to solve – cooperative projects
• Find common interests (boys= sport, games, trading cards, TV shows)
• One-by-one

4. All kids are A students
• Outgoing kids are the ones who stick out, pick the ones who seem to be quiet
• Kids answers are never wrong, it takes courage for some to answer, encourage them to keep trying.

5. You have permission, authority, and responsibility to keep Hillsong a 5 star operation
• Ritz Carlton example… every cleaner has the authority to spend $2,000 to fix a guests problem.
• Show weekend booklets… these are our link to excellence.

6. You have the opportunity to increase your influence
• Leadership pipeline:

1. Hillsong Kids Leader – (Apprentice leader) Be a part of the team that makes our weekend services happen/run our mid week ministries
2. KDG Leader – (Leader of children) Pastor a small group of children during our weekends and midweek.
3. Team Leader – (Coach of leaders) Oversee a group of leaders.
4. Ministry oversight – (Lead a ministry) Run an aspect of Hillsong Kids.
5. Key Team – (Oversee leaders running ministries)

7. There is a reason and purpose for everything we do
• Music before services
• Media – welcome DVD’s etc.
• Pod leaders capes etc. etc.

8. We need to be gap fillers not gap pointer outers.
• If you raise a problem come with a solution

9. How do you increase the excellence culture in Kids
• Wear your shirt, wear your name tags, Smile on your face

10. We pastor in services not just age groups
• Your service is where you pastor people, own it and take it forward

11. Getting people involved
• Never assume we have enough leaders
• There are thousands of people at church who do not serve and they are missing out perhaps on the call of God on their lives.

One of my favourite books is Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels. And my favourite section in the books talks about the fact that Bill’s key team/close ministry friends who have worked side by side him for years all have houses in the same area. They are growing old together near each other.

When longtime friend T. W. Wilson accepted the invitation to be Billy Graham’s personal assistant, he had no idea how God would use him. But as he followed God’s call, T. W. became the right-hand man whose wise counsel and dedicated service allowed Billy Graham’s ministry to flourish.

At our last Worship and Creative Art’s Team ‘Elevate’ night, the volunteer of the month was a long serving member of the choir from our Hills Campus. It was a very moving tribute and appreciation of her faithfulness

Why do these stories resonate with us powerfully?

They represent proof that longevity and integrity can be attained.

I want to be the kind of leader that develops relationship that grow old not tired, that go the distance. Pr 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend.

One of the biggest keys to success is simply keep turning up.

A long serving staff member is one thing, but a long serving volunteer is a blessing like no other!!!!  They really are living proof of a life given to the kingdom of God!!

So give it up for the volunteer!

Shout out to Mike V, Louisa K, Taryn M, Sarah P the front line of our primary team in the city campus! – Amazing volunteers committed to the children of Sydney and the world. (Taryn… not officially a volunteer, but her amazing heart and capacity qualifies her!)