Provided to you by Ryan Keaton, Strengthening Evangelistic Disciples Team Leader, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board

Ministry is fast paced. Groups, events, relationships, and services can dominate our minds and calendars. One goal is accomplished, and we move on to the next thing on the agenda. The grind never seems to stop. Good things can be happening, but it is hard to recognize because the mechanisms of our ministry are drowning out the mission.

Sometimes, we become so focused on what needs to happen next that we fail to stop and recognize what God has already done.

Consider intentionally scheduling a weekly pause to celebrate a win that happened over the past week.

• Highlight a volunteer who embodied a core value well, share a story of life change, or remind the group of a need that had been met.
• Take the time to acknowledge the work that is taking place.
• Celebrate the moments that might otherwise be overlooked and highlight ministry impact that is taking place through your people.

What gets celebrated gets repeated.

When you regularly celebrate what matters most, you help people see what your ministry values and encourage them to live those values out. Put the celebration on the calendar and set aside five minutes every week to highlight the win.

You may feel like you are taking time away from ministry, but you are actually reinforcing the ministry you want to build. A simple moment of recognition may be the tool missing to reshape your focus. Pause, celebrate, give God the glory, then get back to work.