a few thoughts on assessing and evaluating July 30, 2006

I’ve been thinking a bit about how I assess and evaluate my work. My natural tendency is to pick out all the things that were wrong with a meeting, though I’ve just about trained myself not to do this now. Within the different teams I am part of, we tend to do a quick review of each meeting, pointing out the good and the bad bits. This sometimes fuels change, but a lot of it is forgotten, and there is a need for a deeper reflection sometimes.

I’ve already set in place for next year two meetings a term (for each team). The first is to plan the term, the second (half way through) is more to review (though I expect planning will also take place!). One of the other things I have done this week is completed a purpose sheet for each group. This states the purpose of the group and how we intend to fulfill that purpose. Part of my evaluation process needs to be looking at how we are fulfilling our purpose. But there must be more to evaluation than that.
Is it about numbers and attendance?
Is it about changed lives?
Is it about keeping people happy?

How am I going to review the past year when I go on retreat later this summer? I guess my aim would be to look through God’s eyes and try and see what he sees when he looks at church’s youth work. There have been some real positive things, but there have also been some failings.

What does evaluation involve? Here’s my stab at an answer:
1) Observing where God has been, being thankful for good things.
2) Noticing mistakes and failings, where improvements can be made.
3) Asking have I achieved what I set out to do?
4) Fuelling the future direction, change to be made.
Have I missed anything?

So every week, after every meeting with the team, and perhaps for myself once a week, I need to answer numbers 1 and 2. And then every half term, look at all four.

My assessment of my work, is often influenced by what others think. I am a dreadful people pleaser at times. But I need to remember, especially when I am assessing my work, that it is God who I am serving. I need to ask the question – in my decision making, am I pleasing God or his people? (the answer could be both, but it’s the tougher decisions where it is normally one or the other!)

Mmmm, more thinking needed

lists July 28, 2006

I just seem to be making lists for the summer. Lists of jobs to do, lists of things to think about, lists of people to talk to! Hopefully I won’t forget anything!
Really looking forward to our holiday next week. We’re back for two days before going to Soul Survivor Week A. I’m then back for a few more days before taking two days retreat (really looking forward to this). Then I’m back, welcoming our Time for God worker and franticaly working through my lists, trying to prepare for September!
I’ll try and blog in between times away, but I’m not promising anything!
Happy Holidays!

the end of term is over! July 23, 2006

All three events this weekend have gone well, especially the leaders thankyou event on Saturday. The young people who acted and helped really made the night their own and I stayed in the background – great, just as I had hoped it would be. The young people suprised me as to how good they were considering I just threw the basics at them an hour before the event started. They were fantastic.
I am now absolutely shattered, but appear to have forgotten how to relax. I’ve only been getting six or seven hours sleep a night (not good for someone who needs nine!) and thats not through late nights (well maybe a couple). I seem to be spending hours in bed just lying there, not sleeping! As work is less pressured this week, with less meetings and no young people to meet (except maybe one) I hope to remember how to relax, leave my work alone (when I’m not supposed to be working) and get some sleep!
One week till holiday!

end of term is in sight July 21, 2006

My end of term three day stint starts today with an evening of games for our 11-14s club. Tomorrow sees an event (supposedly designed by young people) to thank all the leaders who have worked with 11-18s over the past year. The initial idea came from me, and I gathered a small team of young people to decide what they wanted to do. We came up with a murder mystery meal, with the young people acting the murder mystery out. Unfortunately, since then the team has not been able to meet because they have all been to busy with exams and then a youth theatre production. So I ended up doing most of the organising. I’ve managed to get enough young people there on the night to help though. I hope the young people will enjoy it, and that the leaders appreciate it! I think I’d like to do it again next year, but there will be a few lessons to learn from this year I think! Sunday then sees the last 11-14s meeting and a 14-18s BBQ. By 3.30pm I hope to have finished the year! Of course I still have another week to go before I’m on holiday, but the pressure will be off (I hope!) There’s Soul Survivor arrangements to make, preparations for our Time For God worker as well as general preparations for September.
I’m hoping to get back to some realistic work hours next week, I think I’ve been a bit of a workaholic recently, not really allowing myself some decent time off, always thinking about work, if not doing. The life work balance has slipped a bit. Roll on holiday!

The thrill of life! July 13, 2006

Today God has reminded me just how great, precious and enjoyable life is. This morning I watched the bees buzzing round our lavender plant – a reminder of his amazing creation to be enjoyed. Then a session with a friend reflecting on my journey with God. I’m amazed and excited by how God is working in my life. Life isn’t easy at the moment, and the daily routine has become a drag, and yet there is one part of my life where there is life, and that’s my relationship with God. The fact that I’m on a journey thrills me. At the moment I’m at a point where I can look back and see what God has done as well as look to the future, knowing where I’m heading. It’s exciting to see I’m changing and growing and I look forward to what God has in store. Thirdly, after watching the afternoon play on BBC1 (yes I probably should have been doing something else!), I’m reminded again of the journey of life, but just as important, the enjoyment of life. I need to rediscover the enjoyment of life. I’ve already acknowledged my need of a holiday (19 days and counting!), and I hope this will bring the refreshement I need, so that when I return I find life and enjoyment in my work once again. Because of this, Steve and I have decided to take a short break every other month, to keep me fresh and rested so I’m not dragging my heels at the end of each term!
Enjoy the thrill of the journey that is life!

finding space July 12, 2006

No I haven’t been away, just busy – my usual excuse for lack of posts! Am really looking forward to going away in three weeks time though. We’re going to Devon, though as yet haven’t booked anywhere to stay, so may end up camping.
We’re running a 24/7 prayer room at church this week. Today I will spend two hours in there (one this afternoon and then one this evening with my house group). It’s great to have that time mapped out for me to find space with God. It’s in the diary, can’t be changed, and it is a welcome rest from the busyness of my life at the moment. I wonder whether blocking out time like this every week would encourage me to spend more time with God. The problem would be sticking to it, especially with the pressure of work and life around. One of the good things about the prayer room is it is away from the house. Jesus went to a solitary place to pray. Perhaps a solitary place outside of the house would help me keep appointments with God. I manage a short daily quiet time with God each morning in the house, but it is the pressure of time and work that keeps it short (I think!). I feel God is challenging me to spend more time with him, and I’d like to have several “appointments” with him each day, just not sure how it would work. Perhaps I just need to try a few things, and then just be disciplined!