We hear a lot of talk about being “innovative”. Innovation can be a great thing. Innovation is necessary in every ministry at times. By definition, innovation is:

These are good things – great things at times! But innovation isn’t always necessary in our ministry. We don’t always have to introduce something new. Sometimes, it’s better to improve what we’ve already got.

This has been brewing in my thoughts for some time now. I love seeing new ideas, new methods, new resources, etc. But I’ve gotten the sense sometimes that if it’s not new, it’s not good. I believe very strongly that this is NOT the case. That’s not to say that everything “old” is good, but just because it’s old doesn’t make it irrelevant.

My thoughts were clarified by this post in the Harvard Business Review. I would encourage you to read it, but here’s the key thought I pulled from it:

Creating something new is the goal of most innovation initiatives, but new does not mean valuable. Increasing the value created for customers should be the focus of initiatives…

Essentially, it is saying creating “value” is far more important than creating “new”. Of course, this article is in relation to business, but I believe the same holds true for children’s & family ministry. Our goal should not be “innovation” (new) but, rather, “value”. What will give our children & families the most value, and how can we create opportunities for them to add value.

The article speaks of 8 ways to create value for customers in the business setting. Here are a few ways that I believe we can create value in our ministries for our “customers”:

• Spiritual formation. Be intentional about the spiritual formation process at church, and partner with and equip parents to participate and lead in that process.
• Worship. Offer real worship opportunities for children – not just random songs & not limited to the worship through music. Offer families opportunities to worship together.
• Safety. Make your ministries safe. Physically, emotionally & spiritually safe for children. A place where parents feel safe to engage. A safe and inviting place for volunteers to commit to.
• Service. Studies show that kids and families who serve are far more likely to remain engaged in their faith. This adds tremendous value to your ministry.

I’m sure there are many more values, but these are a few that come immediately to mind. And thinking in terms of “value” I believe is far more relevant than thinking in terms of “innovation”. Don’t get me wrong, innovation can be wonderful and, at times, essential. But it should not be the driving force in our ministry.

What do you think?
What values would you add to the list?