By: Rachel Riquelme
Have you ever planned a road trip? I love a good road trip; in fact, it is one of my favorite things to do with my family. We have a big map that we keep, and every time we hear someone talking about a National Park they visited, a place they traveled to, or some unique or adventurous thing they did that sounds like something my family would like, I mark it on the map. Then, whenever we plan a trip with a destination in mind, I can look at the map and see which places I have marked that we may drive near so we can include them. Each road trip is planned with intention, vision, purpose, and passion. I have a goal of eventually visiting every state in the US and every National Park.
Purpose—it is a word we hear often. But what do we truly mean when we use this word? One definition of purpose is “the resolve of being determined to do or achieve something.” It means doing something with intentionality.
As ministry leaders, we often consider, “What is my purpose? What is my reason for being here right now? What am I doing?! If a summer family road trip needs intentionality, think about how much more our ministries need this. This time of year gives us an incredible opportunity to remember the past, remain present in where God has us, and look forward to the future and where God is leading us with vision, purpose, and passion.
Looking Back
While we cannot spend all our time looking back, an important step in leading with purpose is to take stock of where we have been and how God has been at work. Psalm 77:11-12 states, “I will remember the Lord’s works; yes, I will remember your ancient wonders. I will reflect on all you have done and meditate on your actions.” (CSB) As we focus on leading with purpose, we can look back and remember what God has done, the calling He has given us, and the purpose He has put before us.
Remaining Present
When we lead with intentionality, we choose to stay fully present and aware of what God is doing in and through the ministries we lead. Look at the families, children, and volunteers around you. God is at work shaping hearts and transforming lives. Pause and ask yourself: What is God doing right now in the areas in which I serve? How is He inviting me to follow His lead, cast vision, reignite passion, and align my efforts with His ongoing work? Leading with purpose means joining Him in that movement, not just managing tasks, and inspiring others to see and celebrate the story God is writing.
Looking Forward
After pausing to celebrate what God has done and stopping to recognize His work in the present, it’s time to look toward the future. A new school year and a new season of ministry mean fresh opportunities to reach your children and families. What new doors for ministry is God opening? What opportunities is He placing before you for the coming school year? Who is He stirring to step forward and serve? Which emerging leaders is He raising up for you to disciple and invest in? How is He shaping the hearts of the children entrusted to your care?
Leading with vision and passion means leaning into these questions, listening for His direction, and boldly stepping into what God is doing in and through your ministry and church.
As we lead with purpose, we can look back on the previous season of ministry, taking stock of where we have been. We can revisit what the Lord is calling us to do, acknowledging how God is at work in our current ministry. We can look forward to the future, casting a new vision for where we want our ministry to go.
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