Growing up, I lived in a family and community where if your team won, people would tell you that you could have played better. If you scored 20 points in the game, you should have scored 22 points. If you got straight A’s, you should have tried harder and got all 100%. If you accomplished something that you worked hard at, don’t acknowledge it, but instead move on to the next challenge. Growing up I never learned how to celebrate in a healthy way.
In ministry I think many of us forget to do something that I think is important to produce longevity and health: celebrate the wins. For many years in ministry, I led by pushing hard, having high expectations, encouraging people to live life to the fullest, meet goals and then move to the next opportunity. I was a part of really successful ministries, but I found that some of the students and leaders I was around felt like they were missing something. I didn’t understand what that was until I spent some time in Kentucky.
My first day on the job in Kentucky, we had a church wide baptism service. At the end of the service, there were a handful of circles of people that developed. After about 5 minutes, the people in one of the circles started cheering and clapping. A couple minutes later another circle erupted in applause. I didn’t quite understand what was going on, until someone explained that a person in each of those circles had just gave their lives to Christ and the group of people were celebrating. I watched and participated in 3 circles where students gave their lives to Christ that night, and by the end of the night I knew God had given another important piece to my ministry tool bag.
Over the next couple of years, I learned the skill and power of celebrating wins. I learned the power of identifying goals and then celebrating as a team or with students when those wins happen. I have seen volunteer teams go from good people doing what is asked of them, to great teams who are on mission and sold out to helping students connect with Jesus. I learned that helping teams learn how to celebrate wins can help keep ministries focused and thriving. Over the years I have learned to be intentional in setting goals, evaluating those goals and then celebrating the wins. I have learned that celebrating something solidifies its importance and value.
I would encourage you to identify what is important and then celebrate when you, your team, or a student achieves it. Celebrate when someone gives their life to Christ. Celebrate when a ministry event goes well. Celebrate when volunteers all show up. Celebrate when a student invites a friend. Celebrate when a leader leads a student to Christ. Celebrate when students feel drawn to ministry. Celebrate the things that you want to see replicated in your life and in your ministry.
In ministry there will always be more things to do, more students to reach, more volunteers to recruit, more conversations to happen, but never forget to take time to celebrate, give an applause, have a party, go out for ice cream, give a high five.