ministry
EVENT MANAGEMENT he athe r
ministry
sanford
leadership
curriculum
Hello friend! Imagine this: it is 10 pm the night before your big event. For the first time ever, the buck stops with you! You have been purposed to bring a ministry, an event, a service, a carnival, a whatever-in-theworld God-given vision to life. Tomorrow is the big day. It’s game time! My heart behind writing this curriculum and teaching you this course is that the wisdom you glean over the next 8 weeks will allow you to lay your head down on your pillow at 10 pm (or some other reasonable time you have decided), close your eyes, and fall asleep quickly, effortlessly and peacefully…knowing that tomorrow is going to be exactly what the Lord intended for it to be. And it will be good! The only way for this to happen is to have all your ducks in a row, your team in place, your necessities delivered, your to-do-list checked, your execution plan locked and loaded, and most importantly the confidence to know that it is not the outcome of said event that defines you, but the huge smile across your proud Papa’s face as He delights over you. Well done, good and faithful servant. You did it!! This does not come to life without intentionality, strategy, planning, and implementation. Or, you could always go the other route: stay up most of the night panicking over the last minute things you forgot about, partnering with fear that no one will enjoy themselves, or even worse, no one will show up. Allow yourself to fall down the rabbit hole of the minutia and details that (at this point) are completely out of your control. Toss and turn over what he said and she said and focus on your lack, your shortcomings, the pressure to allow the results to define your worth, and on and on and on. Then wake up not rested, uneasy about every decision you made or didn’t make, compare yourself to every other person or event you’ve seen in the past and walk straight into what I call “not good enough no matter what” land. I’m exhausted just writing this paragraph! Let’s choose the good night’s sleep plan! I want you to know that having a plan, a vision, a strategy and the means to make it all work together truly matters to the heart of God! He gave us the ability to think, have forethought, develop skill sets, use leadership tools, enjoy diversity in giftedness and so much more for a reason! Jesus wants to be the focal point. He wants the glory. He wants the end result to make him even more famous. And guess what? Jesus also wants you to succeed! He wants you to work excellently as if unto the Lord! He wants your “thing” to be so fun and bring you joy and growth and delight! He is good! He wants what you produce to be a reflection of him, so he wants it to be good! It’s my honor to share with you what I’ve learned along the way over the last couple of decades in ministry. There is a lot to dive into, but don’t worry - I’ve got a plan! So let’s do this!! ~Heather
EVENT MANAGEMENT Chapter 1: HEAVEN INTERSECTS WITH EARTH THROUGH STR ATEGIC MOMENTS ������������ 7 Chapter 2: DOES JESUS CARE ABOUT THE GAME PLAN? �������������������������������������������������������������� 25 Chapter 3: THE WHO? HOW? YOU? OF PLANNING ����������������������������������������������������������������������������37 Chapter 4: YOUR LEADERSHIP ST YLE AND WHY IT MATTERS �������������������������������������������������� 45 Chapter 5: READY? SET. GO! ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������57 Chapter 6: DREAM. DECIDE. DELIVER. RECRUIT. RECEIVE. RELEASE. ������������������������������� 69 Chapter 7: TIMELINES & TEMPLATES & TAKEAWAYS. OH MY!! �������������������������������������������������79 Chapter 8: A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF MINISTRY PLANNING CALENDAR GOODNESS ������������ 89
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
INTRODUCTION Outgoing. Fun. Life of the party. Extrovert. Hilarious. Spontaneous. Adventurous. Full of life. Lover of people. A true 7 on the Enneagram, whose core motivation is freedom! These are some ways I’ve been described by those who know me best. They are not surprised to find out that my second-highest score on the StrengthsFinder test is woo (Winning Others Over). I am a strong leader and tend to carry a lot of influence and impact through relational ministry. I have vision and passion and conviction and drive. These things make sense to others who have done life with me personally and professionally. However, those who know me well and have not worked with me are often surprised to discover my number one StrengthsFinder is Strategy! They are shocked that an outspoken, whimsical, joyfilled firecracker who is chronically late and motivated by relationships over productivity would actually be wired in such a way that strategy ranks the highest in my dna. I am detailed, great at multitasking, see lots of angles, am a problem solver, really really good at math and value the importance of a solid, well-thought-out game plan. It’s an interesting combo. Funny how our Creator does that sometimes! He mixes a little bit of this with a little bit of that and then says, “bam - I’ll add this whole side and that’ll throw everyone for a loop!” I think most people imagine those who are good at planning and strategizing, running the numbers, and having an effective game plan in place from inception to fruition, as the “behind the scenes folks” who are more inclined to sit at a desk and create charts and spreadsheets all day. I don’t think they picture a pastor with purple hair and the gift of evangelism, a heart for justice, and woo on her side. I’m saying all this to let you in on a little secret. it doesn’t matter how you are wired, or what your natural giftedness is - everyone in ministry has the ability to learn, grow, and implement strategies to have a successful ministry and manage it well! Don’t count yourself out if you are “unorganized”, “not creative”, “not a strong leader”, “a procrastinator”, “not detailed”, “horrible with numbers”, “bad at articulating or casting vision”, or any other lame lie the enemy has tossed at you to make you believe you don’t have what it takes to run an effective, multi-faceted ministry. you can and you will! I learned pretty quickly in my early ministry days (in the late ’90s) that talent will only take you so far. Then, you will be left with nothing to show for all of your time and effort that was wasted relying on your own strength. When you have a vision, a goal, a plan, and a strategy from Heaven that is partnered with intentionality and a reliance on the Lord’s strength, you will be unstoppable. You will bear so much fruit in ministry you won’t even know what to do with it all. I used to just “wing it”. I would throw something together last minute and expect it to all turn out okay. This was exhausting! It didn’t honor people or their time and it left a lot of people hurt - especially me as I tried to sift through the shame of feeling not good enough or knowing that I had so much more to offer had I just taken the time to truly prepare.
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NOTES
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
About 12 years ago (after I’d already been in full-time vocational ministry for over 10 years) I made a decision. I was no longer going to rely on Heather. I wanted to rely on the Holy Spirit and take the time in my preparation to be intentional. I decided that every single thing I did in ministry would be me offering my best to the Lord. I turned a corner of last minute, unprepared, happenstance-type planning into an incredible arena of strategy and preparation where I discovered all of heaven was available to me ! ! ! I figured out that hard work and dedication actually yield more than simply good events or moments. Hard work and dedication yield honor and respect and delight and joy. They make the Father’s heart proud. They are praiseworthy, excellent, true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable (Philippians 4:8). They yield more fruit, make ministry more sustainable and are a lot easier to manage than excuses! I found new understanding and insight into how much strategy and planning are actually mentioned throughout the Bible. It was like when you learn about a new car and then all of a sudden you see that car everywhere you go! They were probably already all over the road - but now you have eyes to see them! Planning and strategy are on the heart of God! He is the ultimate Creator and if even He took the time to always have a plan, then we should follow in His footsteps and be diligent in our planning. Let’s jump in together and discover why we need to manage things well and the methodology to do so. I promise it will be more fun than you think!
NOTES
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1
HEAVEN INTERSECTS WITH EARTH THROUGH STRATEGIC MOMENTS
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
THE INTERSECTION In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth. (Gen 1) From (literally) the beginning of time, everything humans have encountered, experienced, and then later recalled as memories or history, has been defined in moments - or, in less flowery terms, “events”. Even the Creation narrative is an event in time. Whether it is a literal recounting of a seven-day event that began on a Sunday and ended with the first Sabbath on a Saturday, or is more of an allegorical explanation of a span of unknown time to unveil the Master Artist’s creation of time and space and ultimately mankind (his prized possession) is irrelevant. This is not what we are here to glean from this moment in time. I want you to focus on the magnitude of this collective ‘moment’, and reframe it as the very first time that we see Heaven intersecting with Earth, at the hand of our Creator, Jesus! If there was no strategy behind the Creation Event, God could have just decided that - poof - everything existed. Instead, He was intentional, methodical, and artistic, causing one day to build upon the previous as He proclaimed each new layer of His work to be “good”. From this, the very first event ever created and set in motion, we see the importance that God placed on intentionality in planning and strategy. This was not happenstance or coincidence. There was forethought, building, evolving, and purpose. THE POWER OF MOMENTS1 1. Moments matter. a. You often hear people telling their own stories about a specific moment that “changed their life”. i. It may have been a defining moment such as a graduation, getting married, having a baby, starting a new job, or being fired from another. ii. or, it may have been a church service they attended, a camp, a conversation with a friend at an outreach event, a mission trip, a service experience. 2. “Moments are what we remember and what we cherish.” a. These moments can be both powerfully significant and dangerously formative. What do I mean by dangerous? Glad you asked! Let’s take a look at the following fake scenario.
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CHAPTER 1 — Heaven intersects with earth through strategic moments
NOTES
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EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
CASE STUDY: SALLY Sally comes to an event at a local church. She only knew about it because she overheard some people talking about it in her favorite coffee shop. As she sipped her latte, she listened to a leadership team of young adults reminiscing about the awesome Encounter night at their church the previous night. Sally sheepishly interrupted their laughter and conversation, asking, “What church are you talking about? I’d love to go to something like that.” They were delighted and welcoming in their response, letting her know about Thursday Nights at Centerpoint Church. They explained that the Young Adults have a weekly gathering and every once in a while they do this cool thing called Encounter Night. They tell her she should check it out sometime and it starts at 6:30 pm on Thursdays. “Go ahead and google Centerpoint to get the address! Okay, byyyyeee!” Sally left the coffee shop hopeful and excited to check it out the following week. Encounter Night is finally here, and Sally arrives early because she wants to make sure she doesn’t miss a thing. She’s never been to Centerpoint before so she spends ten minutes trying to figure out where to even park. She finally decides to park in the little parking lot that ends up being the furthest from where the Young Adults gathering takes place, but she didn’t know that. After roaming around campus alone for ten more minutes she finally stumbles upon some people in front of a room. They are huddled together in a circle, backs turned toward Sally. She recognizes one of the girls from the coffee shop, so she knows she’s found the right place. It looks like the people are having a great conversation but Sally is too shy to interrupt this time, so she walks past. She finally sees an open door and goes inside. There are three or four people running around, looking a bit stressed. No one makes eye contact with her, but she overhears two people in the back of the room arguing over which slide goes where. They are complaining to each other about how so-and-so did not get the sermon notes in on time and how bothered they are that “Ugh, they never do.” Sally is uncomfortable but doesn’t quite know what to do. She leaves the room. She manages to find her way into the bathroom around the corner and hides in a stall. She texts one of her friends…“I don’t know if I belong here…maybe I made the wrong choice?” Oddly enough her friend responds and encourages her not to leave but give it a chance. While she is texting a shoulder shrug emoji back to her friend, she hears the door open. A few girls come in and start talking about how this thing never starts on time and how the leadership always seems so frazzled. • “Who knows how it will go tonight.” • “I don’t even think they have a worship team tonight, I heard they are gonna wing it.” • “I hope that random guy doesn’t preach tonight.” • “I’m leaving if they ask people to pray on the spot again, how awkward.” • “What time does this thing end?” • “Who knows, it’s different every week. It’s always so unorganized.” • “Let’s go back and see if that cute boy is here.” ~10~
CHAPTER 1 — Heaven intersects with earth through strategic moments
NOTES
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EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
And off they go. Sally exits once she knows she’s in the clear. She slinks back into the main room and takes a seat toward the back on the end chair. No one has greeted her. She doesn’t know what to expect. The night unfolds with some hiccups and some “lighthearted teasing” (blaming problems) directed toward the tech team from the platform, a bit of worship, and what Sally would call an obviously thrown together “speech”. At the close of the night, someone on the mic mentions, “Hey guys, we are all gonna go over to Bobby’s house - his address is on the WhatsApp thread.” Sally doesn’t know Bobby and has never even heard of WhatsApp. She gets up, starts to leave, and has a sinking feeling that this was a waste of her time. She was so nervous, uncertain, and distracted by her uncomfortable feeling of not belonging that she missed every point in the message and wasn’t really present mentally most of the night. She walks alone, all the way back to her car. She gave church a try. It was awful, and she probably won’t be back - at least for a long while. yuck! I’m so bummed for Sally and this horrible experience. What are ten things that could have been added and planned in advance to have changed Sally’s outcome and experience at this service? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
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CHAPTER 1 — Heaven intersects with earth through strategic moments
NOTES
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EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
Let’s see if you can find any of your ideas in the revised case study below!
CASE STUDY: SALLY (TAKE T WO) Sally overhears some people talking about a church service called Encounter Night in a local coffee shop. Even though she is painfully shy, she musters up the courage to interrupt and ask them what they are talking about. One of the young leaders immediately pulls out an invite card and hands it to Sally; it has the time and location of the Young Adults weekly event on it. Another leader chimes in and says, “Oh, and by the way, we’re also on Instagram! If you pull out your phone I can help you find the account so you can follow it. There are always announcements and stuff on there. When you come next Thursday, look for the parking team holding the “First-Timer” signs!” “Wow”, thinks Sally. “First-Timer signs! These guys have their stuff together!” She leaves the coffee shop feeling hopeful and decides to come the next week and check it out. Of course, she has already stalked the Instagram page and even has the confidence to invite her friend to come with her. Sally and her friend Sammy attend the following Thursday night. They plug in the address found on the invite card Sally kept in her wallet. As they pull into the parking lot, there are a few people waving and smiling with big signs that say “Welcome, You Belong Here!” “First-Timers flash your lights and follow me!” Sally flashes her lights and immediately feels like she is in a presidential caravan. She is escorted through some cones and given a front-row parking spot. She has barely gotten out of her car when a young woman comes up to her and says, “Hello, I’m Betsy! Welcome to Centerpoint. I’d love to show you around!” Betsy takes Sally and Sammy around for a quick tour, shows them where the restrooms are and introduces them to several people along the way; everyone they meet are all very friendly and full of smiles. Sally kind of feels like she is at Disneyland. She eventually ends up in the main room and Betsy has helped her to find a seat with her friend. She explains the flow of the night and lets them know that if there is anything they need at all to feel free to come outside to the info booth that she pointed out when they first arrived. Sally is blown away by the peace in the room. No one is rushed, no one is frantic. Everyone is present and it just feels good. Sally feels welcomed, like she belongs. For the first time in many months she feels like she can actually be a part of a church again. She is so excited - and because of all this - her heart is open and prepared and expectant. The worship team is awesome and she is able to follow along with the words on the screens even though she didn’t know any of the songs. The sermon moves her to tears and she feels something she has never felt before. She even surprises herself when she raises her hand at the end to surrender her heart to Jesus. A few moments later another young woman comes up to her, gives her a Bible and asks if she can pray with her. They do, and it’s a powerful moment of connection and encouragement. She then walks with Sally over to the info booth and helps her fill out a card with her contact info. She helps Sally get on WhatsApp and shows her where to find Bobby’s address for the after kick-back. Sally’s life has just forever changed! She and Sammy end up going over to Bobby’s, and from that night forward they never miss a Young Adults gathering on Thursday nights! They now serve on the parking lot team and as greeters as well! ~14~
CHAPTER 1 — Heaven intersects with earth through strategic moments
NOTES
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EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
Awww. That’s better! It may seem silly - but it’s true. When you are prepared and following a plan, it can be the difference in someone’s eternity! They innately feel cared for, even if they can’t articulate the feeling. They are not distracted and feel more at home, open to the environment, and can experience the real purpose of what this event is all about. Here is a list (and it’s not even exhaustive) of some things that had to be set in motion for Sally to meet Jesus: 2. Production
1. Facilities
a. Sound
a. Lights
b. Set up of chairs
b. Lyrics
d. Unlocked rooms
d. Equipment
f. Clean bathrooms
f. Sound checks
c. Sermon slides
c. AC/heater
e. Rehearsals
e. Trash cans
g. Batteries 4. Sermon
3. Worship
a. Prayer
a. Setlist
b. Prayer
b. Prep
d. Flow
d. Direction/game plan
f. Vocalists
f. Slides
c. Series
c. Lyrics
e. Notes
e. Instruments
g. Props
g. Rehearsal/preparation
h. Study
i. Practice
6. Teams
5. First Impressions
a. Set up
a. Parking team
b. Signs
b. Greeters
d. Clear directions
d. Staff and leaders
f. Decor
f. Connect 2 christ follow up
c. Hosts
c. Info booth
e. Prayer team
e. Invite cards
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CHAPTER 1 — Heaven intersects with earth through strategic moments
NOTES
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EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
8. Logistics
7. Communications
a. Bibles ordered
a. Graphics
b. Cards
b. Pens
d. WhatsApp
d. Cleaning
f. Slides
f. Agenda
c. Safety
c. Contact sheets
e. Time frames
e. Instagram
g. Service producer 10. Follow through
9. Impact
a. Reach out
a. Vision from Heaven!
b. Teams in place
b. Leaders recruited, trained, and cared for
c. Connection
c. Purpose
d. Prayer
d. Direction
e. Relational
f. Intentional
I could go on and on. There are so many elements that had to be put together, requiring so many decisions to be made long before Sally stepped into the room that night. With this strategy and plan in place, we created a moment that was not forced, but crafted intentionally so that Heaven could intersect with Earth and change Sally forever!
NOTES
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CHAPTER 1 — Heaven intersects with earth through strategic moments
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EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
Based on the Case Study above, write about a time when you have experienced something similar to what Sally experienced — either the good or bad event.
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CHAPTER 1 — Heaven intersects with earth through strategic moments
What else do you feel could have been a part of shaping this eternal moment?
How does a moment like this have the potential to be dangerously formative?
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EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
Here is just a small selection of some scriptures where we find Heaven intersecting with Earth and bringing about eternal change. We will examine these together and deduce the strategy behind each one. • The Flood
• The Calling of the Disciples
• The Ten Commandments
• The Death of Jesus
• The Exodus
• The Ministry of Jesus
• The Anointing of David as King
• The Resurrection of Jesus
• The Building of the Temple
• The Birth of the Church
• The Birth of Jesus
• The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
From the list above, which Biblical event are you most drawn to? Take some time to ask Holy Spirit to reveal to you the strategy of Heaven that was motivating the event. Summarize your reactions and response below:
Every time we have the opportunity to plan an event and be impactful for the Kingdom of God, we have the privilege of asking Heaven to intersect with Earth. There is no greater reason to be effective in our ministry. This is the end goal. We can plan moments, but it is the Lord who directs our steps. Once things are in motion, we have a front-row seat advantage to see the Lord at work! What a beautiful and humbling sight to behold! ~22~
CHAPTER 1 — Heaven intersects with earth through strategic moments
NOTES
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EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
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2
DOES JESUS CARE ABOUT THE GAME PLAN?
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
COUNTING THE COST Luke 14:28-33 NLT: 28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’ “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? 32And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away.” 31
In this passage from Luke, we find Jesus talking to his disciples about the cost of following him. He likens it to a couple of scenarios that clearly imply the need for a strategy. Here are the takeaways we can glean from Jesus’ perspective on strategy and planning according to his teaching in this moment. 1. “But don’t begin until you count the cost” a. Have your ducks in a row before you begin! b. You are involved and must know some things! c. Count the cost i. Make some assessments ii. Have a budget! iii. Know what it will take! d. There is a literal cost and an emotional/resource cost 2. “For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost” a. Someone who doesn’t prepare is foolish b. There are calculations, measurements, and a blueprint (plan) that need to be in place in order to actually assess a cost 3. “to see if there is” a. You must have vision (to see!) b. You must as consider all the “ifs” i. Know your obstacles ii. Know your resources 4. “enough money to finish it?” a. Begin with the end in mind i. Is it realistic to complete? ii. Are there enough resources? ~26~
CHAPTER 2 — Does jesus care about the game plan?
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EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
5. “Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of Money,” a. The foundation is key, but it’s not the whole thing. There are many resources needed along the way to see completion and fruition. 6. “and then everyone would laugh at you.” a. Your choices, your plan, and your strategy all affect those around you; people notice. 7. “They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’” a. The buck stops with you! b. Make sure you have a strategy that is sustainable, clear, and effective. c. Finishing strong matters. Don’t find yourself in the middle of a project and depleted of resources (even your own time, energy, vision). 8. “Or what king would go to war” a. Go! There is action in a strategy! 9. “against another king without first sitting down” a. Take the time to sit, be still. Come to the table! 10. “with his counselors to discuss” a. You need counselors! i. People who will collaborate with you and help you plan. ii. People you can glean wisdom from. iii. Discuss, brainstorm, dream, create, share ideas! 11. “whether his army of 10,000” a. Do you know that you are in charge? You are the general! b. You need an army! Having an army (a team) ready to go is crucial. c. Assess their capabilities individually and as a whole. d. Every army has soldiers! Your team needs to be ready to fight the good fight with you! 12. “could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him?” a. To defeat your enemy (your deadlines, your obstacles, your mistakes, your naysayers) you must have tools and equipment that are battle-ready. b. Realize you also have an enemy who is marching against you. He will try to thwart every good plan you come up with. i. Know how to discern the difference between your limitations and the enemy’s attack. ~28~
CHAPTER 2 — Does jesus care about the game plan?
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EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
13. “And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away.” a. Know when you can’t. Learn to say no. It is a complete sentence!
b. Delegation is key to strategy!
c. Send a delegation to negotiate (with vendors, volunteers, scheduling, other ministry departments! etc). i. Delegate tasks: set up, follow-through, communication, etc.
d. Make it a goal to keep the peace.
i. Time is often our biggest enemy. Have things prepared in such a way that there is peace in the process before the deadlines approach. The day of your event is not when you want to be delegating anything!
Jesus does care about our strategy! He cares that we are mindful and careful and intentional about what we plan. He cares about our heart in the process and how the outcomes will affect us, our team, our volunteers, and the people who will participate. Here are some other things Jesus has to say about strategy, specifically from Heaven! • • • • • • • • • • •
He is the Way, the Truth, the Life. You will face trouble, but take heart for he has overcome! Seek first the Kingdom and everything else will be added to you. Many are the plans of a man’s heart, but it is the Lord who directs his steps! Come to him when you are weary and heavy burdened. Trade your yoke for Jesus’ - his is light and easy. He is your good shepherd and will guide you. He is your bread of life and will sustain you. His strength is made perfect in your weakness. You can cast your cares on him because he cares about you. When he needed direction, he went to the Father and prayed for wisdom from Heaven; you should do likewise. • He kept a few in his inner circle to let them in on the plan ahead of the rest of the team (know who you can count on and be vulnerable with them).
What are a couple of verses that come to mind that you can mark as a takeaway from Jesus in regards to how he views strategy and planning?
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CHAPTER 2 — Does jesus care about the game plan?
NOTES
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EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
JESUS’ LEADERSHIP A great article on the strategy of Jesus is from Michael Hyatt, entitled The Leadership Strategy of Jesus. 2 Hyatt points out the following: 1. Jesus led himself. 2. Jesus confided in the three (Peter, James, and John). 3. Jesus trained the twelve (disciples). 4. Jesus mobilized the 70 (the group that traveled with him). 5. Jesus taught the multitudes. I believe these same principles can be applied as we look toward strategic planning of ministry events. 1. Lead yourself a. In health b. In spiritual, emotional and physical well being c. In rest and rhythm d. In priorities e. In family f. In pursuit of growth, depth, and integrity g. In the spiritual disciplines 2. Confide in a few a. Find your safe people b. Be vulnerable c. Be accountable d. Be aware e. Be present f. Be challenged g. Be honest h. Be willing to seek counsel and process with a few that you keep close i. Learn appropriate disclosure
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CHAPTER 2 — Does jesus care about the game plan?
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EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
3. Train your team a. Gather those that will be on this mission with you b. Train them well to know their purpose, be equipped to play their part, collaborate and execute with you c. Debrief often and effectively 4. Mobilize your volunteers a. Make every effort to ensure those that participate in your event are kept well informed b. Communicate clearly and often c. Lead them to understanding and empower them to serve well d. Be kind and professional with all vendors and contributors e. Keep in mind that you not only represent your church but the Lord as well f. Be realistic about their abilities g. Prepare them for commitment and hard work. 5. Present to the multitudes a. This is when all your efforts come to fruition by reaching your intended audience for what you have planned. b. It is a culmination of all of your strategy and efforts so you can present to them the gift that awaits them. c. Whether the event was for connection, equipping, training, worshipping, serving, or influencing, this multitude represents the ‘who’ it was all for in the first place. Honor them by your preparation.
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CHAPTER 2 — Does jesus care about the game plan?
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EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
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3
THE WHO? HOW? YOU? OF PLANNING
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
WHY People often find their way into my office to pitch their most amazing idea ever. Their concept might be full of greatness and grand detail; it can have all the T’s crossed and I’s dotted. There is often a gleam in their eye and an excitement in their voice, until I ask them this question: “Why?” They look at me, puzzled. “What do you mean, ‘Why?’”, they say. They have thought of every last detail, but they are not sure why they are planning this event, launching this study, creating this ministry team, etc. So I lean in, and I ask them again: “why?” It’s like when my children were four-years-old and they were so curious about every little thing in life and just kept asking “Why mom?” (Just picture Olaf in Frozen: “ Yeah, W hy? Yeah, W hy? Yeah, W hy?”) If you don’t understand your why, then the whole thing is… dare I say… pointless. Successful ministry has far less to do with the perfectly executed plan and much more to do with the purpose and motivation of carrying out said plan in the first place. You have to understand and be able to articulate your why. This is what motivates and attracts people to your cause — not your flashy spreadsheet or your perfect color scheme. I want to encourage you in this: if you are able to grab ahold of this simple yet profound concept at the earliest stages of your ministry development — it will change the way you plan. It will lay a firm foundation and create a solid place to build from. You will always have an answer for why it is that you are doing what you are doing. And that will feel great! Let’s say you want to lose 20 pounds. Because, you know, that sounds like the right, healthy thing to do. If you just decide one day that you are going to start a diet and you’re only going to eat certain foods and exercise every day I’m sure you will start off very strong. The first couple of days are going to go really well; and then, on day three, you’ll show up to your friend’s birthday party. They will have all of your favorite, delicious, full of gluten, carb-y snacks and your favorite funfetti cupcakes! It doesn’t take you but five seconds to dive right into all that cheesy and sugary goodness. Eh, it’s okay, the diet thing doesn’t really matter, and these are all my favorite things and I’ll just start again tomorrow. No biggie, eat away. Now let’s say there is another friend of yours at the party who you notice in another room, avoiding the gluttonous kitchen snack spread altogether. They have their own little baggie of carrots they brought from home to munch on. You approach them and ask, “What’s with the carrots?” They explain to you that they decided to lose 20 pounds. As you stuff the seventh jalapeno popper in your mouth you say, “No way! Me too! But I’m just gonna eat all this goodness and get back on the wagon tomorrow. I can’t resist, if ya know what I’m sayin’!? Actually, how are you able to eat these carrots with that spread over there?” Your friend looks you straight in the eye and says, “Well I met with my doctor last week and she told me I was prediabetic; if I don’t do something about my weight now I might not be around to see my kids grow up. My kids are the most important thing to me, and I would do anything for them. I decided to take care of my health. Of course, I want to eat that funfetti cupcake, but why would I choose that right now over a life-time of relationship with my children? It seems like a no-brainer to me.” This is the difference behind deciding to do something, and deciding to do something motivated by a why! ~38~
CHAPTER 3 — The who? How? You? Of planning
NOTES
~39~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
Your friend with their why came prepared, avoided the pitfall, thought through this scenario and overcame it because the why spoke louder than the temptation. It wasn’t that your decision to lose 20 pounds wasn’t just as great. But you had no why, therefore you had no reason to commit, to resist, to prepare, to succeed. So here is how you come up with your why. WHO?
Who is it for? Who does it affect? Who will be there? Who will it impact? Who will your team be? Who will run it? Who will champion it? Who is involved? Who needs to know?
Get the picture? The who element is exactly what it sounds like: you need to determine first and foremost who it is that you are doing this for. This is the biggest part of your why. People always matter more than program, more than product, more than productivity, more than price. People are your purpose. Love God, Love People. That’s it! We have to start here and build from this central point: the who! (Hint: the answer here cannot simply be the Sunday School nod to Jesus. It is assumed the who you are doing this for would always be the Lord! So that’s a given!) HOW?
How will you do it? How will it be prepared? How will it be executed? How will it be evaluated before, during, and after? How will people know? How will people show up? How will you market and communicate it? How will you pay for it? How will you organize it? How will you measure success? How will the t’s get crossed and the i’s get dotted? How will it work? How long? How much? How come? ~40~
CHAPTER 3 — The who? How? You? Of planning
NOTES
~41~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
The second part of the why is articulating the how. You need to get prepared and answer all the how questions that you can in order to know how you will create a plan and strategy for success. Things don’t just happen by accident. The how is the intentional part of your process. It is how you sort through the logistics and the execution of your plan. It is the how that will actually make your event happen and bring it to fruition. If you ever want to accomplish anything in life, you will need to proactively understand this method: the how! YOU!
You are in charge! You are capable! You have the vision! You recruit, train, and deploy the team! You will set this thing in motion! You are called! You have a purpose! You got this!!!
The final part of the why is of course what do you have to do with it!? you will never work hard at something or be intentional about seeing something through to the finish if you don’t know why you are involved! It is important to understand your role in the why. In order for you to lead well, you have to be realistic and confident in what you bring to the table. Determine what you will contribute, and then surround yourself with every other piece of the puzzle. you will need to communicate. you will need to take action. you will need to work hard. you will need to self-manage. you will need to serve. you will need to lead. you will need to rest in the ultimate confidence that this does not define you, but this thing you are planning will rise and fall according to what you put into it! (No pressure!)
NOTES
~42~
CHAPTER 3 — The who? How? You? Of planning
NOTES
~43~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
CASE STUDY Create your own mock case study below. Choose one of the following events/ideas and create a list of your why, including the Who How You. Then summarize your why in a concise vision statement. Events (choose one): Bible Study Series (meets weekly for 8 weeks) Leadership Development Training Workshop (1-day event) Youth All-nighter (12 hour overnight event) Community Outreach for Feeding/Caring for the Homeless (1-day event) Brainstorming your WHY ? Who:
How:
You:
WHY Vision Statement:
~44~
4
YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE AND WHY IT MATTERS
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
THE PART YOU PL AY We are all one body made up of different parts (1 Cor. 12). There are rarely times in the life of ministry that you will be called and expected to “go it alone”. 99% of the things you execute will be rooted in a team — in shared vision and responsibility. You were wired uniquely by your Creator! Jesus knit you together in your mother’s womb. There are natural strengths, talents, and giftedness that came in you as a package deal! There are also skills and experiences that have grown in you and been shaped over time. It is very important to have acute self awareness of both your strengths and your weaknesses. • Maybe you are highly confident in your ability to speak publicly, motivating teams of people and giving clear direction, yet you are unorganized. • Maybe organization is your thing, but you lack creativity in aesthetics and implementation. • Maybe you’re a behind-the-scenes type of person. Maybe you shine in the spotlight. • Maybe you are great at logistics and have attention to detail, but don’t typically interact very well with others. • Maybe you have issues with authority, humility, submitting to a process, stubbornness, or pride. • Maybe you are self-assured and feel capable, or maybe you are deeply insecure and question your contribution. Maybe, Maybe, Maybe, Maybe? Get the picture? This list could go on and on because there are literally millions of different combinations of strengths and weaknesses that could make up a person. By yourself, you may be incomplete to fulfill all that it takes to carry out a strategy. But on a team, we collectively complement the shortcomings of the other and even balance one another’s abilities. Planning, management, and strategy require leadership; they also require collaboration. In order to lead well through strategy, you must have self-awareness. If you are not in Olympicstyle athletic shape, you probably should not attempt to climb Mt. Everest - and certainly not on your own!
~46~
CHAPTER 4 — Your leadership style and why it matters
NOTES
~47~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
PR ACTICING SELF-AWARENESS What personality and leadership tests have you taken?
Share your results here.
Based on the above conclusions, what are your perceived strengths and weaknesses as it pertains to strategy, planning, and implementation of a vision?
~48~
CHAPTER 4 — Your leadership style and why it matters
STRENGTHS
WEAKNESSES
~49~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
DISC I recommend taking the disc profile if you have not. It shows your personality, leadership, and role naturally as well as within the workplace. The four categories are Dominant, Inspiring, Supportive, and Cautious. This is a great tool to help you have an accurate understanding of what you can and cannot accomplish on your own and what areas you will need to be supplemented for success. 1. In my case, I am highly relational and also a strong leader. a. My primary score in disc falls into the Inspiring category. i. I am a “High I”. ii. Yet in the workplace, I operate as a “High D”. b. I know then, the importance of surrounding myself with others who are Supportive and Cautious. i. These are areas on my team that must be supplemented for the greatest success. For those of you who are more familiar with the Enneagram: 1. I am a 7, with a core motivator of freedom - yet in the workplace, I operate as a strong 8. a. Based on these understandings of how I am naturally wired and how I adapt in leadership roles, I am able to have a high self-awareness of how I need to lead. b. It is likely that I will have recruited many different personality types onto my team and I must learn to lead them accordingly. 2. As a D/8 I am known to be very direct. a. This is all fine and dandy to get things done, take initiative, and execute a game plan. b. However, to a more reserved, cautious type leader on my team, I might scare the living daylights out of them if I am not aware that their wiring is much different than mine. c. Knowing this gives me the opportunity to communicate and lead in a way that allows others to respond well. i. You have to know yourself well in order to know who to lead and manage others!
~50~
CHAPTER 4 — Your leadership style and why it matters
NOTES
~51~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
KNOW THYSELF Let’s say you tend to be a more quiet, reserved person. Sometimes you tend to come across unsure of yourself or insecure. This is not truly the way you feel, but your communication style lends itself to give this impression. You often say you are “better in writing than you are in person”. But the event you are putting on will have 500 people in attendance and a team of 50 volunteers that you need to direct. You cannot send out written memos throughout the event… so, you know that you need to recruit someone onto your team who will help you communicate in a clear, bold way that instills confidence and assurance in a task given. Let’s say others of you are quite the opposite. You are outspoken and tend to verbally process. You are running the same event and have all the same moving parts. When you communicate in person you tend to rabbit trail and veer off course (for good relational purposes of course!). You know that you need to recruit a person who is a concise timekeeper, brave enough to call the shots to keep you on task and ensuring things run on schedule. Neither of the above leadership or personality styles is right, wrong, better than, or worse than the other. But having the self-awareness to know who you need in order to compliment your style is imperative to the success of your event. The only way to do this is to truly know yourself — to clearly see your strengths and your weaknesses. If you’ve only recruited people who are similar to you, things will be a lot harder to navigate and execute. Refer back to your event you chose in the previous chapter. Brainstorm a list of all the roles you believe are needed to create a successful strategy for said event. Star the ones you feel are a good fit for yourself.
~52~
CHAPTER 4 — Your leadership style and why it matters
List the roles that differ from your natural abilities and wirings that will allow you to have a successful team and as a result a successful strategy.
NOTES
~53~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
LEADING A MULTIFACETED TEAM How do you lead others who are different from you? First, remember your why! This will give you the confidence and motivation to step into a leadership role with those who operate differently than you. A strong why allows you and your teammates, in all your differences, to still be like-minded, united, with a focus on the same end goal. Second, become a student of the way others operate and what they need to be motivated to make a healthy contribution to your team. Finally, take risks in your growth as a leader. Scripture says you have not because you ask not. Successful ministry strategy says you learn/grow not because you risk not. Or maybe that was Yoda! The bottom line is that self-awareness and knowledge are crucial so that you can lead, collaborate, and execute a vision with others. Playing well with others begins with you! Comparison is the thief of all joy - so don’t give it a foothold. Know that exactly who you are is exactly who you are supposed to be, right in this moment! List 5 of your strengths and 5 of your weaknesses.
strengths 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. weaknesses 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
~54~
CHAPTER 4 — Your leadership style and why it matters
What is one area that you would like to concentrate on during this season that would allow you to strengthen one of your weaknesses? Who is someone that you know who excels in that area?
What is one way that you could utilize one of your strengths to bless someone else and help them to grow during this season?
~55~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
NOTES
~56~
5
READY? SET. GO!
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
FIRST STEPS We’ve spent the last few chapters discovering the Lord’s heart to have Heaven encounter Earth through moments, Jesus’s take on strategy, the WHY: Who, How, You method of planning, and gaining self-awareness by understanding leadership style and methods; now, we are ready to jump in and do some practical strategic planning. Up until this part of the course, we have talked mostly in theory about the methodology that drives the strategy. We will now take a look at some basic how-to’s and practical resources to get you going in your planning process.
PR ACTICAL RESOURCES You have been tasked to plan an event. “Where do I begin?” Glad you asked! I am going to introduce you to something I am calling the Ready? Set. Go! Strategic Planning model. I will use simple, easy to understand words instead of big, fancy, what-does-that-evenmean-words. You’re welcome!
READY? (Why)
Everything starts with the why. So let’s create a purpose, a vision, and a value for why we are doing this in the first place. We need to understand the difference between these three things (purpose / vision / values). I’ve spent the last 24 years in youth ministry, so let’s capitalize on my experience and plan a youth event! Before we begin planning this event we need to first give clarity to the purpose, create the vision, and list the values we desire to see come to fruition in the process. PURPOSE - VISION - VALUE Purpose is your why. It’s the driving reason behind your event. The whole shebang. The ultimate goal. This is what gives you inspiration and motivation, and it is the starting place for your why. In most cases, this will remain unchanged from beginning to end. Vision is an overarching statement that you create to drive your purpose. It’s the strategic goal driving your event, and it can change over time. Values are what you hope to see made evident and engaged to accomplish your Vision which is motivated by your Purpose. For example: Purpose: To love and lead students to a life-changing connection with Christ. Vision: To create a space where all students will connect, feel loved, and encounter belonging, through shared experience which will open them up to a journey with Christ. Values: Fun, Authenticity, Safe, Not “Religious”, Bold, Memorable, Creative, Mentorship, Small groups, Leader-led, Christ-centric, Relational. ~58~
CHAPTER 5 — Ready? Set. Go!
Now we are ready to brainstorm ideas for an event that will be in line with our values, be driven by our vision, and be motivated by our purpose.
NOTES
~59~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
Here is the event we are going to plan: SET. (Who & How)
We have named our event and are now ready to set things in motion. What will we need in order to make this successful? 1. A team
a. Leader
i. The person in charge, with authority and responsibility to cast vision
b. Event Coordinator
i. Responsible for logistics, volunteers, schedule, and timeline
c. Vendor Relations
d. Volunteer Coordinator e. Volunteers
i. Roles to fill: greeters, hosts, set up/tear down, runners, parking, admin
2. A budget
a. Means
b. Income
c. Outcome
d. Profit
e. Per person cost analysis
3. A timeline
a. Strategy
b. Meetings c. Schedule
d. Pre-event
e. Event flow f. Debrief
4. A template
a. A place to gather and record all pertinent information
5. A strategy
a. SMART goals
b. Communication/marketing plan c. Delegations
d. Responsibilities ~60~
CHAPTER 5 — Ready? Set. Go!
NOTES
~61~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
GO! (You) Now you are ready to go! It’s go time! Game day, baby! Let’s GO!! This is the final stage of executing your vision, the day of the event plan. All the moving parts are in motion. 1. Preparation is key
2. Learning to deal with curveballs
3. Conflict management and resolution
4. Putting out fires and managing mishaps
~62~
CHAPTER 5 — Ready? Set. Go!
5. Security, safety issues, and precautions
6. Thinking on the fly
7. How to be present and enjoy the moment
8. Observational thinking
9. Setting up a debrief
~63~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
IN-CLASS EVENT DEVELOPMENT: NOTES AND WORKSPACE
~64~
CHAPTER 5 — Ready? Set. Go!
PURPOSE, VISION, VALUE EXERCISE
~65~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
READY? SET. GO! — GROUP EXERCISE NOTES
~66~
CHAPTER 5 — Ready? Set. Go!
RESULTS
MEASURABLES
~67~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
DEBRIEF
STRATEGIC PLANNING OF CPSOM EVENT: PHASE 1
~68~
6
DREAM. DECIDE. DELIVER. RECRUIT. RECEIVE. RELEASE.
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
STR ATEGIC PL ANNING OF CPSOM EVENT: PHASE 2 PART ONE: DREAM. DECIDE. DELIVER. 1. Dreaming about your event based on the identified purpose, vision, and values. a. Decision process in full effect
b. Making the call
c. How to lead with confidence and authority
d. Delegation
e. Weighing outcomes
~70~
CHAPTER 6 — Dream. Decide. Deliver. Recruit. Receive. Release.
f. Risk vs reward
g. Responsibility checklist
h. Working with and toward what matters
i. Communication
j. Pipeline
~71~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
k. Delivering the concept to full design
l. Vision casting
m. Wooing others to your cause
Which part of this process brings you the most joy? Where do you find yourself encountering resistance in yourself (procrastinating, rushing, ignoring)?
~72~
CHAPTER 6 — Dream. Decide. Deliver. Recruit. Receive. Release.
NOTES
~73~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
PART T WO: RECRUIT. RECEIVE. RELEASE. 1. Recruiting to fill all roles a. Teams/volunteers
b. Vendor relations
c. Researching new vendors
2. Working with volunteers a. Receiving volunteers
~74~
CHAPTER 6 — Dream. Decide. Deliver. Recruit. Receive. Release.
b. Training
c. Communication
d. Relational equity
e. Releasing team by delegation of responsibilities
f. Servant leadership vs micro management
~75~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
Which part of phase two brings you the most joy? What aspects do you find yourself drawn to? Who on your team do you see as adding value to your process by bridging a gap in an area where you are not as strong?
Where have you experienced excellent leadership on a volunteer team? How could you translate that experience into wisdom for your own leadership?
Where do you struggle most to communicate? What is one way you could intentionally improve in that area?
~76~
CHAPTER 6 — Dream. Decide. Deliver. Recruit. Receive. Release.
STR ATEGIC PL ANNING OF CPSOM EVENT: WORKSPACE
~77~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
NOTES
~78~
7
TIMELINES & TEMPLATES & TAKEAWAYS. OH MY!!
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
STR ATEGIC PL ANNING OF CPSOM EVENT, PHASE 3: FINAL PHASE For this class we will be doing our hands-on project, working in groups to finalize our cpsom event. Before we roll up our sleeves, lets hit a couple more important elements of planning. 1. Setting up a timeline to successfully execute the event from start to finish, including a debrief. 2. Templates for scheduling 3. Goal setting 4. Delegating 5. Day-of-event plan 6. Online tools 7. Metrics 8. Budget 9. Evaluating TAKEAWAYS Successful events are not complete until the team has spent time thoroughly evaluating the event after its completion. Thoughtful evaluation makes room for us to celebrate our wins and each other; it also allows us to identify our areas for growth by simply getting together with our team for a debrief. This crucial step should take place within one week of your event. Fresh thoughts and ideas are always ruminating during the event itself and in the immediate days after. There are key questions you should have on your radar as your event is taking place in order to evaluate accurately. We need to take the time to examine what worked, what didn’t, what we loved, what we disliked, what is just opinion, and what might improve our future plans. NOTES
~80~
CHAPTER 7 — Timelines & templates & takeaways. Oh my!!
NOTES
~81~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
PRACTICAL PLANNING: NOTES, IDEAS, CONCEPTS
~82~
CHAPTER 7 — Timelines & templates & takeaways. Oh my!!
PRACTICAL PLANNING: NOTES, IDEAS, CONCEPTS
~83~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
PRACTICAL PLANNING: NOTES, IDEAS, CONCEPTS
~84~
CHAPTER 7 — Timelines & templates & takeaways. Oh my!!
PRACTICAL PLANNING: NOTES, IDEAS, CONCEPTS
~85~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
What is one element of this event that you know you want to have your fingerprint on?
What do you believe you should delegate to a teammate?
How do you feel about delegating? Do you believe yourself to be an effective communicator in the process of delegating?
~86~
CHAPTER 7 — Timelines & templates & takeaways. Oh my!!
Ask a teammate for feedback on your communication about your ideas. Write down one piece of feedback that you think will improve your servant-leadership.
Ask the Lord: “Lord, where do You see me growing over the next five years? How can I intentionally pursue Your heart for me as I mature in leadership and honor Your desire to bring heaven to earth?”
~87~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
NOTES
~88~
8
A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF MINISTRY PLANNING CALENDAR GOODNESS
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
WR APPING UP As we close this course, we will take a look at the many resources required for the running of the actual calendar life within a ministry. To see all of the various scheduled events and see how they affect one another, we must take a step back and look at the big picture. We will look at scheduling, facilities, resources, and rhythms of a church on a large scale to get a glimpse into why strategic interdepartmental planning is so crucial to the health and success of a balanced calendar. We can either do many, many things well, or we can do selected things excellently. SAMPLE CALENDAR
~90~
CHAPTER 8 — A year in the life of ministry planning calendar goodness
NOTES
~91~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
CPSOM EVENT DEBRIEF
~92~
CHAPTER 8 — A year in the life of ministry planning calendar goodness
What do you believe to be the most important thing you learned while planning your event?
What do you believe to be the most important thing you learned while working with your team?
What resources would have been helpful to have? Which could you have done without?
~93~
EVENT MANAGEMENT by Heather Sanford
What was the biggest win of the event?
What is one area you could identify for potential growth?
NOTES
~94~
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WORKS CITED 1
2
The Power of Moments, Chip and Dan Heath
The Leadership Strategy of Jesus, Michael Hyatt
EVENT MANAGEMENT This course will equip students with practical foundational skills to create and execute a real-time ministry event. Students will discover the “WHY: Who? How? You!” method of planning a singular event, as well as gain an overarching vision for how events create the culture for any ongoing multifaceted ministry. The Lord has a pretty clear track record of intersecting the eternity of Heaven with the temporal of Earth through specific encounters. Whether personally or corporately, by allowing for moments that interrupt our rhythms and routines, we are posturing ourselves to have life-changing encounters with Jesus and His Bride. Over the next eight weeks, students will learn excellence in strategic planning and why it matters to the heart of God. We will finish this course with a clear vision for producing and sustaining multiple successful ministry events while being empowered to lead and execute with personal practicum experience.
KEY OUTCOMES To understand the Biblical expression of moments, events, and encounters and why they matter. To discover how Jesus intersects Heaven and Earth through events, both individually and corporately. To formulate a foundational systematic strategy that will introduce the "WHY: Who? How? You!" methodology of strategic planning. To become empowered to envision, plan, and execute successful events. To be activated in the skillsets of strategic planning, ownership, and delegation.
To learn the importance of dreaming, creating, scheduling, planning, budgeting, recruiting, delegating, executing, implementing, and evaluating intentionally. To thoroughly execute an original event idea with a team from conception to fruition. To gain knowledge and experience in the areas of organization and excellence. To highlight the strengths and weaknesses of your leadership style, giftedness, and abilities and how to apply them to your success in ministry life. To bring an awareness of the overarching rhythm of a year's worth of events, services, camps, retreats, and programs, and how they holistically affect ministry culture.
PASTOR HEATHER SANFORD Heather Sanford began her ministry journey in Young Life, and she spent over 25 years serving teenagers in youth ministry. Recently, she took on a new role on the senior leadership team at Centerpoint church as the Weekend Experience Pastor. Her new role capitalizes on her gifting as both a visionary and an extrovert with a heart for the lost. She has a passion to bring freedom to those who are bound (especially in religiosity), and a zeal for living life to the fullest! She is wife to Joshua, Mom to Bayli and Obadiah (Obi), friend to many, mentor to the lucky ones, and child of the King! You can often find her singing karaoke, laughing with friends, traveling the world, living on the edge, and pushing the envelope toward authenticity... but always at the center of the grace and goodness of Jesus, learning to love Him most while loving others! C E N T E R P O I N T S C H O O L O F M I N I S T RY
PRICE: $20.00