The Delegation Game
In my last blog, we thought about the endless ideas, dreams and tasks of running a student ministry. You’re running small groups, planning outreach, meeting one-on-one with students, and answering tough faith questions, the list can feel endless even if you’re excellent at time management. The future of student ministry in the church will be done by us equipping, empowering and releasing those coming up behind us. What if a bigger impact in the student ministry at your church isn’t about *you* doing more, but simply releasing more?
Ministry isn’t a solo race. It’s a relay. We each have our own leg to run, and so some things may, at least for a season, need to stay firmly in our hands, but there are so many others that are ready to be passed on, shared, or even set down entirely.
This exercise will help you assess what’s in your hands and where it should go next.
What hand is it in?
Take a moment to write down 5-10 things you are currently responsible for in student ministry. Now, sort each one into one of these four categories:
My Hand – This is core to my current role.
These are the responsibilities that are central to your leadership. It might be teaching, pastoral care, or vision-setting. For this season, you will hold on to these.
An Open Hand – I could invite someone else to take this on or partner with them!.
These are tasks you don’t need to do alone. Perhaps you could train someone up or extend an invitation to share the load. Who in your ministry or team is ready to be invited? What other ministries and churches are in your city that you could extend the invitation to partner with?
A Hand-Over – Someone is already ready to take this on.
Some things are ready to be released. There’s a student or volunteer who is capable and willing, you just need to let go and empower them to run with it.
A Laid-Down Hand – It’s time to let this go.
As we explored in the last blog, not every good idea needs to be done right now. Some things may have run their course, while others, like a relay baton, just need to popped back in their box for now until they’re needed for the next race. Letting go makes space for creativity, new life and a fresh approach.
Now it’s time to reflect. You’ve sorted your responsibilities, but is everything in the right place? What areas do you need to challenge yourself in?
- Which category did you assign the fewest things to? Challenge yourself to move one thing into that category.
- What felt hardest to move out of “My Hand”? Is it right for it to stay there?
- Who is already in your “Hand-Over” or “Open Hand” section? If no one, who can you start to invest in?
Releasing leadership isn’t about working less, it’s about using our leadership to mobilise and expand kingdom-work and not breaking our own backs in the process, but releasing God-given gifts across his Church. When we invite others to join-in, we multiply the impact, increase the diversity of our offer, and make space for new opportunities.
So my invitation to you is this: take a deep breath, open your hands, and pass the baton where it’s needed. As we join in with what God is doing in this ripe season, the harvest is so plentiful: whose hands are you inviting to reap with you?
