Lately, the children’s ministry here at Gateway has been doing really well. January is usually the busiest month of the year and we saw record numbers among the kids, averaging in the mid 700’s. We also held a two week volunteer expo where we recruited an additional 100 volunteers. Currently I have 10-15 new small group leaders for elementary in the pipeline. Although the overall attendance hasn’t changed much from this year to last year, we’re running about 12% more kids in our elementary program. Good stuff is happening.
However, I’ve been living at a very, very unhealthy pace. With connecting new volunteers, undertaking some new projects and gearing up to bring on a new elementary director, I’ve been working some pretty heavy loads. Last week my wife was sick, so I would work/take care of Titus during the day and then work all evening after he went to bed. This week alone, I went to bed past 3:00 AM two of the four nights. The other two nights were past midnight. I haven’t taken a full day off since New Year’s Day.
I told my boss about my pace this week. I told my running partner group yesterday. Today I’m telling the entire interweb. I say I’ve got a few more days of this, a busy weekend. Then I’ve gotta stop. I love what I’m doing, but I can’t keep up this pace. I’m going to get sick. My wife isn’t going to like who I’m becoming and I’ll be missing out on life with my little boy.
So, feel free to check up on me. If I’m still doing this impossible schedule later next week, feel free to drive down to Austin and kick my butt.
Thanks!
So what is it about January? Our numbers are way up for January too. People making New Years Resolutions to be in church every Sunday or what? 🙂 Whatever the reason, we’ll take ’em!
You are a wise man to recognize the unhealthy pace. Keeping family second only to God is the best thing you can do! As if you need me to tell you that! Hey, I’m just sayin!
You need to give yourself a deadline to stop the madness. My busy season ended up being October to Dec. I just about had a nervous breakdown and walked away from the ministry. Everytime I experience this much work load, my family starts to fall apart.
Then we were busy again in January as well and I spent 3 weeks putting in 50 hours each.
It takes me weeks to recover and get back on track. I”m reading a book called the “One-life Solution” and it’s been helpful so far. There’s a lot in it so it takes a while to read and get through, but you might find it helpful as well.
Katie Williams’s last blog post..Look both ways . . . before you give your kid a cell phone.
Yeah, you’re right… I am setting a deadline for the madness to end. I’ll post again in a few days for what my plan is.
Thanks for the kind words. I’m getting there!
When things get back to a better pace would you blog about the volunteer expo? It sounds like a great idea!
Christy’s last blog post..The small group difference
Thanks everyone. I’ve already gotten an email, a text message and a tweet of people holding me accountable. Nothing like throwing your junk out on the internet, huh?
Christy, I’m actually going to have my wife guest blog about the Expo. She’s the one who put it on and she’s a phenomenal volunteer recruiter and such.
Dude, if you are still doing this, I WILL DRIVE DOWN AND KICK YOUR BOTTOM! I got nothing to do! I can be your enforcer! Don’t give a jobless man a challenge! HA HA HA! Take care bro, we will be praying for you.
My dysfunction. I have been to only one church service in 10vmonths. We are up big numbers over last year and have added a campus to my responsibilities and two new services.