Pursuing excellence honors God. It is not about perfection or performance. The verses found in Colossians 3:23-24 come immediately to mind - “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Let’s look together at five avenues of excellence that are directly related to our life of ministry.

1. A Biblical Foundation
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​It should go without saying that the Bible is our source of truth. The Word of God is the basis upon which every decision, behavior, teaching, and motivation stands. Be true to the Word; live in the Word; declare the Word; love the Word; make much of the Word; believe the Word and teach the Word. Hebrews 4:12 states, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

2. Curriculum Choices
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​As an educator, I have a strong conviction that curriculum is chosen with intentionality and prayerfulness. There should be an overall vision for an entire program with emphasis on what is being taught and when. In other words, for excellence to occur, there should be scope and sequence to lessons and content. KidzMatter is a clearinghouse of sorts, making readily available a plethora of good and excellent choices in the area of curriculum development. This cannot be left to chance. There must be a plan with all parties involved being on board and supportive. Seek guidance from the Holy Spirit and perhaps from others who may specialize in this area.

3. Time Constraints 

All of us have 24 hours each day and seven days in each week. What do we do with our amazing treasure of time? More specifically, how do we utilize the time that we have with those in our ministry? The time is short; let’s be hyper-diligent to plan for every second and minute that is spent with children or adults in our sphere of influence. Ephesians 5:16 encourages us to “make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Are you promptly beginning at the correct time? Do you effectively make use of all available minutes? If not, let me encourage you to become better equipped to be punctual and to eagerly develop lessons/training that are engaging and Spirit-empowered.

4. Prioritizing Life
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​You are involved in building the kingdom of Jesus. You have chosen to serve others in various capacities, but has it become “run of the mill”? Is it something that you are still very passionate about? Do you plan your week so that you have the necessary energy and commitment that is essential to living a life of excellence with regard to your service for the King? Maybe some changes would be helpful to ensure that we are at our “best” spiritually, mentally, and physically. Often, it is very beneficial to take a step back to evaluate our choices and the outcomes of those choices. Are our goals in sync with our daily schedules? Actually, do we have goals and are they godly and divinely inspired? II Corinthians 5:15 is challenging when it states, “And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.” We don’t live for ourselves! What a goal!

5. Loving Care
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​Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares for His sheep (John 10:11-15). Shepherding begins with living a life that is an example to others. Also, it is important to know the children in your ministry setting. Do you observe changes in behaviors or attitudes? If so, attempt to ascertain the cause or to determine if there are ways you can help. Are you in step with what is current in the culture of kids today? There are many pitfalls and danger zones. Do we care enough to educate ourselves so that we are better able to serve our kids? I am challenging you to love your children with an intensity and excellence that will prayerfully protect them from a life of mistakes and misery. 

Excellence is about the whole-hearted stewardship of the gifts and equipping given by the Spirit of God. May we strive to do our best, bringing honor to our Savior and, at the same time, providing influence and care in the lives of so many.

Karen Bishir grew up hearing about Jesus' love and forgiveness from a young age, and when she came to understand the message of salvation through faith in Christ, she embraced God’s grace and forgiveness. Raised in a pastor's home, Karen has continued to live in ministry throughout her adult life alongside her husband, Terry, who pastored Liberty Baptist Church for 38 years. They are blessed with four married children and 14 grandchildren. Karen is deeply involved in Liberty’s music, women’s, and children’s ministries, and her passion for teaching has led her to serve in homeschool, Christian, and public school settings, as well as within the church. She treasures time with children and their families, and her heart’s desire is to see God working in lives across all generations.