Did you know that statistically 20% of the people are doing 80% of the work? This statistic is startling but reflects the truth for many contributors that serve in Children’s Ministry.
For such a time as this, God has placed you in a volunteer position to serve Him, to grow spiritually and play a part in expanding His eternal Kingdom.
We are grateful for you
Our Creek Kids team is very grateful for your willingness to serve and we want YOU to be aware that burnout can happen. You might get tired, weary, exhausted, and/or overwhelmed contributing on a regular basis and question yourself “is this something I should be doing?” Our team understands both the value of contributing and the stress of burnout, so before you ever reach that point we encourage you to take some time to examine the heart behind why you serve.
- What makes your heart feel alive for Christ?
- What are you passionate about?
- What do you enjoy doing in ministry?
- What are your natural gifts?
- What are your spiritual gifts?
1 Peter 4:10 (NIV): “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
Avoiding Burnout
One helpful way to avoid burnout is to stay connected with others in the body of Christ. Oftentimes, contributors become so absorbed with “DOING” that they become disconnected with the body. Examine your spiritual outlets. Are you involved in a small group, Bible study or other opportunities to go deep with the Lord in the context of personal relationship?
- Learn to balance your life amongst your other responsibilities as a parent, employee and friend.
- Pace yourself. Ministry is not a sprint; it is a marathon.
- Create margins of time so that you are not always rushed and remind yourself to do all things unto the Lord.
- Spend personal time with the Lord and renew yourself with His strength through praise and worship, quiet time and scripture reading.
- Be encouraged by His Word and promises that are for you!
Avoiding burnout can also be avoided by a change in serving or ministry area, at times. Below are some questions to ask yourself to help you discover how you are wired and what spurs you on in ministry. God has designed and created each of us with certain abilities, talents and skills to share with others. The answers to questions like these also help us determine what kind of roles you are suited for and where a new fit may be beneficial.
- Do you enjoy holding babies or singing songs with preschoolers?
- Do have a gift for teaching elementary aged-children?
- Do you prefer a small or large group setting?
- Need a break from interaction with kids…Checking in families can provide that break.
- Do you like technology…if so, running the videos may be a good fit for you?
- Should you consider serving in a new classroom or with a different age group?
Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human master…”