-
We have 7 f/t
staff members. 6 are dedicated to some form of adult ministry, only 1
is dedicated to kids. Why is this?
-
I can program
Sunday morning all I want...I can dazzle you if you'd like...but it's
garbage if my parents are not reinforcing everything at home. Wait,
scratch that, it's garbage if my parents are not DISCIPLING their own
kids at home.
-
Sorry volunteer,
you can't serve for 2 months and be "burned out". Nice try though.
-
The position of
Children's Minister is the hardest, most difficult, most
under-appreciated job in ministry. PERIOD.
-
Being new in
ministry, I feel I do the 80/20 principle well. 80% of the time I
have no clue what I'm doing, but I fake it well. 20% of the time I
have no clue what I'm doing and it shows.
J.S. (Atlanta, GA)
I hate being
treated like a babysitter!
DB
Children's
Ministry is great, it's the parents who are the trouble. So many just
don't get it! Right now I am so tired of hearing all the complaints with
no real commitment to help work out a solution. Everyone has an
opinion, but very few will help solve a problem or create something
better.
PG (San Diego, CA)
If you hire me to
do children's ministry, let me do children's ministry, not everything
else like painting, repairing and cleaning...then hold me accountable
for ministry results when all of my time is consumed with maintenance.
I didn't go to Bible college and get ordained to be qualified to mow the
grass, take out the trash, and wax the floor. I'll gladly help out with
those things, but there are other people who can do a better job for
less pay in less time. Ask the parents - they love what I'm doing and
want me to do more children's ministry. That is why I moved my family
here.
EG (Atlanta, GA)
I am always up against a wall. We re-vamped children's
church 3 years ago, pulling them out of the regular worship service,
where they had a 5-minute sermon, to a full hour and a half. Since that
time the elderly folks in the church constantly try, in committee and
directly to the pastor, to get it shut down. What do I need to do to get
them to stop?
MM
Kids are
great--parents SUCK!
KN (Mead, WA)
I hate the fact how
kids get separated from seeing their parents worship. I think kids need
to participate in exploring the symbols, rituals of the Christian faith
and seeing their parents engaging them as well. Too many services are
adult centered and send kids to their rooms. Thats my 2 cents.
Church services need to learn how to engage the whole family as a unit
exploring the faith. Especially the Sunday service.
EM
I wish...
-
that I could
attend at least one of the five church services or small group times.
-
that we wouldn't
have to provide a kids' program for every single adult function or
class.
-
that the church
would just once make programming decision based upon its affect on the
children and their volunteers instead of its affect on the "main
services" or adult small groups and ignore what it means to the CM
Department.
-
that we would
stop promoting how adults can get involved in small groups and
services and promote how they can serve.
-
that we could
make it required that if you have a child, that you serve a minimum of
a half our in one of the CM programs (especially our nursery where we
pay no one)- more if you have 3 or more kids! I hate dealing with
families that have like a boatload of kids but never want to lift a
finger to help anywhere!
-
that I had at
least one paid staff person under me and I don't care in which
position! Office Assistant, Preschool Director, Nursery Director,
Sunday School Director...I can't be them all!!
-
that parents
would actually show they care about the spiritual development of their
children by investing even just a half hour in one of the many
children's programs like they so faithfully do with their kids' little
league and school field trips.
-
that the
children had a dedicated space of their own like the adults and youth
do. I get so tired of setting everything up on Saturdays. No other
Pastor has to do anything like what I have to. I run a huge stage show
in our gymnasium every Sunday and guess who spends all day Saturday
setting it up?
-
that I could
work less than seventy hours a week and not feel guilty that the
children's ministry wasn't going to implode while I'm at home.
-
that I actually
had time to take care of my home, schedule doctor visits, and just
"live" outside of church.
-
that just
because I'm single, doesn't mean you can dump your job duties on me so
you can have "family time." (oh, don't worry about him, he single and
can stay until midnight...)
-
that I actually
had some time to actually find out the spiritual condition of each
child instead of just running around all the time helping volunteers
find crayons or apple juice.
-
that people
would respond to email request for volunteers (and I wouldn't have to
personally call each one)
-
that people
would actually fill out paperwork correctly in legible handwriting and
turn in the forms before the deadline
-
parents wouldn't
get mad at us when we tell them they can't go to camp (because the
deadline was a month ago), that they can't be in the kids' choir
musical (because they missed a whole month of practices plus the dress
rehearsal), or demand a Sunday school class for their child when there
simply is no volunteers available and we have to close the class and
they do not want to help support a class or volunteer anywhere in CM.
-
parents would
realize that the church can not fix the number of problems in their
children that they as a parent are creating because they are never
home with their child (who lives at daycare), never help their child
with their Awana verses, and don't come to church (they have the
church bus or a grandparent pick up their kid). When will they wake up
and realize it's their job, not the CP's to train up their child in
the ways of the Lord? (and after they realize it, actually do
something about it) We only have like 2hrs a week, they have like 200-
hello?!
-
just for once I
would have sufficient volunteers to teach my Sunday school classes
(currently short with 35 vacancies), have Awana, host a major outreach
event like Fall Festival, etc. Never mind quality! Just enough to make
things run to the point I don't feel like we're on life support.
-
we could get
past "function" and "just enough" and "make do" to having a CM that
would have "quality" and "excellence" and noticeable "spiritual
growth"...ahh, but that would mean the adults really cared about the
kids and came down out of their social gatherings where their getting
shallow teaching that they can't remember a half hour after they've
met, but for sure they will remember how good the coffee was and if
someone forgot the doughnuts!
Ok, I'm done.
Thanks for letting us CP unload on you guys. I feel better now. Gotta go
buy some more apple juice and try to find some more Sunday school
teachers...
J.B. (Washington
DC)
Ok! Never enough
committed workers! What are you? Afraid of the big 'c' word? I am tired
of doing it all myself! Get off your duff and serve God in the Nursery!
In the Toddlers class!
DN (Tuppers Plains
Ohio)
-
Why am I the only
one who is at church on Saturday? Am I unorganized or too much of a
perfectionist?
-
Why do I have to
be the first one here on Sunday and usually the last to leave?
-
I wish the pastor
would offer more support for children's ministry and/or family
ministry. We separate the family instead of helping them to minister
together.
-
I wish I had more
storage space. You should see my office.
-
Securing teachers
is so hard. Are people not answering God's call or is it something I am
doing wrong? Thank goodness for Adventure Bay. It's our Summer Sunday
school and last week we had a great program for 61 kids with just 3
adults. Somehow we made it! One leader called in sick and we had one
no show helper.
-
Our church has a
Christian School that uses the same space that I must use for SS and
Awana and children's choir. I know they are in the building a much
greater number of hours, but why aren't the churches' direct ministries
not given priority? Are we a church with a school or a school that lets
the church use its rooms on Sunday?
-
Discouragement is
my biggest enemy and becomes my sin.
-
I still love what
I do and believe what God is leading me organize and execute with in the
ministry is fulfilling the needs of our community...or I would have been
gone long ago. It's not the money [ just above min wage with a college
degree], the weekend work, the extra hours, complaining parents who
offer no solutions or not getting to be in worship, but it the kids that
keep me going.
KBS (Overseas in a
English speaking church)
-
Have you ever had
an "EGR" kid in your group? You know, the ones that are "Extra Grace
Required?" You suffer through the loud outbursts, ramped ramblings to
nothingness, snack spills and invasion of your personal space...only to
meet the parent and think, "Oh, I get where that came from!"
-
Sometimes I feel
like our job is to work more with the parents than the kids. Perhaps we
should just un-officially adopt the Home Depot slogan..."Parents, you
can raise your kids in Christ. You can do it. We can help." Did I
mention I love children's ministry?!
B.B. (Ilinois)
Are you kidding
me?
TS
-
Why do so few
people in the church see this as a viable, worthwhile ministry to
be involved in? They want a place to dump their kids but don’t
want to lift a finger to help!
-
Why is the adult
worship service so cool and everyone is willing to have hundreds of
thousands of dollars pumped into it but we need to wait and see if
adding a stage in the gym is worth the money for children’s
ministries?
-
Why do we target
the adults with so much money and materials when the ones who are most
responsive to the gospel are less than 13 years old?
-
Why is there
such a dearth of materials for discipling children?
-
Why can’t my
tech guy just do what I tell him to do instead of doing his own thing?
-
Ministry would
be so much more fun if I didn’t have to deal with people.
TM (Fort Wayne,
IN)
If children are
the future of the church, then why doesn't the congregation invest more
of their time in making sure their church will survive in 10 or 20
years; And why aren't the "powers that be" willing to spend more money
or even allow more use of church space to ensure that this "future
church" is well taught and is as worthy as the adults. That said, I'll
still commit my time to teaching and helping make our Children's
Ministry a place where kids want to be.
N.J.D. (El Cajon,
CA)
I think the
biggest struggle is to be healthy in ministry. Children's ministry
requires that you engage with all ages, since we have more volunteers
that any other leadership position in the church. We have 150+
volunteers and 700 children and there is just me and a part-time
assistant. We do everything, print documents, publicity, write
curriculum when necessary, training, interviewing new workers... as
well as lead in ministry. The Lord is so close and so good and blesses
us in ways I cannot begin to even list, but I am tired. The challenge is
that it is never enough. Leadership would like me to do all the big
events because I can. Give help and training on I.T. because I can. I
don't think I can work harder or smarter. Maybe I can. But not
today. : > )
This is pretty
raw, but it has been a long week!
Idaho
I'm worn out
trying to come up with programs and events for my children's ministry to
attract our regular attendees. They apathy from my congregation is
driving me nuts! I would offer so much more; but my parents don't value
special events, kids bible studies, or even attendance during the week.
Sports, clubs, and other activities seem to trump church activities on
all counts. So....I'm taking my show on the road and will focus this
summer on trying to get into the local public schools with after-school
programs.
JG
Unreal expectation
from other church staff! Under appreciated.
TH (Georgia)
I love the children. But it is
frustrating because it seems like no body else does. Can we get some
people to commit to something. Everyone has ideas, but no one wants to
step out and do them. Parents think going to church is all they and
there youth need. What about helping out? If you don't want to help out
because you just want to be a selfish person and take take take from the
church. Free food (your there), free ticket to an event (your there),
free anything (your there). But if there isn't anything for you. Hey,
where did ya go? If you don't want to help, I guess that's fine. We
don't want ya anyways. lol. But let your youth help us out if they would
like to. You may need to drop them off for this and that, but think of
it as a way to get to stay home alone with your selfish self.
There it is... I said it... Ahhh I
feel better... :)
ACA (Fort Worth,
TX)
You know what I am
sick and tired of, is when the sr pastor tries to down play what the
children's ministry is doing... When we are looked upon as babysitters.
We are not the babysitting service of the church... That is why we have
nurserys. Or when they try and send us kidz that are to young for what
we are doing... As you know what kidz blitz is for is not 2 and 3 yo....
When no one thinks that what we are doing is worth the time and
effort... This is what make me SICK!!!!!! I sometimes want to think
that Jesus loves the kidz more then the adults, I know that this is not
the case, but the kidz don't bring all the junk with them they just tell
you how it is.... If something is not working they will tell you instead
of trying to take over by saying you don't know what the kidz need....
SC
I am tired of
reading articles in Christian magazines about how wrong it is to
"reward" kids for doing what they ought to be doing anyway. For these
pundits, giving incentives to children for participation, bringing
friends, praising during worship, bringing offering, and assisting with
the service is psychologically wrong and harmful to children in the long
run. Their criticism is really against the kind of children's ministry
that engages kids with a real relationship with a real God. They prefer
the "school room" approach with kids, the approach that is shutting the
doors of churches all over America.
The pundits get
paid for what they write. Adults get coupons and rebates for making
certain purchases. Why is it wrong for adults to get incentives but not
children? I for one am glad that David asked about the rewards before he
killed Goliath. I guess David was psychologically damaged as a child! My
kids understand that our God rewards the faithful. Perhaps the pundits
should read the Bible. But many churches agree that children's ministry
be an unpaid baby sitting service. People coming to my church will not
find any babysitting service anywhere, not even in the Nursery. My
senior Pastor believes that children's ministry is a core element, and
not a utility. (Which is why he hired me and my wife for children's
ministry. Gasp. We are paid.)
The people who
write these articles are very familiar to me. They think that children
need to be watched while their parents learn the deeper things of God.
They think that children cannot possibly know or understand God until
they are older. They think that unless a child is sitting quietly on
their hands staring glassy-eyed at someone lecturing them, that child
will not hear or understand. I am glad that I did not read such things
early on, but rather did what the Spirit said to do, did what seemed
good for children and got a positive response from children. I am
completing a VBS where the writers warned against using rewards for
children. Uh, I did what I always do. Out of the 71 kids that are
attending, and the dozen that are unchurched, 16 accepted Jesus for the
first time in their lives today. That is 16 new brothers and sisters in
the family of God. I like big family! I like being wrong in their eyes
if it means that the Kingdom grows.
Oh, yeah. The
terrible incentives of "points for pennies" is going to win 6 kids some
cool prizes. It also is getting almost $500 to a children's ministry in
Venezuela. (That is 50,000 pennies) The kids are all signing soccer
balls to be sent there. Yeah, I think I'll just keep getting it wrong,
according to those pundits. I wonder when the last time was any of them
even had a conversation with a child, much less laughed with a child?
DG Plymouth
I don't understand
how parent's have children and then say children's ministry is not their
calling! Quit having Children!!
DL
I love that you're
doing this. There needs to be an outlet. As Children's Ministry leaders
we are often forced into solitary confinement from those we oversee and
many times even families, so we have to bind together and break through
that trap of people looking in on what we are doing with the, "what were
you thinking" glare.
Forgive me if this
doesn't come out the right way, but while I am constantly repeating this
to my staff and volunteers, Children's Ministry is God's Ministry, the
responsibility I have is overwhelming, isolating, frustrating, and
emotionally draining. I inherited the Director role at our church
recently and am finding that becoming "the boss" isolates you from
friends you once talked with every day. Now that I'm in charge of them
they are nowhere to be found and even tell others reputation destroying
things about me that are not true. I'm in a constant battle to save my
reputation, maintain my fun-loving personality, and grow in strength of
leadership both in wisdom and communication, despite the intervention of
the church pastors. My quiet times with God every morning and most
evenings are crucial to survival, but I HATE feeling like I'm always in
survival mode. My husband feels the pressure and many times I lean on
his shoulder of experienced management in ministry and in business to
help me through times that I feel like giving up and wondering whether I
would prefer to be liked or to be the one who can influence the most
change in this amazing ministry. I love this ministry beyond anything
else I could be doing with my life, besides being a daughter of God,
wife and mother, and yet I find that as I go through the maintenance,
correction, rehabilitation, and rebuilding process of this huge ministry
my passion is no longer a burning fire...but more like a fourth of July
sparkler...at least in what I am able to show others because of what
they are willing to hear or see.
I have tried to
listening to leaders of our church, to the volunteer leadership of the
ministry, and to those on my staff because I want to be teachable and to
continue to learn and grow as a better leader, but it seems that no
matter what I do I am looked at as the "person in charge" and people are
intimidated to talk to me about things.
In all of this, I
also have the burden in my brain of whether it's because I'm a woman
that I'm having so much difficulty or have such a separation from the
other leaders of the other ministries of our church...or is it because
it's children's ministry and it's a scary place to be for lots of
people...or because the other ministry leaders are so busy with their
roles that they don't think about how they impact the littlest people of
our congregation?
How do I share
with people that Children's ministry is not just a childcare/babysitting
service...it's a church with kids, only we don't have one pastor for
everyone, we have to bring in many people for each age group and train
them in each different skill of how the kids learn, have fun, and
worship...while also considering what parents want and need, and of
course making sure the kids are learning, having fun, and are falling in
love with Jesus.
I've invited my
pastors to walk the halls to simply say hi to the volunteers to try to
lift the morale...no one has come. I've held a picnic and potlucks for
the volunteers, trainings, meetings, pow-wows, or any other name for
meeting you can think of to try to keep it from being stale, but the
negativity keeps coming and the crowds are small...unless there's food,
but then they don't want to hear what you have to say, they don't talk,
they don't give their ideas there, they choose to complain behind my
back...and I don't even know what I did to cause it. I once was the
leader of the thriving second site of our church...friends and people I
worked with were like family...now, I'm on my own. I've tried everything
I know how to be kind, to introduce myself, to open myself up for people
to talk to, to not set my expectations too high or too low, and not
treat this other campus like the one I got started, and yet it's a never
ending battle.
I'd cry, but I'm
not allowed to show weakness except for with a select few...thank God
for my husband. I'd scream for help, but that wouldn't be appropriate.
I'm at a loss. My overseeing pastor gives advice, but though I follow
through, I alone can't keep up with the demands of everyone and my
staff, while they try, are running on no experience or no energy.
How do I spark
something again...in me, in my staff, in my volunteers, in the church
leaders, in the pastors, in parents, in the congregation?
Get behind me
satan, I want no more of your lies that I can't do this. I have the
power of God in me. I have the call of the Holy Spirit upon my life for
such a time as this, and I won't be held down, I won't be pressured or
pushed out, and I won't back down. You have no power in this ministry
because Jesus Christ is in charge.
Heavenly Father,
you've equipped me and my team and the people of this congregation in
special ways...please, would you intervene and set this ministry on a
path of rebuilding? Of how to trust, how to love, how to serve with
passion. As you have given me a vision of things to come and how this
ministry will get there, please bring it to pass. Go before us. Bring
those who should be here, remove those who will cause division before
they get their chance. Protect us and bless us Father. It's for Your
glory to bring people to salvation. Children are precious and my desire
it to see us give them to You. Help us get out of Your way while
remaining available, willing, and humble.
SK (Melbourne)
Okay, here it is...
I am a
female who has been in ministry for 20+ years. I am 41 and have been at
the same church for 10 years. I feel that I am stuck in a place that I
no longer want to be, but I don't know where to go from here. I suppose
as with anything, that if I am not tooting my horn all of the time and
loudly that I/children's ministry would fade into the background. I
desire to be in a place where there is excitement and life. The internal
struggle is harsh. I deal with my insecurities of not being as
"wonderful as the youth pastor". While that ministry is not growing ours
is -but I am not a guy. I don't know if this is my own issue or if it
really there. I feel like our congregation could care less.
I just
got back from a short term missions trip to the Dream Center in LA and
there was such life and excitement about being in ministry and being
used by God. I want that back!
BUT then
I get back from a trip and there is a note in my tray about a little
girl who asked Jesus to be her Forever Friend on Sunday! Yes! It's the
small things from the kids that are rewarding - the smile, the
excitement, watching them grow and serve the Lord.
It's hard
to stay relevant to the culture, have a family and nurture volunteers.
How do I find time to recruit, nurture, fine tune curriculum, manage
workers (paid and volunteer), spend time with kids, maintain a page
on Face-book, blog, new computer (MAC), sound system, youtube, new
phone, raise up leaders, and make sure that the kids are loved and
welcomed? Oh by the way, laundry needs done, groceries bought and my own
house is a disaster. Have I mentioned that I haven't had a date with my
husband in a while. My husband is amazing and a wonderful support - I am
just overwhelmed because VBS is right around the corner...
That's it
- this may be more than you wanted - but it is where I am at right now.
CW
(Loveland, CO)
My gripe about
Children's Ministry in general is that adults/pastors don't take CM
seriously! Even though we have been trying to get people to see us as
an important ministry to the church, people still see this as child
care. I was sneered at when I shared a story about another church's
experience at a staff meeting that a church can be built on the back of
CM.
The other gripe I
have is that many adults don't think that children can accept Jesus as a
child.
One more gripe:
When I approached the elder board for consideration to be made "pastor"
of children's ministries, my request was tabled and now they want to
reconsider the qualifications for this title, when they were freely
bestowing the title of pastor on just about anyone who asked! While I
understand the delay and the purpose of it, it hurts to think that my
request is not important to them or the children. And I don't know if
it's because I'm female or just what the problem is.
DP (Upland, CA)
Why won't parents
wake up and see the crisis that we are in with our children?!!!
Sometimes I feel like I'm on a burning ship and no one but me notices
the flames.
LVB (Glen Rock,
PA)
I
recently interviewed at a fairly large (600+) church for their
"Children's Pastor" position.
When the search committee offered me the position (full-time & great
pay) I ask "shouldn't I meet the elders and other staff (4 other full
time pastors)" they replied - "oh, we only do that with the
important positions"...I'm still looking!
Children's Pastor: Another word for janitor, baby sitter, building
maintenance, lawn care and 'other duties assigned by Sr. Pastor'. Why do
I have to dress up for an audience that picks their nose and drools?
Why do Sr Pastors, Assoc Pastors, and even some Youth Pastors get the
'wow, that's a great idea Pastor' response from board members, but
Children's Pastors get the 'hmm interesting, any other new business'
response?
Why is 1 Timothy 4:17 the only passage in the NT that doesn't apply to
Children's Pastors?
Tell me again why I shouldn't become a public school teacher, get 3
months a year off, not to mention sick days, personal days and a
retirement fund unparalleled to anything a church can offer, with a pay
increase?
WA (Michigan)
Adults make it to
work regularly and on time all week. They chastise coworkers for being
late and unproductive. They complain about not having autonomy in the
work place. Yet, these same adults agree to serve the Lord as leaders of
children in church and arrive late if at all; do the least amount of
preparation; and wait for detailed instructions in most cases. Aaaaagggghhhhh!
DP (Mississippi)
In our church the
children are now dropped off at their morning ministry before the adult
service begins rather than 20 minutes into it. This change started 2
years ago and has led to numerous comments of: "I miss seeing the
children." "We need to see more of the children." "We don't get to see
the children anymore." (FYI - we have a "Family Service" 6 times a year
where the whole service is geared to incorporating ages 2-102
inclusively. I generally "see" about 60 kids in the service each time we
host a Family Service).
I would love to stand
on my soap box and deliver the following: Don't tell me you want to
"see" more of the children on Sunday morning. What an incredibly selfish
attitude considering how we treated kids in the past in our morning
service. In this adult service the children stood for the worship and
looked at the backside of the adult in front of them. They listened to
announcements that were meaningless. They squirmed during prayer times
that were adult-oriented both in tone and in length. They had the
offering plate passed over their heads. The adult in front of them
reached over them to shake the hand of the person behind them. And then
they were told, once the worship leader noticed the frantically waving
Children's Pastor in the back who is trying to communicate they should
have told the kids they could escape to their service 10 minutes ago:
"The children can now be dismissed." (My, what beautiful phrasing. Makes
me feel all warm and fuzzy with acceptance!) Should all that be excused
so you can "see" the children, which by the way are just down that hall
every single week and could benefit from some of you who love seeing
them so much being involved in a meaningful way in the ministry.
For those of you
still not getting this, consider for a moment a church service where
every week is a child's Bible story - that means one point, not 3, and
no alliteration - coupled with engaging activities or games, and very
active worship. Maybe we'll throw in a few puppets or a character sketch
with a really wacky physical-comedy actor. Don't forget the fun stuff
like slime and relay races. How many weeks would you, as adults, be okay
with the irrelevance of this method of teaching for your own lives? I'm
guessing 2, maybe 3 for the really tolerant among you, and then only
because you assumed it would be back to normal when you came the
following week. What if that was your "normal" every single week?
Thinking it might be a better use of your time to stay home on Sunday
morning yet?
And please,
don't suggest we parade them up front or do the equivalent to the "shout
out" to the kids in the service. They are not an exhibit or a form of
entertainment. They are spiritual beings with the same capacity to love
Jesus, be one of His disciples, and minister in meaningful ways
as everyone else in this church. Until you come up with a meaningful way
to include them in the service and have church with them, not in spite
of them, let them go to their ministry where there is a committed group
of people who do recognize their value.
And by the way,
children don't have to sit in church in order to learn how to sit in
church for when they are old enough to attend the adult service every
Sunday. I don't take my kids to the doctor's office so they can learn
how to sit in the doctor's office so they know what to do when the time
comes for them to have an appointment. I'm quite confident they will
figure it out as they go along.
That would be my
uncensored rant!
H.G. (Canada)
One of the big
problems I see is that churches, and sometimes children's ministry
leaders actually think they can be everything the kids need. They spend
much time and energy on programs and activities--but that's often where
it stops. We need to impact the parents. We need to train them how to
teach their kids about God and the principles he's given us to live by.
Children's
ministries are good about informing parents as to what is going on with
the program, but often don't do anything to equip parents to make the
right impact at home.
Training and
teaching kids at church is great--don't get me wrong. But much undoing
of that training is happening in Christian homes. Kids don't see
parents living out their faith during the week. They see parents who
are complaining, crabby, arguing, unforgiving, selfish, proud, and rude
at times. Sure, everyone can struggle with those things, but they also
all contrary to the way scripture tells us to live. We need to be aware
of it and be careful to apologize to the family when it happens.
Often parents
simply get sloppy at home with their Christian walk--and it sends a
message to our kids. Here's the message kids are getting--and it's
generally one of two things.
A.
Christianity doesn't work.
B. Christianity isn't worth working at.
Is it any wonder
that kids are walking away from the faith when they get the freedom to
do it--like when they go to college?
Anyway, I have
plenty more thoughts and such along these lines. If you ever want to
talk more about it, let me know.
TS (Rolling
Meadows, IL)
How do we show our
children how to be lovers instead of do-gooders? How do we encourage
our children to change their behavior to model that of Christ's without
them becoming arrogant? How do we model for our children grace instead
of judgment? How do we help our children find value where their culture
sees none? How can we raise a generation of Revolutionaries? How do we
model for our children sacrifice or self-denial in a culture of
abundance/affluence?
TS (Lee's Summit,
MO)
I have worked in
and around children's ministry for 11 years now, leading choirs, VBS's,
Christmas programs, writing curriculum, teaching Sunday school, training
teachers, etc.
The Best part of
Children's Ministry is when you have an "AHA" moment with a child. When
what you are doing really sinks in and THEY GET IT! They take what you
have taught them and they incorporate it into their life.
Getting a sincere
thank you from a parent is also pretty great. Having a volunteer get
excited about the ministry vision is also a fantastic experience, and
then having them get excited enough to step in and recruit others is way
cool.
I also think that
working with an especially difficult person/kid over time( someone who
just doesn't click with you our your personality-'the exasperators'),
and then having them tell someone how (or yourself) much your ministry
has meant to them, is pretty great , too.
The worst things
about children's ministry is working with severely (emotionally
traumatized in some way) damaged folks who aren't quite ready to take
responsibility for themselves, or who just don't communicate with you.
Some of my best
memories are when stuff went wrong, and debriefing with my ministry
leaders and laughing about it. Like when we did the Christmas program
and one 3 year old boy who was a little squirrelly decided to tease the
choir director and dangle his foot around the extra mic cords and other
random electrical cords that were all over the stage. He was very into
watching the looks of horror on the people up front who were trying not
to jump out of their seats and rescue him from wrapping himself up in
the cords! IT was hilarious. Or the time another energetic child found
the trapdoor to the podium areas crawlspace during the children's sermon
and took off like a rat into the bowels of the church, and the volunteer
who had to dive into the trapdoorway to grab him before he could
disappear forever!
Or when we did a
children's camp for the national meeting for our denomination at a
convention center (not kid friendly)and with all the confusion from
having 175 kids and less volunteers than we really needed-we never had a
good count until the third day. And it was a 4 day event. We went roller
skating the first evening and the room we met in stunk like dirty socks
the whole time! Ah.... those were the days. The learning curve can be
pretty steep in Children's ministry but God always uses the time,
energy, frustration, and the just being there, to make a difference in
peoples lives.
LKH (Huron)
I get really
frustrated with people who think all we do is babysit and play games! I
have the most important job in the world!!! What I teach, how I act will
impact the way a child views God for the rest of his/her life. That's
not important? My daily prayer is that whatever I do, whatever I say, I
don't mess it up for God!
MP
It's difficult to
see some parents shove their children into the classrooms on Sundays
without even acknowledging our volunteers. These same parents are the
ones most apt to complain and least apt to ever serve in any capacity.
When encountering these type of parents I try very hard to concentrate
on and thank God for the ones who are such a blessing to us in so many
ways.
MR
Wow! My husband
and I have been doing children's ministry for 26 years. We have never
been bored, just stretched. We are licensed ministers with Foursquare
Church. Children's ministry from nursery going up is "NOT A BABYSITTING
MINISTRY". It is a ministry that trains, equips and prepares the hearts
of our next generation of leaders. My husband and I have the privilege
of training and equipping new children pastors to be out new church
plants. What an honor to know that God will use these children for great
and mighty anointed times. Just last week we had a Family District Camp,
which consist of youth, dads, moms and children. We all had services and
on the last night we would come together and as one and get into the
river. On one of our children's services we had great difficulty with
our sound system. SOOOOOOOOOOOO that meant we had to go to plan "B" for
worship time. Well this is what we are talking about, the generation of
children that can enter into the Holy of Holies, without music no sounds
just them and God. We had an altar call and then the not one but
everyone was baptized in the HOLY GHOST. those kids started worshipping
God like he was right there in front of them in person. AWESOME, two
young girls came up to me and I gave them the microphone. They started
singing , Amazing Grace, all the children joined in, some adults came in
and they were in awe. The children worshipped God for at least an hour
just them and God. THIS IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.
DD
