Connect with your community. Go to secular sources or
businesses for funding help. Talk about your plans and needs.
Someone not connected to a church may be looking for an opportunity
to give back -- whether through goods or monetary donations.
Stress-Free Staff
Relations
Here's hoping your staff relations are a source of joy -- not
distress. You can strengthen staff relations and sidetrack stress
with these pointers.
- Collaborate with your team. Even veteran children's
ministers learn something new every day. You've collected a team of
intelligent, caring volunteers, so why not gather their insights
into how to improve your ministry? Plan "potluck" meetings to
discuss strategies for success, and invite each volunteer to bring
an idea to the table.
- Supply resources. Always being "on call" is tough. So
take some of the pressure off by duplicating yourself and your
expertise through supplies and resources that help your volunteers.
Provide resources and training so your volunteers have access to
new ideas-even if you're not available for brainstorming
sessions.
- Foster community. Get together with volunteers and
their families outside your ministry. Sharing food and time
together strengthens bonds between people and encourages healthy
work relationships.
TOTALLY TRANQUIL
TEACHING
Our hats are off to teachers, who deal with stress from several
different angles. So whether it's quashing misbehavior or growing
in assertiveness, here are the top tips from veteran children's
ministers.
