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Do You Micro-Manage?

Posted by Debby on August 5, 2014

“Micro-Manager” is a business term that has been coined for the leader who is controlling and gives excessive attention to minor details. He or she tries to ensure perfection by insisting on reviewing and approving everything. A micro-manager squelches initiative and creativity, and is perceived as having a lack of faith in the employee’s competence. Conversely, the term “macro-manager” refers to one who leaves the employee alone to their assigned tasks, confident that he or she has chosen competent workers who can complete the task.

Outside of the business world, we can still micro-manage and squelch the initiative and creativity of those serving under us. Yes, we want everything to be perfect for a retreat or women’s event. But we also need to give the assigned leader space to learn and grow and even make mistakes as they seek the Lord and use their God-given gifts and abilities. No, they may not do things exactly the way that you would have; but God doesn’t need another “you.” And maybe it’s time for a change in “the way things have always been done.”

Posted in: Developing Leadership, Lessons Learned, News & Information, Realities of Ministry

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Responsibilities of a Retreat Coordinator

Posted by Debby on July 22, 2014

The position we call “retreat coordinator” may or may not be filled by the ministry leader. In our case, our pastor’s wife is the ministry leader. But she is called upon for many other needs, and it would be very hard for her to coordinate the retreat both in the planning stages and at the retreat. That is why we have a retreat coordinator. She reports to the ministry leader, but does the organization and supervision involved in planning a retreat. It is important to have this position filled by a strong leader.

The best way to really see what the retreat coordinator does is to look at one of our flow charts. She is like the hub of the retreat, and other leaders are in charge of various aspects of the retreat. But everything is overseen by the coordinator.

The coordinator is involved in the retreat from the beginning – determining the who, when, where and what of the retreat. As retreat planning begins, depending on what is most important to you, you book the speaker and date of the retreat, OR you book the venue on a certain date and then find the speaker who can work with you on your chosen date. The retreat coordinator communicates with the speaker throughout the planning stages and works with the venue so that a contract can be signed. Once you have the date, a speaker and a venue, then the fun begins. If your speaker has not already suggested a theme, one of the preliminary planning activities is determining the retreat theme.

Once the basics have been confirmed, the coordinator works with a leadership team who will report back to her and/or she will hold their hand as they go through the process of planning the retreat. The leadership team is given responsibility to oversee the various ingredients of the retreat: registration, greeting, printed material, prayer team, skit, workshops, etc. In small churches like ours, the members of the leadership team often takes on more than one of these responsibilities. But the need for one person to coordinate remains.

Posted in: Developing Leadership, Lessons Learned, News & Information, Realities of Ministry, Retreat and Event Planning, Starting Points in Retreat Planning

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I Love Lists…and a Predictable Day!

Posted by Debby on July 15, 2014

I love lists. I love making lists…and I love crossing items off that list! Sometimes I make a list just so I can cross items off.

Maybe pride is involved, because it gives me a sense of satisfaction as I see, in a tangible way, the things I have accomplished in a day. However, it is not just selfish things on those lists. The lists may include ministry tasks, letters to write, calls to make that pertain to ministry, in addition to my personal goals for the day. The perfect day in my eyes would include my quiet time, accomplishments of my daily tasks, and significant progress on “the list.”

Unfortunately, that “perfect day” is a rarity. Why? People. People interrupt. People have needs. People want to talk. People want my time. People have problems that don’t have an easy or convenient solution. People don’t get checked off a list so easily.

But if I look at the example of Jesus, I see that His priority was people. He saw them with eyes of compassion and reached out and ministered to them at every opportunity. His single-minded purpose included all of those interruptions and inconveniences caused by the needs of those around Him.

Posted in: Inspirations, News & Information, Realities of Ministry

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The Women’s Ministry “Family”

Posted by Debby on June 24, 2014

There is a line in Psalms 68:6 which says: “God sets the lonely in families.” I found this awesome quote recently: “God promised to put the lonely in families and a women’s ministry group is the perfect ‘family’ for many lonely women. Have your heart open and be prepared to be a family to them” (Kim Webster).

That made me think. Can we, as sisters in the Lord in women’s ministry, function as a family? What are the distinguishing features of a good family?

A family can be made up of a variety of personalities (don’t we know it!), and is accepting of differences (age, personality, interests, level of growth)
A family should be able communicate without fear of ridicule;
A family learns and grows with one another;
A family should be where you are loved and accepted – as you are;
In a family, if you make a mistake you are forgiven and welcomed back;
A family is there for one another in crisis.

Posted in: Inspirations, News & Information, Realities of Ministry

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Preparing the Pray-ers

Posted by Debby on April 15, 2014

We have scheduled times where women can ask for prayer at every retreat. This gives women a time to respond to what the Lord is doing in their lives, and we also want to support them in prayer for overwhelming personal situations. Sometimes we have prayer circles set up after an evening session where a woman can go to a prayer circle to request prayer. Other times we have had rooms where women are encouraged to go for prayer. We carefully select women who are mature spiritually to be available for prayer. If other churches are joining us, we ask them to have a prayer team available, so that if their women want prayer, they can go to someone familiar if they so desire.

These women are then required to attend a meeting, normally during free time during the retreat, where we review guidelines for those willing to serve in this area. At this meeting we assign prayer partners, pray together and cover a few important reminders.

Here are a few of the things that the meeting covers:

The schedule – when and where they will be praying
Prayer partners assigned – we always have two women in the prayer circle
Confidentiality
Issues of abuse (i.e. should a teenager ask for prayer about abuse that they are experiencing, you are legally required to report it)
Be prepared to share the gospel should the opportunity present itself
Gently cut off lengthy and emotional explanations; the entire situation does not need to be understood in order for you to pray. Help the women focus on their specific request for prayer by saying “How do you want us to pray for you?”
Use of breath mints :-)
Reminder: They are there to pray, and not to be counselors. If their need requires counsel or professional help, pray-ers should encourage those women to set up an appointment with their pastor when they get home.

Posted in: Developing Leadership, Ingredients for a Great Retreat, Ministry at the Retreat, News & Information, Retreat and Event Planning

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