Endings and Beginnings Part 3

Last week was intense and represented both endings and beginnings with the provincial election and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC) where difficult discussions took place. The campaign is over and the commissioners have returned home. We have an elected government and much work to do within the PCC to heal and find a way forward together.

I'm hoping that your year of ministry was less dramatic and taxing than last week's events were for me. That last two weeks I've touched on how to respond when leaders and participants say they won't be back and about how important it is to debrief with your team to put the year to rest. Perhaps it was the best season ever or perhaps it was disappointing and exhausting. Most likely it was somewhere in between. If you've collected feedback from participants and leaders, you've probably got a pretty decent picture of how people feel that things went.

Now is the time to look at new possibilities, of how to re-tool where needed, to dream bigger, to address realities and to adjust how it's always been done or even what was tried that was new. Sometimes the formula is ingrained for a good reason - it works and provides stability to kids and youth in a very unstable world. Sometimes it is ingrained because coming up with something else and countering the comfortable can be difficult when you're already tired.

Once you've had your debrief, cleaned out and filed away this year's accumulated stuff and taken a breath, consider the following to lay the groundwork for the coming new season:

1. Take a birds' eye view - Who came and who is anticipated to be coming back? Who are you currently reaching - your own congregation? neighbourhood kids? people from other churches? And who are you hoping to reach? Where are there pockets of kids the same age? Who is moving up and what holes will be left? How much can your leadership team take on and who might be ready to join you? Spend some time in prayer visualizing those who have come to your programs and who God is asking you to spread your net to.

2. Think about the meat - The delivery system is the program type and content, and it is truly important. This should be reviewed - is it still engaging and teaching from a biblical standpoint you endorse? But the meat is also about the things that participants will remember most - what is the purpose and how is it being lived out? what are the values you're trying to transmit through the relationships you are building? Are you seeing fruit you want to see and, if not, why might that be?

3. Keeping momentum - You may be lucky enough to have the summer off and to hand over open session Sunday school to a volunteer, but many are now gearing up full tilt for VBS and other summer opportunities. It's tough to balance looking ahead with summer prep that is right under your nose, but be sure to commit small chunks of time to setting yourself up well for fall. Send communication to parents inviting their kids to come to summer programs and letting them know by early August when fall start-up is happening, any changes to the schedule and offerings, and how excited you will be to see their kids back. 

4. Making the catch - Besides keeping parents reminded of how much you value them and their kids, as well as making sure they pencil in your programs before other opportunities displace you, think about other ways to grow if it is an outreach. What promotion has worked in the past - your local paper? posters on hydro poles in the neighbourhood? church sign? facebook page? Brainstorm how to connect with those God is calling to your ministries.

5. Get pumped - After having some time unplugged from your programs for a mental/emotional break, get psyched for the new season. Look at websites and new resources that can enhance what your're trying to achieve. Connect with colleagues doing similar things. Go to any workshops related to your programs that you can. Take a retreat to replenish your spiritual reserves, even if just for a day. 

The fall will be here before we know it. Take the time you need to set yourself up well, to make wise decisions about changes that are needed to keep the focus where it should be and to be faithful. Regardless of how this year has gone, God always provides us with new opportunities. Embrace this upcoming season and pray for grace, trusting in God's faithfulness through it all.