Holiday Commitments That Work All Year

Written by Evelyn Gustafson

The holidays are just around the corner. Don’t let this be a ho-hum season because of the hurry and scurry. Church and home can be a little overwhelming as more activities than one person can handle pile up each year. There are more presents to buy, more cooking to do, more parties to attend, more waiting in line, more, more, more.

This year really can be different. There is nothing you can do about the hectic pace around you, but you can do something about own life, in particular, your work and service to God. It could be the best Christmas present to God, your family, and to yourself, as you make a commitment to excellence and to be about our Father’s business with pride and enthusiasm. Set aside time this Christmas to begin a commitment list that can take effect the first of the new year.

Commit to Care 
Those of us who have chosen to work in church/church-related offices have a unique opportunity to work with fellow Christians. For a number of years, when I expressed dismay or disappointment at occurrences I read or heard about, my husband would remind me that I’m not in touch with the real world—that my work has secluded me from the world in a protective cocoon. Oh, if that were only true. Working in a Christian office does not exempt us from dealing with unpleasant situations or, sometimes, unpleasant people. Ministerial and support staff have sat in my office and shared their hearts and their hurts. I’ve had opportunity to weep with them and pray with and for them. I often observe power struggles within churches. We sometimes have minikingdoms within the church family (sometimes nourished in Bible study classes, deacon bodies, small cluster groups); even staff members can set up and rule a minikingdom within the church. Many conflicts within (and outside) the church could be eliminated if our focus was on the real power source.

As Christians we are all called to minister; we can only minister effectively if we serve with a giving, caring, servant attitude. Make a decision to care throughout the year.

Challenged to Change
Most of us are motivated by change—many times there is so much work to be done that only change can force us to break out of our mold and meet new challenges. We seldom experience growth without experiencing change. Change can be frustrating, but it also can be stimulating. One thing we can be sure of—change is inevitable. We need to seize the opportunities it brings and experience the growth it offers. Few churches have experienced extensive growth without the accompanying needs (and often frustrations) that come with growth such as expansion of facilities, additional staff, and increased budget needs. But what church would choose not to grow? Only when we learn to recognize the challenges and benefits that change brings to our personal lives and to our lives in the workplace, are we ready to stretch toward a new level of achievement.

I encourage you to make some goals that will challenge you, both personally and professionally, and enable you to work toward reaching your potential.

Dispel Discouragement
One comment I hear repeatedly from attendees at my conferences and seminars is “they have no idea how demanding my work is.” My response has always been (most of our church members form an opinion of the secretaries/ministry assistants’ work based on their own involvement) for most members that is a few hours a week on Sunday and Wednesday. They have little awareness of the day-to-day work in the church office.

Remember who you are and whose you are—the One who created you knows you and knows your potential. Don’t dwell on the could’ve, should’ve, would’ve. When we concentrate on what others think or say, it takes time we should be using to concentrate on achieving what He wants us to become. Keep a sweet spirit as you focus on your goals. Most of us work hard—we need to learn to work smart. Planning, goal setting, organization, focusing on our objectives, and doing our best work will help us work with confidence and project a professional image.

Calm the Chaos
A certain amount of chaos is required in every working office. We never include it in an agenda, but it appears with fanfare and ultimately demands our attention. Chaos is a common situation in the business office.

Chaos comes in various shapes and sizes; our flexibility and professionalism will help us deal with the worst variety. Chaos sometimes can result from poor planning, or no planning, or misunderstanding. Lack of communication is often the key to chaos. Use work forms, request forms, building use forms—anything that enables you to have written documentation that will help avoid confusion. Inneroffice communication for multistaff offices will provide a more efficient and effective way of keeping the staff informed. Written policies and procedures will reduce as-needed decision making and will assure your members that decisions are based on policy rather than on personalities.

Keeping calm will help you be a key player in finding a workable solution in the midst of chaos throughout the year.

Trust Your Team
Mutual respect and openness are foundation blocks for a staff team. In an office setting, where we often spend more time with colleagues than we do with our family, it is imperative that we recognize our different responsibilities but work as a team. A baseball team has nine players on the field (and backup players on the bench). If the team goes to the field without every player knowing the game plan, chaos has been added to the roster. You are a member of the team—I hope you are recognized as such.  The secretary/ministry assistant should be present in staff meetings and be included in formatting plans for your church/office.

In the business world an experienced CEO or supervisor recognizes that his secretary is one of his key players. He sees her as a vital part of the company’s business team and knows a good secretary can double or triple his efficiency.

Many pastors/supervisors have unrealistic expectations of what the secretary/ministry assistant can accomplish. I know from experience in my office that it is easy to lose sight of how much time is required for a given task if you aren’t the one actually doing it. If you feel more work is being given to you than is realistic, you might consider doing a time analysis. Keep a record of how much time it takes to do the routine projects assigned to you. If you are working for more than one supervisor, a time analysis will be especially helpful. A detailed time analysis can be conducted with all work (telephone calls and interruptions) logged in 15-minute segments—time consuming, but a real eye-opener. If we’re serious about being more efficient and effective in our office, it is worth taking the time to analyze how we are using our time.

Keep on Keeping on
Things of the world crowd into our lives and claim our time and energy until sometimes we feel we have very little left to give. Don’t let the frustrations and stress cloud your vision. Keep your eyes focused on what God has set before you.

 I recall hearing the story about a young boy who visited Carnegie Hall. He wandered from his group, approached the majestic piano, and began playing chopsticks. The maestro, passing nearby, whispered to the lad, “keep on playing” as his skilled fingers touched the keys to echo the familiar notes. Sometimes we may feel as though we’re only playing chopsticks, but with the Master at our side, His whisper can be heard above the cacophony of life.

 It has been said that successful people are successful because of their character, energy, determination, interpersonal skill, intellect and charisma. All of those characteristics are a part of the package, but one important factor was overlooked—you are a child of the King; you were designed for success.

You are a designer original. Step out on the runway of life this Christmas and all year through with renewed commitment and allow Christ’s love to radiate in every aspect of your life.

Evelyn Gustafson is Business and Communications Director, Greene County Baptist Association, Springfield, Missouri.

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