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The fpKids ministry team is reading the book, Inside the Magic Kingdom.  A book that hits the top of my “Must Read” list.  In fact, I wrote a series on the book back in 2007.  You can read that here.

I’ve led a book discussion on this book 5 times and every time I walk away with something new.  Much like Lencioni books, this is a fable of a group of people getting an insiders look at the world of Disney.  The main takeaways of the book are 6 common things that create the magical DNA of Disney.  Number 2 is the one that sits with me right now.

Pay fantastic attention to detail

In the book, you’ll read about how an extreme attention to detail sets Disney apart from the rest.  As we’ve applied this principle in kids ministry over the years there is proven value in a high attention to detail.  Yet I’ve primarily focused this principle to physical space, print documents and things like that.  Mostly tangible items that someone could physically pick apart.

Yet this time around my lens has changed.  Digesting this principle today I ask myself how this applies to shepherding relationships in my ministry.  How would relationship building look if I paid fantastic attention to these details?

What would my follow up look like?

How frequently would I write notes?  Follow up on a prayer request?  Check in on sick volunteers?

Do I know the names of all the kids in the family when I contact a parent?  Do I have a brief history of their participation in the church?  Am I looking to address any need and not just kidmin needs?

Paying fantastic attention to detail in relationships is unexpected… and remarkable… and Seth Godin would love that.

Challenge:

100 invitations by July 4th

This was the challenge put before my team a few weeks ago.

Why?

Well, I want more volunteers in my ministry.  I want more people pursuing the same goal that I pursue every week in fpKids.  To create an engaging, relevant environment to connect kids to Christ.

You don’t have to spend much time in kids ministry to know that relationships are a major key to making your environment engaging and relevant.  And I need a lot of volunteers to make those relationships happen.

It’s simple math… if I want more people, I need to invite more people.  Yet, there are so many other things on the weekend that can dominate my attention.  Scoping out invitation opportunities can often take a back seat.

Yet the challenge of 100 invitations by July 4th has kept this task in the front seat for me.  (That and the fact that Chuck Carringer keeps challenging me to beat him.  But that’s another post.)

After keeping this focus the past few weeks we’ve seen 20 new people visit fpKids ‘kicking the tires’ to see where they’d like to serve.  We’ve seen at least an additional 10 check out other areas of ministry simply b/c they were invited to serve.  Not only is it a great infusion to the existing volunteer team, but it’s loads of fun to see the excitement on a new volunteer’s face when they see how they can contribute.

Imagine if we maintain this as a front-burner goal every week by consistently inviting people to take part in what God is doing at Faith Promise Church.

We might see a volunteer deficit turn around.

We might see momentum build leading into the fall.

We might see more people using what God invested in them to accomplish what He desires in our community.

So I’ll ask more.  Funny how the simplest ways to invest in your ministry are so easily overlooked.

The art of directional signage.

Too much signage is visually noisy.

When I’m lost in a building and trying to figure out where to go… I’m not looking for a sign, I’m looking for a face.  A person available to tell me what to do or where to go.

Many times we post signs with the right intentions… to clarify the path.  However, too many signs distracts from the clarity.  It ends up being so visually loud people can’t hear what you’re trying to tell them.

So cut back on the noise.  Walk through your space asking yourself…

Is the sign necessary?

Or is there a more personal/attentive way to communicate?

Don’t get me wrong.  Signs are important.  But too many signs can make them all invisible.  If a sign is necessary, keep it simple and clear.  Otherwise, recruit a volunteer to act as “human signage”.  Let their smile precede the friendly gesture as they provide direction for your attenders.