Kids Just Get It!
“I want the white one!” These were the words of a a preschooler in our ministry. As one of the creative communication team members shared the message of the gospel using the Wordless Book and long after we had moved on to another part of our time with the kids, these words were shared.
Snack was done. The lesson was complete. And still she exclaimed: “I want the white one.” To what was she referring – to the message that she heard moments earlier. The white page simple referred to the forgiveness that God makes available to us in Christ! As we began involving kids in the process of a connecting activity of making “wordless” bracelets, she began crying because of what she didn’t think she could do. She sat in the corner to have what may have been a tantrum, and when asked if she was ready to join the group again, it was then that she exclaimed “I want the white one” – meaning she wanted the white part of the wordless bracelet. Still she wouldn’t rejoin the group, and it was then that another member of the team approached her, sat down beside her and as she expressed uncertainty about whether she was welcome back into the group, the leader then talked to her about the color “white” from the wordless book and reminded her of the meaning we applied to that color in the book and then went on to mention to her of what white stood for in the gospel message and that God forgives her and still loves her no matter what she does – she stopped crying and started asking questions and making statements like “you mean God’s not mad at me? But what if I do something really bad….” She was then told that we forgive her too, just like God does. As these words were shared, her face brightened with a huge smile and she reached up for a hug! This was a significant WOW moment for me as God reminded me of the significance and power of the Gospel to transform young lives – even the lives of very young children!! They can receive the gospel, intentionality is the key and refusing to let teachable moments slip us by because of how children are acting out at the moment. What a difference it would make if we look beyond their behavior and see their souls.
A Child’s View of God
“But God is mad at me.” As I was getting ready to begin a Bible message in Kids Church, before I could even get started good, these words flowed from the lips of a 5 year old boy. His words stayed with me. His words caused me to wonder. His words caused me to pray. His words caused me to feel compelled to give this child and perhaps other children like Him a correct view of God. Did he get this thought and belief from home? From church? From Somewhere else? I’m not sure. But my mind reflected on some of the words I have in the past heard adults utter to children when trying to help them behave. Statements such as “You better be good, because God is watching you” came to mind. Could this child’s view of God have come from statements such as this that promote fear, i.e. be good or else. Well, I’m not sure, but it was a reminder to me of just how significant my role as a Children’s Pastor really is. It is an opportunity to help children understand who God really is, and to shape their views of Him and of themselves as it relates to Him. Ironically, the message the next week was on the love of God, with the big idea being “God loves me even when I do something wrong.” I viewed the contents of the message with this child and other children like him in mind!Don’t Forget What Really Matters
I figured it out! Figured what out you might ask. I figured out what’s bugging me. I just figured out part of why I have been feeling discouraged and ineffective.
More than likely it won’t be a big deal to you, but keep reading anyway. I was reading a book by Aaron Reynolds www.creative-arts-ministry.com entitled the Fabulous Reinvention of Sunday School and I didn’t get any further than page 31 before I discovered my problem.
I am in a ministry position where I seem to have to give the bulk of my time to things like “childcare” (I hate that word by the way), all sorts of administrative stuff, planning/organizing events, and of course ‘putting out fires,’ – which by the way are all good things and significant elements of my ministry occupation. But I am afraid these things have been allowed to zap my energy and time to devote the amount of time and energy I need to to the ministry of teaching and preaching God’s Word!
Teaching and preaching God’s Word is where my real passion is. It’s the call that got me involved in ministry in the first place. This call is why I went to seminary in the first place, etc. In Children’s Ministry it is so easy to get wrapped up in all of the lesser things and forget the most important part – teaching/preaching the Bible – God’s Message to kids in a way that captivates, motivates and rejuvenates kids in their walk with God and helps them become all that He’s called them to be for Him.
It took me a while to get what’s been happening with me, but I think I have it now. What about you? Are you focused on what really matters or are you lost in the less important things?
