In the Dec. 17 issue, we looked at three important tools to help manage the tension between time spent in personal ministry and time spent in equipping others for ministries. It is a tension that church leaders cannot avoid, but can learn to manage. This week we will look briefly at three more helpful tools.

Become Organized

Do you find yourself going from one task to another with virtually no system or organization? Learn to group your activities. Set aside one hour or less to return telephone calls. Block out entire half-day segments for sermon preparation.

One time-management expert recommends that we divide our week into 42 four-hour segments. We can thus plan each day by six different activities: family time and sleep, church meetings, study time, etc. We do not become as easily frustrated with minute-to-minute interruptions, because we work in four-hour segments.

Simple devices such as Palm Pilots, calendars, to-do lists, organization files, and a basic planning system can save hours of a church leader's time. Common sense management skills, such as handling all your mail at once, will give you more time for both outreach and home visits.

It's OK to Say No

Leader, you will never have enough time for anything until you learn the magic of the little word "no." You cannot do everything. You have responsibilities to God for prayer, Bible study and sermon preparation. You have responsibility to your family. You have responsibility to your church. You have responsibility to yourself for rest and leisure activities.

Do you realize that, in the long-term, you are actually hurting your church by saying "yes" to all requests? The members of your church need to learn (perhaps at a snail's pace) that they do not need you for every meeting, social activity, or ministry. As you sever the bond of dependency and equip your people for doing ministry, your church will become healthier and more productive.

The Power of Delegation

Not only can you say no, you can also empower others to do ministry and activities. One of the most-often stated lines to me by a church member used to be, "Pastor, our church needs... ." Early in my ministry I began responding with, "That's great! And I believe that God has given you that burden. You are now chairman of an ad hoc group to make recommendations and to implement this need. Let me know of your results."

Needless to say, the "our church needs . . . " comments became much less frequent. But many still share with me opportunities for ministry, and they do take charge. I empower them for ministry and equip them as best I can. Many new ministries and activities have begun that are started and led by laypeople. And my time has been protected for other priorities.

Learn to delegate! You may think that no one can do it better than yourself, but you will do nothing well if you try to do it all.