Welcome to a continuing series of tips on working with large groups of children. I hope that you will find these tips useful and be able to implement them in your dealings with large groups of kids. If you do, please leave a comment and let us know. For a complete list of posts in this series, please see the index page. So, without further introduction, here is today’s installment.
In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul said, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” [1 Corinthians 11:1]. Rather than exalting himself, Paul was simply saying that others should learn from what Christ had taught him. Likewise, in any ministry, we are conceited when we are not willing to look to, and learn from, others both in their successes and their failures. No matter what position you fill in Children’s Ministry from monthly volunteer to multi-site/megachurch Children’s Pastor, there are people who you can look to for advice and guidance.
One thing that has continues to amaze me more and more as I meet more and more people involved in Children’s Ministry is how willing they are, as a profession, to share information and ideas. Take advantage of that. Reach out to others in your area who are in your same position. In many cities there are groups of Children’s Ministry professionals who gather periodically to exchange ideas and sharpen one another. Find books from people you trust and respect in Children’s Ministry and devour them. People like Jim Wideman, Sue Miller, Reggie Joiner, Dale Hudson, Scott Werner and Aaron Reynolds all have great resources out there. I remember when our Children’s Ministry Director told me that something I had written reminded her a lot of something else she had read from Jim Wideman. I went and read everything I could find of his, and I learned a lot. And, in this technological age, you don’t even have to go to the bookstore to learn from these mentors. Many of them have blogs online where you can catch up with what they are thinking on an almost daily basis. I featured a bunch of them in a series of posts I did several months back:
- Top Ten Children’s Ministry Blogs
- Top Ten Non Children’s Ministry Blogs That Those in Children’s Ministry Should Follow
- Next Ten Children’s Ministry Blogs (#11-20)
- Children’s Ministry Blogs – Up and Comers and Consistent Contributors
In addition to these blogs, there are a number of additional internet resources that you can use to learn and grow for your work in Children’s Ministry. From online sites full of resources to sites where you can connect with other Children’s Ministry workers, the internet is full of invaluable resources. I highlighted some of these resources in a post called: Best of the Best – Children’s Ministry Internet Resources.
Whether you are just getting started in Children’s Ministry or are a seasoned professional, there is always someone you can learn from. We must never stop challenging ourselves to get better when the souls of God’s children are at stake.
Return to the Tips for Large Group Teaching in Children’s Ministry index page.