-
Longer
Results—Children who have just made a
commitment to the Lord have their entire lives before them. Adults who
accept the Lord have already squandered much of their lives. Children’s
ministry is the only place where you can impact
one’s entire life span. That's why D.L. Moody, when asked how many were
saved in the service, replied, "two and a half." He explained there were
two children and one adult. The adult had already lived much of his life
while the children had their entire lives before them.
-
Superior
Challenge—Children vary
widely with respect to age, comprehension, physical challenges,
attention spans, etc. and therefore require more ability to educate.
Adults do not bother their neighbor or snatch offering money from
those sitting adjacent. They are much easier to restrain and therefore
less of a challenge in a group setting. It takes more ability and
creativity to teach children.
-
More
Fun—You just can’t get away
with doing in adult services what you can do in children’s church.
Adults tend to think predictability and monotony are fruits of the
Spirit. This must be the reason none of the hymns have motions.
-
Less
Pretentiousness—The
difference between adults and children is that adults have learned to
sit quietly after you lose their attention. Children are not as phony.
If you are a lousy teacher they tend to let you know. They are
considerably more authentic.
-
More
Humility—Jesus made this
point in Matthew 18. Children have a better grasp of their limitations
than do adults. There are reasons why Jesus never asked the children
to be more like the adults to enter the kingdom of God. He said it the
other way around. Children seldom possess an inflated view of their
own ability. They understand that when they come to Jesus it is with
nothing in their hands to offer Him.
-
Fewer
Offenses—Children may get
upset if they feel they are mistreated but they don’t harbor
resentments over some of the silly issues that adults get worked up
over. When was the last time you ever heard of a child leaving the
children’s ministry because the children’s pastor didn’t shake
his/her hand at the door?
-
More
Participation—Children want
do be involved. They don’t want to sit and watch. Adults are too
content to merely observe. Many churches find themselves having to
beat adults over the head to get them to serve. Children desire to
participate and serve.
-
Greater
Warning—Jesus never warned
that offending an adult would result in consequences worse than having
a millstone tied around your neck and being heaved into the sea. He
did say that in Matthew 18 about those who offend children. Evidently,
there is something exceptional about children.
-
Larger
Team—It takes more people to
work in children’s ministry than it does to work in other
departments in the church. Children’s ministry is normally the
largest department in the church and, therefore, often requires the
greatest leadership skills to oversee.
-
Bigger
Sacrifice—Ushers, greeters,
choir members, etc. never have to miss the adult service or any of the
special events. Children’s ministry workers often miss services so
others might enjoy them.
-
Better
Reward—In Matthew 10 Jesus
said those who give even cold water to little ones receive a reward
that cannot be lost. He simply did not make that promise to other
ministries. For instance, nowhere does Jesus say that ushers have a
reward they will by no means lose if they can get the people to scoot
over on Easter. But those who can do ANYTHING in children’s
ministry—such as prepare the refreshments—have a unique promise of
reward others cannot claim.
-
Jesus--Jesus
said that
when we receive a child in His name we receive Him (Matthew
18:5). Did He ever say that
about receiving grownups? No. So whether you have ten or a thousand children
in your children’s ministry you supernaturally receive Jesus into your midst that many
times over.
