Family ministry leaders are constantly sharing the bigger vision with their volunteers.

No matter how you communicate it, many volunteers seem to miss the point.

Before you question their commitment, heart for the ministry, or intentions, answer this question:

What is the best way to make your vision stick?

While I have trained our leaders in a variety of ways (guest facilitators, email trainings, online discussions, and the most boring way – meetings) the best way for your leaders to capture vision is to see that vision working firsthand.

Firsthand experience is the BEST way to make your vision stick.

Now you may be wondering, “How do I get my team to experience my vision firsthand?”

I’m sure you can come up with some creative ways for your team to see, smell, touch, and experience the vision for your ministry. Good for you, but I’m not that creative.

One of the most humbling realizations is that you do not have everything figured out! Especially in church ministry, there are plenty of people who are more creative, more organized, and more administrative than you are.

Why not channel in some of their expertise and extend it to your volunteers?

Here is the easiest way for your leaders to catch your vision:

Take leaders to see other ministry spaces and meet other thinkers.

Seriously. Pick a day on the calendar, load your volunteers into a church van, and visit a few area churches that are great at certain aspects of your vision. This works for preschool, kids, student, college, and camping ministries!

Here is how I facilitate a ministry field trip:

  1. Pick a Field Trip Day

I try to see when the majority of my leaders can attend. I know that I will never have 100% attendance (and we have nearly 100 volunteers which would make this impossible). I take those who can attend knowing their excitement will be contagious for the rest.

  1. Schedule 2-3 Churches

Call 2-3 churches that you know of and respect and see if they would give your team an hour and a half to visit with the family pastor and tour the facilities. Plan your route before hand and make sure you leave in time to travel between churches.

  1. Load Up the Van and GO!

Make a big deal about the trip. Remember, you are taking them on a journey to see your vision in action. Most of your church members have not visited another church in YEARS because they have been serving at your church.

  1. Meet with the Family Pastor

Allow the family pastor at the church you visit to share their vision, mission, and schedule with your team. Let them ask some questions. When they see your ideas are being utilized around the area to reach people for Jesus, they will be less defensive when you implement change.

  1. Tour the Facilities

Look in the classrooms, check out the worship center, take some promotional materials, and snap some pictures. You never know what ideas your team will come up with as you tour another facility.

  1. Eat Lunch Together

I use this time to laugh, hang out, and debrief. Remember, this might be the first church your volunteer has visited in 5 years! Get their thoughts and make sure to plant the ministry’s vision in their minds and heart.

  1. Send a “Thank You” Note to the Church

Express your appreciation and fill them in on the highlights of your field trip. Let them know how beneficial their hospitality is to the ministry of your church.

  1. Get to Work

What action items do you have from your field trip? Make sure you communicate with everyone (including those who were not able to attend) and strike while the iron is hot!

Now What? 

Have you taken any ministry field trips? How did it benefit your team?

 

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