Significance

We all want what we do to make a difference.  If you’re a children’s pastor you know the passion you have for the “long game”.  You know what it’s like to get in there and work the long, endless hours.  You’re not like those lazy youth leaders who only have to do one service a week.  You’re not like that worship leader that sings a song and calls it a busy schedule.  You’re not like that senior pastor that only works 40 minutes on Sunday morning, right?  Right?  YOU’RE A WORKHORSE! (settle down, all you other kinds of pastors.  You know I’m just kidding)  Kid’s pastors, I see you there cutting out all those clipart pictures for that craft you’ve worked so hard on.  I recognize those dark circles under your eyes from the late night Saturday preparation and the early morning Sunday setup.  You know you are the first one at the church in the morning and you know very well you will be the last one to leave this afternoon.  You do it though, week after week after week.  And WHY do you do it?  WHY do you make your brain hurt, and your frustration level grow but always have a sweet smile on your face and a kind word on your tongue for those kiddos?

Because you recognize the value of significance!!!!

You’re playing the long game!

Ok, it’s not always a long game.  In fact, it’s the moments that can really make this calling one of amazing rewards.

…like when those kids are lost in worship.

…like when those kids get those cognitive breakthroughs.

…like when those kids get saved!

But it is that long game that you are always keeping in mind with every bit of strategy that you assemble, and with every decision for direction, and with every lesson carefully crafted.  After all, you already know that what Reggie Joiner says is true.

“THIS WEEK MATTERS.”

You know that as those families get the opportunity to grow in God, that you had a hand in helping them.  You know, as that child grows and starts thriving in the youth group, and starts showing the love of Christ in their high school, that all those late nights were totally worth it.  You know that when you hear the child you once taught is now grown with children of their own, and they are raising up their children to know Christ….  well…

…what you did had significance!

Of course it wasn’t just you.  Of course you don’t take all the credit.  It was the people God has been faithful to put in their path all along the way.  Yet, just as you are so thankful for the people of significance in YOUR life, so will they be for the ones in theirs.  God used YOU.  YOU had a part in that.

Can anything in life be sweeter???

Who would have ever thought that when you agreed to volunteer for a short stint in the Children’s ministry all those years ago, that one day it would lead to THIS!?!  I mean, you were just doing it out of duty anyways.  It’s not like you really wanted to.

“I’m just signing up for a couple weeks, right?  Three tops?  You’ll find someone else by then, right?”

So recently I’ve found myself wandering a little aimlessly in the “land between” (and, oh yes, is there a blog coming soon about THAT!).  But one of the greatest privileges that this opportunity has availed me with is the chance to talk to other Children’s pastors and leaders with a similar heart.  I love to hear not only their passion, but their STORY!  How did God call them?  How do they do things? Why do they do what they do?

Recently I sat down with Mike, a local Kidmin director from a thriving Kid’s program.  Having a chance to visit Mike’s church, the one thing that really spoke to me was how all his LeadSmall leaders have made such an amazing commitment to lead their small groups EVERY WEEK!  I had to find out how he did it.

Mike began to share with me his 40/40 strategy.  The church launched out to get 40 leaders to commit to 40 weeks a year (summers off) to running their kid’s small group EVERY WEEK!  We began to talk about how most of the time when we are looking to get volunteer leadership, it’s such a challenge and we feel we need to provide a culture to cater to those we are asking.  Mike said he wanted to do something differently.  He began to tell me that he knew he was asking such a large “ask”, but he also knew that he had something to offer to those leaders that rose to the challenge that could never be given to leaders who committed less.

Mike was offering them significance!

You see, he knew that when a leader committed to a group of kids, those kids are going to become a part of that leaders life.  Week after week, they knew they were going to see that leader, and they are going to start sharing life together.  The parents were going to see that leader ever week, and they too were going to start sharing life together.  That leader was going to start getting invitations to attend ball games, and recitals.  That leader is going to be praying for sick pets and grandparents.  That leader is going to be known in that child’s life and the life of that child’s church friends.  There will be precious little room for that child to “fall through the cracks” at that church.  They will find a place where they are known, and loved and accepted.

Kind of like what Jesus does for us, right?

In fact, that’s what this child and his or her family will see… they will get more than just a lesson.  They will get a chance to see Jesus in that leader.  And that leader will get something also…

A chance to have some significance in that families life.

They will do more than just share the Message of Christ.  They will get a chance to live it out.

I asked Mike what the response from his team was.  At first, he told me, there was resistance.  While everyone else was looking to make the “duty” easier for their volunteers, here he was asking for more.  MUCH more!   These leaders will have to show up week after week.  They will have to commit to attend one of the earlier, or later services so that they are growing themselves and then serve.  They will soon see the difference between “duty” and “calling”.

Do you remember when you first saw the difference?

I do.

Changed my LIFE!

So why aren’t we providing the same opportunities for those who serve with us?  Let’s do it!  However the strategy that works for your situation and culture and church, let’s make it part of our strategy to intentionally ask the questions…

“What sort of significance do I crave to see in the ministry God has called me to?”

“How can I provide that opportunity to those who serve with me?”

The best thing here is that the real winners from the answers to those questions will be those kids and their families.

Can anything in life be sweeter???