Refreshed Networks

I just got back from several days of conference planning and am realizing how much I miss these kinds of gatherings. Although we are just starting to really gel as a design team, there is so much comfort, encouragement and blessing in doing this work together. Being able to sit and hash out where the church is going, common concerns and challenges, and to be held in that space apart infused with the Spirit is an awesome thing.

A while back I wrote about soul friends and their importance to our personal journeys. I suppose there could be some overlap here, but I see networks as a little different. These are the people doing similar work to us, who can’t wait to tell us about new resources they’ve found or new programs they’ve tried. They can’t wait to talk about creative ways of tackling niggling problems. They nod and listen and you know they’ve been there, done that in their own ministry, or if nothing else will have lots of empathy.

I don’t know about you, but in my denomination, due to financial realities, most regional staff support positions to congregational Christian Education staff and volunteers have been cut. Similar positions at the national offices have been reduced and our resource room is now gone. These changes have been a long time coming, but the impact is being felt in a number of ways. Without the link to local Christian educators who will mentor and support and resource us, many child and youth leaders flounder, feeling alone and swimming upstream.

At least partially filling the void are existing and new networks. The time set apart to plan a conference highlighted for me the need to connect and be in community with peers and those who share your passion. These people are like gold. They understand the nitty gritty of the work you do and the struggles of the ministry you provide. They can suggest conferences and facebook groups and resources that you can plug into and help you feel more confident. They are completely removed from your ministry setting and so can bring valuable outside perspective, humour and reassurance. These people have helped me maintain my sanity many times.

If you have existing networks, celebrate them and never take them for granted. Think about the last time you connected, whether by phone or in person, text or facebook message. Is it time to check in? What kind of frequency would you like for that boost they offer you (and hopefully that you offer to them)? Now is the time, when the calendar or day-timer are not jam-packed, to intentionally block in time to network and exercise some self-care. Check in with your people and set up some times. I used to meet monthly with other child and youth ministry staff in my Presbytery for coffee. It was a lifeline for all of us.

If you have few or no networks, don’t despair. Put out some feelers through social media or phone churches with staff and volunteers in similar positions to you, whether in your own denomination or not. See if there is interest or an existing group that meets already that you could join. Sometimes groups have been together so long that they are reluctant to add newcomers. If so, know that’s not the right place for you and move on. Online networks exist, particularly facebook groups, so do some searching. Linkedin is another spot to connect with people in similar roles to you who might be interested in in-person meetings or online ones.

In these last weeks of summer before the new season begins, make sure that your support network is in place. Be as intentional in providing for your own needs as you are about providing for your participants and leaders.

Happy networking! May God bless you through those who share your journey.