Tips for Ministry Excellence Part 2: Appearance

 

Tips for Ministry Excellence

…because an excellent spirit was in him   - Daniel 6:3, NKJV

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Last Month, we discussed excellence in ministry communication.  This month we will continue with excellence in ministry appearance. 

Appearance is simply the outward aspect.  It is not a measure of beauty based on the world’s standards.  

Dance ministry is visual, therefore it is imperative that we present an excellent appearance for an Excellent God!  Our testimony of HIM does not began when we grace a platform, but with every area of our lives.   

Here are some practical tips we can implement to foster a spirit of Excellence in our movement ministries. 

Part 2: Excellence in Appearance:

Garments:
- Ministry garments should be clean and free of wrinkles

- If you are changing into your garments on location, carry your ministry garment on a hanger….preferably protected in a garment bag.  Toting garments in a grocery bag or garbage bag sends a subliminal message to anyone observing and that may not be your intention.

- Skirts and Palazzos purchased from commercial distributors are unfinished.  They are mass produced to be one size fits most.  These circle skirts and palazzos should be taken to a seamstress or alterations shop to cut to the proper length of the individual they were purchased for.

Attitude:
- Your attitude effects your appearance!  Smile more!  You are beautiful!

- Be involved with the program!  It is a turn-off to see ministries only "get excited" about ministry and Jesus when it is there time to minister.  But they sit silent and inattentive while the choir is singing, during prayer, and during other ministries.

- Whenever possible, arrive early and stay until the end of the service.  If you must leave, be sure the event organizer knows in advance and position yourself so you will not be a distraction when you leave.

Hygiene:
- Carry the necessary items to freshen up after going forth in ministry.  Wet wipes, deodorant, body splash, lotion, wash cloth, soap, etc

- Keep breath mints handy…

Hair & Nails:
- Keep your hair neat, unless the piece calls for something else

- Your fingernails and toenails should not be a safety hazard (smiles) or distraction!  In other words, keep them trimmed to a length that is effective for ministry and will not be the center of attention.

We’d love to hear from you!  Can you think of any other tips that would add to a more excellent appearance?  Share your comments below!

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Tips for Ministry Excellence: Communication

 

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.   - Hebrews 8:6, NKJV

Recently, I’ve been meditating on excellence.  What exactly is it? How does one obtain and sustain it? 

During a leadership meeting at my church it was stated that the Spirit of Excellence causes the believer to aspire to the highest level of achievement in every area of their life.

Here are some practical tips we can implement to foster a spirit of Excellence in our movement ministries. 

Part 1: Excellence in Communication: All communication mediums need to be clear and professional.  In this information age, the first impression is often a website or voice mail recording.

Your Internet Presence:
- Keep your website up to date by removing past events 
- Check for dead links and images
- Watch out for misspelled words
- Your Social Networking page (Myspace, Facebook, Twitter etc) should match the message of your ministry

Telephone Excellence:
- Voicemail recordings should be clear & free of background noise.  IF you must use ring back music….let’s keep it Holy saints!  People calling you for ministry may be turned off by some secular selections.
- Answer the phone in a professional, courteous manner.  Eliminate as much background noise as possible.

E-mail Excellence:
- When communicating by E-mail, provide a relevant subject. 
- Use the same professional courtesies you would in a business letter, especially if it is the first time contacting someone. 
- If you are contacting a group, use the blind copy (BCC) feature as some people do not want their e-mail addresses shared

It is important to note that excellence does not mean perfection.  It is also a common misconception that excellence requires a large budget.  Excellence is more about your attitude that your pocketbook!  Attention to detail is the beginning of excellence in communication.

Stay tuned for part 2, an excellent appearance. 

I’d love to hear from you!  What else can we do to strive for excellence?  Leave your comments below!

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