One day I ran into someone and he didn’t ask me what my major was or where I was from. He asked me what my favorite color was. Random? Yes. However, it was refreshing to answer a question I wasn’t expecting. I’ll never forget it.

As you’ve been hearing from me and countless others, you need to ask questions while at Orange. I’m going to encourage you to stay away from the easy, common “coping” questions. Don’t let “where are you from?” be the first question you ask. It’s too easy and everyone else is asking that. By all means, don’t ask someone how many kids they have in their program right off the bat. It’s tacky. You can ask, but let it flow out of the engaging conversation you’re having.

So, in case you’re intimidated to lead out with a question to someone you don’t know, here are some pre-loaded questions to ask. While you’re waiting for the breakout to begin, give one of these a shot. When you’re getting some free coffee in the OL Lounge, ask the dude next to you in line one of these questions to get the conversation going.

• What’s the biggest concept/take-away you’ve gotten so far? (Don’t ask this question in the registration line, it would be weird)
• If you could be any fruit, what fruit would you be? (An orange isn’t allowed, that’s too obvious)
• After you get home from Orange, what’s the first thing you plan to start doing?
• Is it just me, or do you always want to call Francis Chan, Jackie Chan? (Ask this to someone who was here last year, otherwise they may not get it)
• After you get home from Orange, what’s the first thing you plan to stop doing?
• Do you know what Reggie’s middle name is? (It’s Herschel – actually Herschel is is first name with Reggie being his middle)
• Who do you wish was here with you hearing and learning all that you’re experiencing?

Okay, there’s a handful. Got any others? Feel free to leave some good ones in the comments.

Recently, as I was in the hiring process, I used this survey to get more information about a candidate I was interviewing. All I can say is amazing! I learned more about this person than I would have in several hours in conversations. As a result of the survery, I was able to conduct an interview that followed up on answers from the survey.

So, if you’re looking to hire someone in ministry, this survey may serve you well. If you’re seeking employment in Children’s Ministry, take the time to respond to the survey. It may help prepare you for interviews and formulate way’s you will communicate your history/vision/mission/strategy.

Children’s Ministry Survey

Rank these areas of ministry (1-10) with number 1 being you don’t like it and 10 being you like it a lot. In addition, fill free to add a comments to explain.

• Speaking or Teaching in front of kids
• Developing children’s leaders
• One-on-one time with kids
• Connecting with parents
• Counseling parents
• Team leadership (delegating, managing, motivating, spiritually leading, etc…)
• Goal planning and achievement
• Process building: putting a dept together from the bottom up
• Creative planning
• Technology, using computers for productivity
• Planning and executing events
• Writing curriculum
• Studying what other churches are doing
• Administrative organization, planning and follow-up
• Discipleship of kids
• Parent involvement
• Teaching other children’s leaders or pastors
• Ability to start things from the ground up
• Technical
• Strategy meetings (creative: what to do)
• Planning meetings (detail: how to do it)

Would you like an evaluation team for your ministry?

What would you evaluate?

How do you interface with the community other than through events?

Describe or discuss how you build teams, lead people, confront, cast vision, etc. – your personal philosophy or approach to leading people!

What are your favorite ministry accomplishments?

What would the children in your ministry say they like about you?

How do you see yourself? Rate 1 the least like and 10 the most like.

• Fun
• Serious
• Strict
• Intense
• Motivational
• Flexible
• Inspirational
• Loving
• Organized

What is your personality style (whatever test you know the results of and/or list your personality qualities like analytical, creative, outgoing, detailed, etc.)?

What is your process for assimilation? (children into the children’s ministry and their parents into the church).

Describe how you involve parents in the children’s ministry.

What is your approach to goal planning and achievement?

What are your hobbies, sport or favorite thing to do?

How do you handle disgruntled church members and overall grumbling?

Would all your references say that you are loyal?

Do you consider yourself to be flexible?

Are you a supportive team player?

What would past authority figures (bosses, pastors, key leaders) say are your weaknesses?

What have been your biggest frustrations or hurdles in ministry?