Draining and Filling

I find that there are certain things that really drain me emotionally, physically, and mentally. As an Introvert things like going to a gathering with people I don't really know drains me. I once went to a Youth Specialties event by myself, I hated it I vowed never again to go alone. The next year I took my Middle School staff and we had a blast! I'm so glad that I'm going to the Conspire Conference with Willy Severson, it's going to be AWESOME!!

One of the things I really like about being a Children's Pastor carries with it a duality that tends to drain me and fill me at the same time. That one thing is "recruiting", it's no secret that every children's ministry can use more people to be able to impact kids in different and deeper levels. It's the one common denominator that all Children's Pastors have to learn. They might not all know illusion tricks, or how to juggle, or puppetry; but they all learn how to recruit. For some it comes easier for others.

For me recruitment has become a second nature of how I think. I'm constantly evaluating people on whether they would be a good children's ministry team member or where I could use their gifts or personality in the ministry of impacting children and families. This process I find incredibly filling...it energizes me to strategize and dream about teams of people making an impact for the kingdom. I also get energized by talking with people and getting to know them, entering their world and letting them enter my world. My recruitment technique though tend to be a little long, I like to hear about people's stories about their lives. This means that might spend 4 hours on the phone talking to people about their potential in children's ministry and I'll end up talking to only about 4-6 people.

All this time on the phone, the rejection (though I know it's not personal, but when I know that someone would be perfect and they don't see it I get sad), and the anticipation of making the phone calls or making the "ask" I find draining. What's interesting though is when it's all over my emotional state, mental state, physical state, and many times spiritual state is more full than it was when I started.

A few days ago I spent about 2 hours making phone calls, connecting with people, leaving messages and now several days later I'm still on a "high" from that experience and what continues to be more experiences. It's like I need to be drained to be filled.