Caring For Your Teams (Christmas Edition)

The holidays are here, which means rostering teams, putting together multiple set lists, managing crazy schedules, and finalizing everything leading up to an intentional Christmas weekend.

One thing I’ve learned while serving the church is the importance of pausing and reflecting on the holiday season and celebrating everyone God uses to help share the Gospel in a new way.

It can be easy to get so wrapped up in the “doing” that we miss the opportunity to be present, which is a gift in itself. This season is a crucial time for all churches as we share the Gospel with some for the first time and, for others, the first time in a long time. There’s nothing wrong with paying attention to the details and wanting to present the Christmas Story in an excellent way, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of the people you serve with year-round.

Christmas services provide a space for so many lives to be changed as they encounter hope, but you want to make sure your teams are experiencing that for themselves as well.
My encouragement and reminder for you this season is to be intentional with your volunteer teams and the people who help you lead those Christmas services.

Here are a few ideas I’ve found helpful:

• Give your team the gift of being present, not just looking to what’s next.
• See them for who they are, not what they can produce or execute.
• Plan something fun so you can enjoy each other’s company.
• Personalize a gift and a handwritten card to remind your team how much they mean to you.
• Share a meal together (don’t forget to include their families).

The holidays can be challenging, but you can make a tangible difference by taking time to honor your teams and love on your people as you finish the year strong together. It’s a fundamental principle in leadership, but can be overlooked with all that’s going on. So I’d like to encourage you to make it personal this Christmas season as you ask God to help you lead with love and purpose. The way you lead with love during this time will reflect Jesus and help unlock so much more passion and vulnerability in your teams. When you remind them of their purpose over performance, it’s a clear indicator of why they’re ministering and sharing that same message with the people of your church.

Here’s a scripture to meditate on during this season:

2 Colossians 3:15

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

I pray you find peace, joy, and time to celebrate each other and all God has brought you through the year.