We often talk about the big elements that will help you win at leading a children's ministry, things like a big fall festival, a summer camp, a new children's ministry facility, an exciting Sunday morning program or a midweek discipleship strategy.

These type of elements are very important.

But just as important are the hundreds of little things that happen that don't get noticed as much. Jesus said it like this:

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants and entrusted his goods to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every man according to his ability. And immediately he took his journey. He who had received the five talents went and traded with them and made another five talents. So also, he who had received two gained another two. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.

"After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. He who had received five talents came and brought the other five talents, saying, 'Master, you entrusted to me five talents. Look, I have gained five talents more.'

"His master said to him, 'Well done, you good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter the joy of your master.'

"He who had received two talents also came and said, 'Master, you entrusted me with two talents. See, I have gained two more talents besides them.'

"His master said to him, 'Well done, you good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter the joy of your master.'

"Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow. So I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'

"His master answered, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not winnowed. Then you ought to have given my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

"So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away (Matt. 25:14-29).

In the context of this story, the man who missed his opportunity was not the man who had five talents, or was it the man who had two talents. It was the man who only had one talent and was given the opportunity to increase it. But the man simply couldn't see the value of the one talent, and so he buried it and obviously didn't use it to gain increase. If you want to win at leading a children's ministry, then you've got to not only get the big wins, but the little wins as well. Often the culmination of the little things is what brings the biggest win when compiled. The compound effect of doing little things well over the course of time may just be the answer to effectively leading a children's ministry. Let's take a look at 30 of those "little things" you can start doing.

1. Thank your volunteers for serving each week.

2. Keep your ministry areas clean and clear of clutter.

3. Send a "miss you" note to kids who miss a weekend.

4. Send at least one thank-you card to a volunteer each week.

5. Have coffee ready for volunteers.

6. Return phone calls within 24 hours.

7. Send volunteers a birthday card on their birthday.

8. Smile. 9. Invite students to serve in your ministry.

10. Provide donuts for volunteers.

11. Walk guests to their room instead of giving them directions and pointing.

12. Send a handwritten postcard to new guests.

13. Explain your security process to first-time guest families.

14. Start a Facebook group for the parents in your ministry. 15. Bring a volunteer their favorite kind of candy.

16. Have agenda items ready when you come to a meeting.

17. When you promise a volunteer you will do something, actually follow it up and do it.

18. Keep track of what you are working on and cross off items as they are completed.

19. Thank your pastor (or other person you report to) for the privilege to be on their team.

20. Share praise reports of what God is doing in your ministry with the person you report to.

21. Be on time for meetings.

22. Be engaged and listen during meetings.

23. Read a book related to your area of ministry.

24. Carry breath mints with you and use them.

25. Have an umbrella ready and help people into the church when it's raining.

26. Have some volunteers over to your house for a meal.

27. Send birthday cards to children in your ministry.

28. Stand at the exit door and greet each child and their parents as they are leaving.

29. When someone asks you to pray for them, stop what you are doing and pray for them right then. 30. Send your teachers their lessons a minimum of a month in advance so they have plenty of time to prepare.

How many of these are you doing already? Which ones do you need to add to your list? What are some other little wins you can have?

Dale Hudson is a ministry builder. As a children's pastor, he has helped build some of the largest and fastest-growing children's ministries in the country. At Cross Church, he led the children's ministry to double in size. At Central Christian Church in Las Vegas, he helped the church grow from 8,000 to 16,000 in four years with the majority of the growth coming from reaching unchurched families.

For the original article, visit relevantchildrensministry.com.

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