WHAT GOES UNNOTICED IN YOUR PRETEEN MINISTRY?

(Image by Chad Goldman Photography)

The above image sticks out. It gets noticed.

Why? Because it is unusual, humorous and eye catching.

What goes unnoticed? The everyday, ordinary and mundane things.

Who gets unnoticed in your ministry?

Who gets your attention?

Is it the outgoing preteens who like to be the center of attention? Or maybe the newcomer who is visiting for the first time.

You often focus your attention on the students that stick out, in some way or another.

As a result,  you may overlook the everyday, average preteens in the group.

The ones who regularly attend, but don’t stand out.

Maybe you didn’t realize that Austin is being bullied at school. He didn’t show any behavior differences, but then again you didn’t ask how he was doing.

Or maybe you don’t give certain volunteers in your ministry the attention they need. You forget to checkin with them on a personal level.

One of the best ways to notice the mundane is to ask for what God is doing.

Before and during weekend and/or midweek services, ask God to show you who needs your attention.

Ask for his leading.

What goes unnoticed in your ministry?

What tasks get most of your attention?

Are they high impact tasks or do they simply consume much of your time and energy but aren’t very effective?

What programs are you overseeing that really need to be killed?

What problems have you been avoiding that needs to be addressed?

When you are focused on everyday tasks, you can overlook important stuff.

Every once in awhile take a step back, look at the big picture and analyze your ministry.

Identify and give attention to what is currently being overlooked.

What goes unnoticed in your life?

How is your marriage? Spending enough time with your own kids?

Do you allow space in your personal life for reflection, prayer, exercise and downtime?

Do you have a social life outside of work and family?

Church culture places a high value on productivity…getting things done.

As a result we often overlook our own personal lives.

We neglect other important stuff like: family, fitness, relationships with friends outside of church, our own relationship with God, etc.

What are you overlooking at the moment?

Take a moment to reflect.

Take a moment to reflect and pray about what is going unnoticed in your ministry and life right now.

The beginning of the year is the best time to do this type of exercise.

Nick Diliberto, Preteen Ministry