How To Facilitate Change To Move Ministry Forward

Because life dictates things never stay the same, we will all be affected by change or will effect change. Sometimes changes are not appreciated, but without those Jesus ushered in, we’d never have a simple way to spend eternity with Him. Praise God! Considering His communication method, change isn’t bad if explained well and handled in a godly manner. If you are involved in making a change, you are key to helping others move through the change with you. If you see a need for change but aren’t in a position to effect it, you can lead up and out to those who can help you. Regardless of your role, these tips will help you facilitate change to move your ministry forward.

First Things First: Pray

Throughout the Bible we see Jesus stop on the spot and pray for a situation or person. In the Sermon on the Mount, especially, He teaches us — and calls us — to pray (Matthew 6:5-15). Says Bob Bob Bennett, Awana missionary to Pennsylvania and New York, “We need to be in prayer. We need to make sure the change is not just more convenient for [us] and going to impose [our] will; it’s something God has led us to.”

Praying on our own or with others can align us with God, prepare hearts to hear our requests and sometimes bring about change without us having to do anything more. It’s one of the greatest tools God gives us. Besides staying close to God through prayer, Bob recommends you have meaningful communication both upward to church leadership, if necessary, and then outward to anyone who would be affected by the change.

Gather Information and Organize Your Thoughts

If you see a need for change, you have probably already engaged in some sort of evaluation. Whether a formal or informal process, whether it was only your observation or involved others, Awana blogs and resources can help you think through the right questions to ask of your volunteer leaders, families and even kids. Having solid data can help you pinpoint what exactly your change needs to be. When you must communicate to someone else, the data will help you validate that need. Read This One Thing Will Make Next Club Year Easier, listen to Healthy Clubs Don’t Happen By Accident and take a fresh look at the Ministry Year Planning Guide for further information.

How To Communicate With Church Leadership

When communicating with your pastor, elders or children’s director, Bob cautions you to not go to them on a Sunday morning, when their mind is on the service. Make an appointment. Schedule enough time so no one feels rushed. 

“When you bring the idea for the change to them,” says Bob, “you also need to say why you need it. Then [they’re] going to need time to process that and really ask questions.”

He explains that if you get what appears to be push-back from church leadership, remain calm and realize the people you are speaking to may not spend a lot of time in your children’s ministry. They may need to understand the situation a bit more in order to determine how they can help.

“Don’t get offended or upset,” he says. “[They’re] just trying to process … if this is going to be a good move and what can we do.” He suggests remaining calm and working together to plan a strategy for implementing the change — or even a better one!”

I’ve met a lot of people over the years who are very passionate about the ministry they’re working with, especially if they come up with an idea for change that they think is going to help them reach more kids. It’s great to show passion but not make it an emotionally charged meeting.”

“I’m a big fan of preparing,” says Andrea Perkins, missionary to the Heart of Texas. Before she meets with anyone in leadership, she puts together a proposal, “one page with plenty of white space.” Included on it are the needs for the change, what you intend to do, how it fits the vision and mission of your church, who will be impacted and how much it will cost. Doing so gives the people you’re speaking to something to take with them, research and consider. “Hopefully you can get to yes for what you want,” she says.

Melanie Hester recommends meeting with leadership on a regular basis before you ever need a change. “Pitch it to your pastor, ‘Hey, I’d like to meet with you twice a year at a minimum.’” The first meeting would be to cast vision for where you’re headed. At the second meeting you would show your pastor all that God did. And perhaps you want a midpoint meeting to let your pastor know how things are going. “If you guys can connect specifically outside of changes, then you’ve already created a framework to be able to have conversations when changes are needed to happen.”

How to Communicate to Others

As important as it is for you and church leadership to be on the same page, it’s pertinent that families and volunteer leaders affected by your change are not caught off guard. Bob likens it to casting a net to catch fish. “We need to cast a vision to others … to the people we work with, the parents and even to the kids,” he says. “If that can be centered around your church’s vision and mission statement … all that alignment is so important.”

When everyone understands the need for the change, he says it’s a “no-brainer.” But what about when they don’t? When that happens, he suggests you pause, return to prayer and see if you need to make adjustments to align. The important thing is to communicate to anyone who would be impacted. “Nobody likes to be surprised by something that’s going to be changed,” he says. Before it appears in a public announcement or on your website, “make sure you go personally to [anyone who would be affected] or have a small group meeting where you can discuss the issue.”

To make the meeting and changes go more smoothly, prepare a list of frequently asked questions. You may not know yet what questions you’ll be asked, but you can proactively plan for them. In the end, your list becomes a useful tool for your directors as they share the news with others. Says Bob, “They can use the talking points to make sure [you’re] all on the same page, seeing things the same way.”

What If Change Doesn’t Happen?

Making changes can be hard, but equally difficult is not getting the change you anticipated. When you don’t get what your heart was set on, it’s important to take that “position of humility,” says Andrea. “Your ministry has seasons where you don’t get everything you want. Those things are for a reason. … None of those pinch points are surprising to God, and none of them are going to hamper His ability to bring His Gospel to people He is calling.”

The Example of Nehemiah

The book of Nehemiah offers inspiration and biblical guidance on how to implement big change — the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem! As cupbearer for the king, Nehemiah was in a position to lead up. As God moved in Nehemiah’s heart, Nehemiah went to the Lord in prayer and fasting. Later when the king gave Nehemiah a chance to explain his downcast demeanor, Nehemiah made a prayerful request. Empowered by the king and God to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, Nehemiah continues to seek God’s guidance.

If God has put on your heart a need for change, first align yourself with Him through prayer. With His guidance, lead up and out with effective communication and remember that change can be hard. Sometimes change doesn’t come the way you want or in the timing you want. Turn again to God. He will lead you in the direction He wants you to go.

This blog was originally written as part of a series during the pandemic but has been updated with new information about change in any season. Although the other blogs in the series still refer to COVID-19, the tips and ideas can help you with how to recruit and how to retain leader volunteers, what’s essential in child discipleship, and why its important to evaluate your ministry For more ways to prepare for the coming ministry year, check out our free resources, read our blogs and join us at the Child Discipleship Forum, this September in Nashville and online.