Making the Most of Your Summer Break

“School’s out!  School’s out!  Teacher let the monkeys out!”  Do you remember the excitement you had as a child as you ran out the school doors for the last time?  Can you remember daydreaming about what you would be able to do that summer?  As kids, we just basically went along with whatever Mom and Dad planned for us and it was all so easy.  But now, as Christian leaders, the birth of Summer reminds us of camps, Vacation Bible Schools, mission trips, and various other activities for our kids.  And now it is OUR responsibility to plan them . . . AHHHH!  If we are not careful, we will plan the entire summer, jumping from one activity to the next, just trying to “keep our nose above water,” and neglecting to enjoy the time ourselves.  Have you ever taken a group of kids to the zoo and had one child who constantly ran from one exhibit to the next?  He could not wait to see the monkeys, but once he got there, he watched them for fifteen seconds, then raced ahead to see the polar bears?  We sometimes do that with our ministries...we are so “busy” that we do not enjoy and learn from each event.  I would like to challenge you to do two things this summer:  Reflect and Cast!

The largest room in the world is the room for improvement.  If I really believe that, the only way that I can make essential improvements is to reflect and cast.  Effective leaders will make time after an activity to reflect and evaluate what “flopped” and what “flew.”  Effective leaders do not just continue doing something because they have always done it.  If it did not work, why do it again?  Or maybe they see the potential of an activity that “flopped,” but need to make changes to make it “fly” next time.  “The only way to get a significantly different result is to do something significantly different.”  Call your key leaders today and plan a meeting to reflect upon what happened this past year in Master Club.  Then use that list to cast a vision for next year.  Here are some sample questions to answer:

1. What is the weakest area of our Master Club?
2. Who could God use to improve that area?
3. When will we train our leaders for next year?
4. How can we encourage faithful attendance and badge completions?
5. Who will follow up and visit new children?
6. When will we help our kids with Mailbox and Regional Competitions?

Successful leaders make key decisions early and manage those decisions daily.  Will you ask God to give you wisdom as you plan for a successful year in Club, or will you be content to just “keep your nose above water” and run for another year?  Do you desire a significantly different result from what you had this year?  Begin reflecting and casting today!