I’m sure there are more than five, but here are the ones that I want to focus on this season in my ministry:

1. Nurture your soul
Every single day I want to spend time nurturing my soul by spending time with God. While I wouldn’t hesitate to tell you that this is the most important thing, sadly it is often times the easiest to neglect. I seem to be able to run on my own power for a short time but my soul yearns for more. Lasting over the long haul requires a consistent time to reconnect and refuel with my maker.

2. Engage in a plan for personal growth
This can be as simple as reading a chapter of a book, listening to a podcast, skimming a few blogs, or spending time with a caring mentor. Like a good exercise routine it’s wise to change-up what you do from day-to-day to stave off boredom. Check out the links page of my blog to help you get started.

3. Connect with your team
This is definitely a place where a little energy should be spent every day as well. Recently I changed how I meet with my staff so that we can spend more time together, both on work stuff and fun relational time. If you don’t have a paid team taking a few minutes to send them a text, post something on their Facebook wall, or grabbing a cup of coffee are all great ways to stay connected.

4. Let families know that you’re still out there
This would have been really hard to pull off ten years ago, but in today’s world of twitter and Facebook it’s much easier to do. Send out a daily status update to keep parents in the loop, make sure that your website is up to date, or send out an encouraging tweet. These are all small but powerful ways to show families that you care.

5. Have fun
Take a break! Watch a sitcom and laugh out loud today. Bookmark Dave Barry’s blog. Laugh with your kids – maybe play a game at dinner. Let your hair down; it might be just the thing you need to get over the hurdle and help you relax after dealing with a difficult situation.

What else should a children’s ministry leader do on a daily basis?

–Jeff