My blog got hacked! There is nothing more frustrating than losing something that you’ve invested time, resources and energy into. I know I’m not the greatest writer, and my blogs are not as nice looking as other bloggers I know. It kind of amused me that someone thought my site would be a good place to hack.
What does it mean to get hacked? Well, someone decides to break into your site and implant malware or malicious code to mess up your site, steal info, get others info, or simply to cause chaos.
When it comes to ministry, if we aren’t careful our ministry, our teams, or we ourselves can get hacked. What are the causes? What is the cure? (for my site? it was over 2 hours of my techy son going line by line to delete the code)
Ministry Hack #1 – Vision Leaking
If we are not careful we can spend a great deal of time and energy crafting grand statements of vision and going to great lengths to roll it out to our teams but if we don’t keep it in front and continue to talk about it, challenge it and even sharpen it, it will leak. It will get hacked by other things.
Solution: Find creative ways to continue to communicate it to your team, challenge them to learn it and have fun ways to discuss it during huddles and training. Share new perspectives on how to maintain your vision and see it applied to your ministry.
Ministry Hack #2- Ministry ADD
Another way to see your ministry get hacked is to change with every popular trend. Some leaders struggle with clear ministry plan and therefore change their curriculum, strategy, programs, etc just because they go to a conference or some “big name” in kidmin says this is the most innovative thing on the market. I have found that this not only hacks your ministry by starting all over again. Some don’t have a plan at all and just keep changing because they never had a real plan to grow their ministry, to begin with.
Solution: Start with your end in mind. That should be more than a saying. It should be the truth. If you know where you’re going and why you need to go there. You won’t be jumping from program to program, curriculum to curriculum. Often times Sr. Leaders and volunteers will become frustrated because we don’t stick to a course, or worse yet, we never can clarify a plan, to begin with. Begin with prayer and study of God’s word and ask him for the plan. Talk with parents and leaders and find out what their goals are for the children. Develop a step by step plan and stick to it until God directs otherwise.
Ministry Hack #3- Unhealthy Leadership, Unhealthy Team
Take a look into a spiritual mirror, what do you see? Are you in the right place? (see many who read may think oh good his talking about my leader… No, I’m talking to you! Just like my hacker snuck into my site and implanted little lines of code that became destructive. Our enemy can find your weak spots and begin to implant negativity, competitive attitudes, bitterness, unforgiveness, and pride. (Yes, the list could continue.) It doesn’t take much to make us unhealthy but when we do become infected we cannot function the way the Father designed us. If we become infected, so can our teams. What can we do to prevent this?
Solution: Ask God. You need to regularly spend time stepping back and looking deeply and intently into God’s word. (James 1:25) if we look intently into God’s word it gives us freedom from sin and roots out the virus that keeps us from experiencing the fullness of God’s plan. We must lead the way in keeping our hearts in check, guarding our mouths so we speak the truth in love, putting aside competing with other ministries, staying humble, and serving others over making a name for ourselves, and forgiving quickly. God designed us to be healthy and fruitful but we must do all we can to stay in a place of good health.
I don’t want to see you get hacked. It was frustrating! It stopped me from doing things I wanted to do.
I pray you and your ministry never get Hacked!! If you need someone to talk you through how to battle hacks, contact me anytime!
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