When directing a cm that had a director before you – how to be a good steward of the cm facility

Your Question:

“I am directing a CM that had a CM director before me. How can I be a good steward of the CM facility?”

The Issues:

Generally, the CM must work with the facility given to the ministry. If the Lord blesses you with being able to expand or move to a new facility, that’s great. Being a “good steward” of the current facility requires that nearly every inch of the facility is used effectively with no “clutter” or wasted space. Cleaning up a cluttered facility may require discarding items that are not currently being used. Cleaning up or reorganizing a facility may bring stress or conflict.

Scripture Foundation:

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him…Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men, because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”  Colossians 3: 17-24

Short Answer:

Being a “good steward” of the CM facility requires some detailed investigation and observation of what is currently happening in the facility. This observation requires recording the population in each room during each service. It also requires that every door is opened to every room or storage area.

A typical CM accumulates “stuff” that is put into rooms, cabinets, or in areas that aren’t used frequently. The first step in becoming a “good steward” of the CM facility is to clean out items that aren’t being used, or that will never be used. You may find old Bibles, lost and found items, old curriculum, broken chairs, or costumes or props that were once used and stored. Your job is to determine what can be discarded and discard it! If you think you might use the item, you can choose to keep it, but you have to weigh the “cost” of storing it in the CM area vs. the “cost” of replacing it later. You should become known as a director who keeps a clean house!

Your “investigation” should include going through every cabinet it every room! You’ll find much clutter! In the classrooms, you’ll probably find old craft items, broken crayons and old Bibles.  You may be able to clean out the cabinets and keep the old Bibles or unused craft items in a central area. Being a “good steward” may also include deciding what each room needs to store in the cabinets and organizing the items or supplies that may be sporadically needed in a central supply room.

Your investigation may also reveal classroom or area overpopulation. You may also discover rooms or areas that aren’t used at all, or that have very few children in them.  Can you shift room usage to place larger groups of children into larger rooms, and smaller groups into smaller rooms?

Being a “good steward” of the facility may also mean cleaning or replacing the carpet, painting the rooms, or pulling weeds outside the buildings.  We are encouraged to “do all things as unto the Lord” (Colossians 3: 17-24). This includes caring for the facility as if it was the Lord’s place! So, walk around the facility and see things through the perspective of honoring the Lord. If this were the Lord’s facility, would you let the weeds grow?  If this were the Lord’s facility, would you let the dirty, smelly carpet remain? Would you repaint or redecorate the rooms?  You may be surprised to discover how many people in the church would love to help refresh the CM facility!  As James said, “You have not because you ask not” (James 4: 2, 3).  Make a list of the things that you would like to be refreshed and share your dreams and needs with the whole church.  Ask for permission to place a note about this in the newsletter, bulletin, or on the church website.  God will provide you with people who will help you refresh the CM facility! For more help, click on the links below.

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