5.5.26
Hey, Calvary Fremont –
This is a Shout-Out to all the Children’s Ministry Directors out there in ChurchLand.
I have been in some sort of ministry – youth pastor, assistant pastor, senior pastor – since January of 1973. And I remain convinced that the Children’s Ministry Director (CMD) has the most challenging job in the church. And it’s not because of the children! It’s because the adults who should be helping her (and most CMDs are women) are acting like children. We expect children to act like children, but when adults act like children even the Senior Pastor has a Children’s Ministry.
Children are selfish – so are many adults.
Children put themselves first – so do many adults.
Children gripe and complain at the drop of a hat – so do many adults.
Children try and avoid responsibility – so do many adults.
Children want to play games all the time – so do many adults.
Children flit from thing to thing and don’t retain focus – so do many adults.
Children can’t be counted upon to do an adult’s job – so with many adults.
I had mentioned to a former CMD that I thought recruitment was the greatest challenge facing the CMD. She said that this wasn’t the hurdle she faced. She pointed to the parents being the greatest challenge because there were so many opinions, expectations, and ideas of what Sunday school should look like. They weren’t willing to serve, but they were more than willing to judge and criticize. They were willing to point out the (alleged) problems – but not willing to become part of the solution.
Do you want to bless the Children’s Ministry Director of your church? The next time you see her, go up to her and say, “Put me in, Coach. Where can I best serve in the Children’s Ministry?” O, I could say to you, “You’ll be blessed if you serve.” “You’ll grow in your faith if you serve.” “You’ll have the joy of serving others if you serve.” Yet if I say those things, I am merely appealing to your selfishness. I would be appealing to you as a Consumer and not as a Servant of Christ. A Consumer wants to know what they are going to get out of something. A Servant of Christ wants to know what they can give to something. It’s the adults in the church who are Consumers who are the children. It’s the adults who are Servants of Christ who minister to and serve others. Are you a Consumer or a Servant of Christ?
The children of the church need adults who are Servants of Christ. They need those who serve out of a fervent love for Christ and others. The children need those to serve them who won’t drop out when it is no longer fulfilling or convenient or easy. The children of the church need adults who are no longer children themselves. The greatest challenge faced by the CMD isn’t the children! Be a blessing to your church and to the Children’s Ministry Director. The next time you see her, give her a big hug and let her know how much you appreciate her! (And say to her, “Put me in, Coach!”)
Be blessed and stay healthy and follow Jesus – Pastor Tim
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