Baseball is America’s favorite summer pastime, and my household is no exception. With it, I’ve discovered, comes plenty of running. No, not running bases. Running after baseballs thrown past me. You see, this year my son is learning how to pitch, and I serve as permanent catcher and personal coach. He has speed, but struggles to put pitches in the strike zone. Fortunately, there’s a simple solution.
“Just keep your eyes on where you want to throw it—never stop looking at my mitt as your target,” I told him. “And step toward your target when you throw.”
In children’s ministry, you have the ball. The question is, do you know where your ministry is supposed to go? You do if your ministry has a strong vision. When you lead with your eyes locked on a vision and help others step toward it, ministry hits the target. If you lack vision, ministry will aimlessly fly and people will needlessly run as they chase errant throws.
A compelling vision not only keeps ministry on course; it serves as the single most effective volunteer recruiting tool. In the same way a pitcher alternates between throwing fastballs and curveballs, we face the challenge of determining how and when to deliver vision. Every good batter comes to the plate hoping to receive a good pitch.
Sounds complicated, but it’s really not that tough. Just keep your eyes on the target and step toward it.
Copyright © 2005 Promiseland.
