When Ministry is Difficult
Face it. Ministry, especially church ministry, is hard even when times are good. Even when things are going well it is difficult to manage the day to day activities, stress, and interactions. Leading the ministry team through difficult times can feel nearly impossible. Difficult times are inevitable though. They will come. Ministry will be difficult. It will seem that nothing is working. The team already knows that things are not going well. They don’t need spin, or false positivity. They also don’t need blame, or head in the sand cowardice. The team needs clarity. They don’t need every question, or possibility, answered. You can lead them through the challenges with a steady and transparent nerve and still be constructive while you do it.
A Caveat
Fair warning. Stress creates pressure. Pressure to perform, succeed, or any host of other things. A difficult season is not the time to work on your character. Character doesn’t develop because of the stress. Pressure around an object can only reveal what is already inside. It cannot create something that isn’t there. If you don’t have character it is not going to show up in your life because of stress. The stress will only show what is already there. If you lack humility, integrity and character it won’t show up because of hard times. Your lack will only make the hard times worse. Don’t wait for the struggles to learn these things.
What’s Working?
Hey, chances are that not everything is failing around the organization. Take a step back and look at what is going well. In dealing with the uncertainty of the current situation, look at where progress is happening. Even if it is a very limited or slow process. The point is that a little bit of positivity will go a long way. It becomes a reminder that not all is lost and adrift. You can be honest about things not working without moving into false positivity, or blaming something else so it isn’t “your fault.”
Let the Team Speak Freely
Allow the team to express any and every concern with what is going on in the organization. Do not minimize any concern, thought or worry related to things. Give space for them to be honest about the weight they are carrying. If no one is willing to speak up and share it is quite possible you have eroded the trust you have with the team. See the above caveat for reference. When the team does ask, or share, respond as truthfully as you can. It isn’t necessary to share unrelated stories or concerns as that will only create further confusion. Saying that you don’t know is perfectly acceptable as well. You don’t know. Be honest about it. Don’t make something up. If you don’t know, say it, but you can also talk about what things could influence the outcome. The point is to have a free and clear space to deal with real issues and concerns.
Stick to Facts
Do not speculate. Do not guess. Do not assume. Do not. Do not. Do not. Stick to the things you can verify. Stay with the facts of the situation. Look at the observable information and steer clear of presuming upon any of it. Take time to connect the work of the team to the renewed progress you are all after. Reinforce how they continue to fit into the vision and plan.
Model Consistency
Show up each day with calmness and reasonableness. In the tough moments don’t have wild swings in your mood, or attitude. Consistency even in tough times will build a sense of trust with the team. Take time to focus on what can be controlled. Lashing out in anger, or yelling blame at other things, will only deepen the fear amongst the team. Again, stress only reveals what is already on the inside. You are not going to suddenly become consistent because you are walking through difficulty.
Ministry has difficult seasons. There is always an ebb and flow related to leading and dealing with people. Take time now to consider what kind of leader you will be when you enter the dry season. Prepare now for those times. Don’t wait for them to catch you all off guard. When those times do come you will be able to lead the team through them easily.