The Little Things Mean a Lot (Part Two)

This week we are looking at minding the details—caring for the little things that can make such a difference in the strength of a ministry. Yesterday we saw the details of pastoral care and the worship services, and today we add two more areas where little things matter:

III. Ministries of the church.

1. Why not have a point person on staff – even if you are the only one on staff – for every ministry?  That is, a person on the church staff who knows that sports is on his responsibility sheet.  The secretary or a director knows that if anything is to expand in the area of assimilation, he or she is responsible to get it started or to make it excellent.  And all the other areas of ministry or potential ministry.

2. Then why not have a “ministry manager” for every program or ministry or activity?  That is, an active volunteer who knows that the details of this program or ministry are his to accomplish with help from others.  This keeps the point person, the pastor or staff person, from doing all the details or from “making the Kool Aid.”  It’s a simple law that can be a great help.

3. Why not have an evaluation sheet that just goes through your values or some goals for the church year and then use that for leadership teams to evaluate a ministry so that it doesn’t just continue ad infinitum?  Sometimes we do things because we did them last century.

IV. At the office.

1. Can’t the secretary or someone always know how soon the pastor will be back?

2. Many have found good benefit from a daily or weekly coffee time (with muffins or cookies brought by a volunteer who is asked by another volunteer).  Be sure that if it meets on Friday all the staff feels like part of the team that prays for Sunday.  This is a good thing whether there are three or 50 on staff.

3. Why not manage and thank by walking around regularly?  Everyone who writes on management says we should, whether your have three on staff or 300!  But few do it. When I walked around FedEx Custom Critical with their then-president, Bruce, whose company had won numerous accolades for culture and employee satisfaction, he introduced everyone by name!

4. Every church should consider having one or two or several ministries that are just for people outside the church.  Samples include sports events like a running race or a bicycle race if there is a large parking lot.  A free grace car wash has been hosted by some churches just to get the attention of neighbors.

Many have held workshops on how to search for a job, for people out of work.

Support groups for alcoholics or people with eating disorders or special needs in the family can be an excellent way to serve.

5. Start meetings on time.

6. Be sure everyone who ministry manages or helps in a ministry knows the person he or she reports to.  So often no one gives new eyes to a ministry or makes suggestions for improvement.