It’s time for “Spring Cleaning.” If you serve in an average church, you have closets, drawers, and storage areas packed full of stuff. Maybe even garages or storage buildings with even more stuff. These items are usually stored in the name of good stewardship, to keep limited budget dollars from being wasted. The problem is that few (if any) people know what’s there, so you keep rebuying, reprinting, rebuilding, etc… the same items over and over (and over).
The best solution I’ve found is to put everyone to work for a day. Instead of an all-staff meeting one month, have a cleanup day (with pizza, of course). If you’re a smaller church – and even if you’re not – add some volunteers to the mix. Then start cleaning. Toss or recycle the junk, and donate what you know you’ll never use to someone who will. Then WRITE DOWN what you have left and where it is. Clearly label it. Don’t pack things behind other things where they will never see the light of day again. I’ve even seen some well-organized backstage areas where the gear is barcoded (which helps with security, as well).
“If you want to improve your life immediately, clean out a closet. Often, it’s what we hold onto that holds us back.” – Cheryl Richardson
Hmmm - well, let's see...
I'm a Christian, a husband, a dad, a son, a pastor, a consultant, a musician, a writer, and bits and pieces of a bunch of other things. My work life has followed three main phases - business to teaching to church. I was the Weekend Services Pastor for nine years at Northview Church, an awesome church in the Indianapolis suburbs. I used to work for Willow Creek, another awesome church in the Chicago area. Plus I've written for various magazines and websites, and other freelancy sorts of things... My life mission is to help the church be as excellent as it can be.
Oh yeah - the name's Greg. Greg Wallace. But not the race car driver or the major league pitcher or the British celebrity chef. Just the creative worship guy. Hi.
It's my hope that these ideas, musings, rants, raves, etc... will inspire you. They're just my opinions - but again, I hope that they'll help to inspire you. Because the church really, really needs inspired creative types. If you're a creative type (and most people are, deep-down), ask God for help. Then take any ideas that are useful to you - borrow them, nab them, use them, adapt them - and make them into something greater...
You can head over to my Instagram site for an abundance of shorter posts: creativeworshipideas. If you're looking for consulting - especially on weekend services, team leadership or multi-site strategies - I'd love to help. Just message me here, and I'll be in touch - Greg
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