Do you remember the childhood thrill of waking up to fresh snow?  More recently, maybe you’ve witnessed the expression of pure joy on your children’s or grandchildren’s faces when they look out the window to see everything covered in white. As adults, sometimes the childhood thrill is replaced with the extra worries and responsibilities that snow can bring.  I find the same can happen to event planners.  When you first start planning events, you are full of anticipation and creativity.  But sometimes after months or years of event planning, you start to feel more burdened than excited.  If this sounds familiar, here are some reminders of how to find joy as an event planner.   

Lean into your Strengths

Sometimes event planning feels like a burden when you are working outside of your natural strengths.  Are you an introvert that has been tasked with being a greeter?  Are you an outdoorsman that has been asked to lead an all-day seminar in a classroom setting?   There can be value in pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, but there is also a deeply rewarding sense of purpose that comes from serving with your God-given gifts.  If you are a part of a retreat planning team, ask if you can be assigned to a task that resonates with you.  If you are the sole event planner, consider tagging in a friend for advice or help.  We all have a friend that loves spreadsheets.  Maybe that’s you.  If not, find someone who gets excited about Excel formulas, and get them to help you!  Find joy by doing what you do well. 

Experience the Joy of Living in God’s Will

Do you feel called to be an event planner?  Or has God placed it upon your heart to serve on the retreat planning team this year?  When you obey what God has called you to, there is joy in following that call.  Even when your circumstances are challenging, there is a peace that comes with living in God’s will for your life.  Find joy in knowing you’re where you’re supposed to be. 

Remember Your Why

Why do we plan events and retreats in the first place?  Is it to have fun?  Sure, that’s part of it.  But the main reason that we do this is to create an environment for God to impact lives for His glory.  Maybe the ladies retreat that you are planning will allow space for a young mom who is lonely and struggling to reach out and connect with other women who have walked this path before her.  Maybe the student ski retreat that you are planning will be the non-threatening avenue for a new student to finally feel comfortable attending a church event.  What may seem like a fun getaway with the youth could be the first time that this student hears the gospel.  THIS is your why.  The retreat or event that you are planning could be someone’s life-changing moment.  Whether it’s a new friendship or a new relationship with Christ, events allow an opportunity for God to work in a unique way.  Find joy as you bear witness to these moments when God changes someone’s life. 

If you are in season of dreading the next event that you have to plan, remember to choose joy.  In the midst of rooming lists and snack orders and worship setlists, there is kingdom work happening.  Don’t get so caught up in the details that you forget the very important reason why you are planning an event in the first place.   

At Ridgecrest, it is our great honor to work alongside event planners in this important work.  We understand the challenges that you face and are praying for you and your guests.  If you’re not even sure where to start, give us a call, and we would be happy to talk you through the process.  We want to make your event at Ridgecrest as seamless as possible so that you and your guests can focus on God and not worry about the details.