Our CM programs are disorganized
Your Question:
“We have many great people serving in the CM programs; but there is no organization, or unity. Each teacher or leader is teaching their own lesson with their own “curriculum.” How can I unify our efforts during CM programs, so that we are all working together?”
The Issues:
When a church is young, there is a sense of being thankful for whoever volunteers to serve in the CM. Because of very limited funds and limited people, the CM programs are not organized or controlled. One volunteer may know how to teach, yet another volunteer knows nothing, but is willing to help. This disorganization may be “okay” at the very beginning of the church’s life, but it soon becomes dangerous. The liability of being responsible for the children’s safety, and emotional and spiritual nurturing for the time we have them is too risky to leave disorganized. A supportive, positive parent can become the church’s worst legal nightmare if his or her child is abused. Organizing the CM demands attention in the form of policies, procedures, coordination, and communication. It may even require asking someone to step away from the ministry.
Scripture Foundation:
“But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” 1 Corinthians 14:40
Short Answer:
We are told in scripture that “God is not a God of confusion, but of peace…” (1 Corinthians 14:33). It is not His plan to have a disorganized CM. If there is disorganization within the CM, it is not His doing, but yours as a leader. This is the significant responsibility that He laid on your shoulders when He called you to this ministry. You don’t carry this “yoke” alone, though. He carries it with you. He will show you what to do, and He will lead others to come along beside you to help organize it. What He waits for us for you to recognize the need and to fall on your knees and ask Him for help. “Organization” begins at the very core of the ministry. Ask God to help you “journey” back into the CM vision He gave you and to help you “see” how this vision is designed to be carried out in your specific ministry environment. If you are serving in a small church or in a church that doesn’t have a “culture of service,” you might be faced with working with what you have, rather than getting what you dream of. Being a good steward of what you have is an excellent place to start building your organization. When God called Moses to free His people from Egypt, Moses told God he couldn’t do it. God asked Moses, “What’s in your hand?” The only thing Moses had to give God was his shepherd’s staff. God asked him to throw it down. This was something that shepherds never did. Moses released control of his staff, and the rest is history! What is in your hand? You have some loyal, faithful servants who will serve God without question. You have some space to operate your CM. You have some sort of curriculum. You have some sort of financial support from the church. That is what you have in your hand. Ask God to help you organize what you have. Start small and grow big! Begin by building relationships with the CM team that you do have. Share your burden for organizing the CM with them. Ask them to help you unify the lessons or curriculum use. Challenge them to be faithful in their service and to communicate with you regularly. Set some simple policies and procedures that protect the function of the ministry. Protect the children by requiring parents to drop off and pick up their children at the ministry room. As you begin to organize the ministry, God will show you more things you can do. For more help, click on the links below.
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