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Six Ways to Persevere Through the Sluggish Times

February 3, 2012 in General Kidmin with 0 Comments

Have you ever had one of those days? You know the kind – where you really aren’t “in to” what you’re doing and you feel like you rather be doing just about anything else. What do you do when those times correspond to your time in ministry. Wednesday was one of those days for me. On Wednesday night, I run the games for our Awana program. It’s an-hour-and-a-half and something like 200 kids broken into 30 minute game segments. Usually, it is one of the highlights of my week, but this week I just felt rather “ho hum” and work out when I showed up. It’s bound to happen. We can’t always be ON! And, when it comes to ministry, sometimes you just have to put your game face on and trudge through. Here is what I’ve found works for me.

1. Pray

Working in children’s ministry, I find myself praying “God, give me the strength!” more often than I would like to admit. When you’re feeling down or just not into it though, it is essential that you turn first to God. He renews us day by day, and he can renew us minute by minute. Always start by asking your Heavenly Father.

Allowing Jesus to Work in Your Children’s Ministry

November 12, 2010 in General Kidmin with 1 Comment

It’s time to catch up on another article that I originally published over on Ministry-to-Children.com. The article, titled Why I Don’t Want to Be Too Good at Kidmin was originally published on August 19, 2010.

This article is all about not being so polished when it comes to children’s ministry that we forget to allow, or just don’t allow, the Holy Spirit to work in our ministry.

Here is an excerpt:

How We Unintentionally Hinder Kids from Sharing the Gospel

November 11, 2010 in General Kidmin, Ministry-To-Children.com Articles with 1 Comment

It’s time to catch up on another article that I published over on Ministry-to-Children.com. The article, titled Kids Evangelizing Kids (and How We Can Stay Out of the Way) was originally published on August 8, 2010.

The article discusses how we, as adults often impose our own insecurities on kids when it comes to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Here is an excerpt:

Repost: 8 Reasons to Get Involved in Children’s Ministry from Psalm 78

October 22, 2010 in General Kidmin with 5 Comments

In Psalm 78 we read:

1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
3 things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us.

4 We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.
5 He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
6 that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
7 so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;
8 and that they should not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
whose spirit was not faithful to God. [Psalms 78:1-8 ESV]

The first eight verses of Psalm 78 highlight the importance of passing God’s Word and the memory of His grace on from generation to generation. While the principal place for this work is within the family structure, as made clear elsewhere in the Old Testament, modern Children’s Ministry also plays a part in the process. A close exposition of this Psalm reveals the importance of such an exercise:

1. Children’s Ministry is of the Utmost Importance

The Psalmist calls attention to what he is about to say with the words, “Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth!” Charles Spurgeon explains the import of this introductory phrase,

“When God gives his truth a tongue, and sends forth his messengers trained to declare his word with power, it is the least we can do to give them our ears and the earnest obedience of our hearts. Shall God speak, and his children refuse to hear? His teaching has the force of law, let us yield both ear and heart to it.”

In many churches today, Children’s Ministry is an afterthought. Volunteers are hard to come by, and funds are not directed to Children’s Ministry. In many churches, not all by any means, the importance of passing biblical truth to children in overlooked in favor of a mere babysitting service.

What Matters Now in Children’s Ministry – Effectiveness by Dan Scott

October 13, 2010 in General Kidmin with 1 Comment

It’s time for another installment of my take on the chapters from the book What Matters Now in Children’s Ministry. Today, we tackle the chapter from Dan Scott. Dan chose the word “Effectiveness” for what matters now in children’s ministry.