What's Your Perspective

Mark Jones

Childhood Ministries Specialist

Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma

 

I was walking down the hall at church, peeking in classrooms as Sunday school was starting when I heard it.  I noticed the church vans had arrived and were unloading a crew full of kids.  The children were very excited to be there and then it happened.  The greeter at the door smiled as the children piled into the building except for one unhappy, self-appointed “Homeland Security Director of the church” who began barking at the children, “SLOW DOWN AND BE QUIET!”  I never said a word but rather followed the kids upstairs and helped them find the correct classrooms.  The kids were warmly welcomed and classes continued their learning.  Although our bus ministry was going well, something was missing.  We had faithful bus drivers, someone who contacted the children regularly and classes for everyone, but still something was missing.

 

In hopes for evaluating and improving our children’s ministry, I invited all the workers to my house.  There we enjoyed some fellowship and time together before I asked them these questions.  “What do we do in our children’s ministry?”  I listed everything they said on a white board.  “Now, what do you think we do the best?”  I circled five things and readily agreed. A good leader will celebrate his workers strengths.  Finally I asked, “What do we need to improve?”  It was quiet for a moment, and then a few suggestions were made.  I quickly circled the items and we prayed.  We needed to ask God how He wanted to use us and how we could improve our effectiveness in ministry to children.  After the prayer, a quiet voice spoke up and said, “We don’t love the bus kids like the other kids.  I think we could love all the kids.” Then it happened.  God helped us understand how we could be a missionary to each child.

 

It is possible to do the ministry and miss the kids.  In Dr. Ed Stetzer’s book, “Breaking the Missional Code” he challenges us to fall in love with the people.  For your children’s ministry to become missional, you must evaluate your practices and not only your programs. Gather your leaders and ask, “Do we really love the children?”  Identify how you love them and how you can improve building relationships with kids. The relationships you create become the foundations for children to understand a relationship with Jesus.  Then, evaluate your programs.  Are you providing programs that help kids learn the truths from the Bible?  How to use the Bible with ease?  How to serve and love others?  This provides solid steps toward teaching children to become missionaries themselves.  Please note, children will do what they see their leader doing.

 

When our children arrived the next Sunday, they were greeted by new teachers.  No, it was the same teaching staff, but we had all changed.  After our evaluation meeting, we had become advocates for kids.  We loved each one of them and especially the bus kids!

Comments

[Jayna Coppedge]

A friend of mine is an elementary school principle. (She has been a Kindergarten SS teacher for a decade. She isn't tired of children after school.) She is part of a team that interviews potential teachers. One of the questions the team asks is: "How do you know when you are a successful teacher?" She said, all the teachers talk of test scores and that is important, but we choose that also say: "I am a success when the children give me smiles, eye contact, and spontaneous hugs." These children feel loved and respected as individuals. These children have teachers that challenge and engage them. These teachers have high expectations in behavior and learning. These children will meet those expectaions because of the relationship they have with their teacher.
I often remind our church volunteers, "Children see themselves as they are reflected in your eyes. They feel Jesus' love through your smile."