Please, don’t forget

Last weekend I posted on Facebook, as do many other people. However, I deleted the post for several reasons. Now I’ve decided I want to explain myself.

This was the post:

Children’s ministry is not daycare. Children’s ministry matters. Attention to the Church: children’s ministry is just as important as adult ministries.

(And by “the Church” I mean as a whole, not one church specifically)

This post was not addressed to anyone. This post was not about anyone. This post was not intended to point fingers at anyone. This post did not come about because someone said something to me. This post was not a fire back at anyone.

My husband and I went to a children’s ministry conference last weekend. The speaker at the conference made similar comments. I simply posted this because I believe with all my heart that what he said is true. I agree 100% with the post I made.

During the conference I realized something: so many people who serve in children’s ministry feel forgotten. I know I’ve struggled with this. A few weeks ago, a mother introduced herself to me (and did not know who I was). My husband and I have been serving at our church for two years. For two years we have watched this lady’s son and daughter grow, talked with them every week, and spent a few hours a week with them in the children’s ministry department. The mom didn’t know who I was. Stuff like this used to bother me so much. But, not as much anymore. I go to a different church service than this mom and dad and usually, I am not the one at the door of the kids’ church room dismissing the kids to their parents. She usually doesn’t see me. In this case, I understand why she didn’t know me.

But I got to thinking…what if this had happened to someone else who serves with the kids? Would they feel forgotten?

Children’s ministry is not daycare.

Some churches see kids as a distraction or disturbance and aren’t really wanted in the services. Insert “children’s ministry.” I use quotes because in this case, it’s really just seen as daycare. It’s used as a way to keep the adults free from distraction so that the “real worship” can happen. Isn’t the biblical role of a parent to raise up their kids in Christ? If the kids are pushed to the side, hidden away, and seen as a nuisance, what is that teaching them about Christ?

Matthew 19:14 says : “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.'”

Many times…many, many times…it can be very hard to find people willing to help with children’s ministry. Why you ask? Because MANY times, children’s ministry is viewed as daycare. They feel forgotten. Picture this- wild children running around with pitchforks and torches screaming for snacks, crying for their mommies, and peeing all over the floor. Over in the corner, there’s an adult being pelted with stale goldfish crackers trying to fend off a herd of toddlers with a pool noodle from the craft section. At the door, another adult presses their tear soaked face against the tiny door window praying to see parents walking down the hall to come collect their children while a seven year old shoots them in the back with a Nerf gun.

And now you’re thinking, “is that what children’s ministry is really like?”

No. Absolutely not.

But often times, I feel like this is how people view children’s ministry. And, this is probably why it’s hard to find volunteers.

This is what children’s ministry looks like: a baby is getting fussy because it’s almost time for another bottle, the nursery worker notices, feed and soothes the baby. A preschooler falls in the hallway and scrapes their knee. The preschool teacher stops, kneels beside the child, calms the crying, and offers them a bandage. The child gets up and walks to class with the other kids. A 3rd grader gets excited because they finally finished their Awana book, run to tell their class secretary, and is congratulated with a high five! Kids ministry consists of telling kids to keep their chair on all four legs, making sure kids aren’t wondering in the hall after asking to “go the the bathroom,” and reminding them to pay attention. Kids ministry also consists of understanding all the squirming around and wiggling is because sometimes kids just can’t sit still that long, and also remembering that not all kids can’t keep quiet for a straight hour. Kids ministry looks like the same game for the third week in a row because the kids enjoy it and are learning, another VBS song even in December because the kids know it by heart and know all the motions, pictures for examples, cheesy videos to explain the Bible story in a way they can remember it, songs to learn the books of the Bible, reminding them of our kids church rules-Love God and love others- and reminding them why these are important in kids church and in life. It looks like separating the same kids from each other because they won’t stop talking, getting a hug from a kid because they missed you, or hearing a kid tell you what they learned last week when you honestly didn’t think they were listening. Kids ministry looks like love, care, hope, faith, and learning how to become more like Jesus everyday.

Children’s ministry is not daycare.

Children’s ministry matters.

Children need to hear about Jesus and learn what the Bible says. That looks different at different age levels. For the bed babies, that could be singing “Jesus loves me” to them. For preschoolers, that could be learning about Noah’s ark. For elementary school, that could be learning the books of the Bible, learning how to use the table of contents, and beginning to memorize Bible verses.

As a children’s ministry worker, you may think that if you have to watch the same Veggie Tales movie for the 15th time, sing “Father Abraham” one more time, or sound out Genesis for another kid so they can spell it out incorrectly again on their picture of creation, your head may actually explode. But remember, the kids learn differently than you. And they learn differently at different ages. Your work matters. Never doubt that.

“Well the parents can just tell their kids about Jesus at home!” Well, yes, they could. And yes, some parents do this. But sometimes, honestly, it doesn’t happen that way. Sometimes, the only time kids learn about Jesus is for an hour on Sunday morning. Kids need to be fed the Word of God just like adults. Sometimes, children’s ministry is the only way some kids hear about Jesus. Some kids don’t have parents who believe. Some kids come only because their grandparents pick them up and bring them to church. Some kids only go to church when they go with friends. Some kids have one parent who believes and another who doesn’t. Some kids come from difficult home situations. Sometimes, and this one was honestly one of the hardest things for me to believe for a very long time, but sometimes coming to church is the only time a child feels (or actually is) loved or safe (mentally safe and as hard as it is to believe, physically safe as well).

There are so, so, SO many reasons why a child may not be taught about Jesus at home. And there are SO many reasons why children’s ministry is important.

Children’s ministry matters because children matter to God.

And if it matters to God, it should matter to you.

Children’s ministry is just as important as adult ministries.

When a child comes to know Jesus as their Lord and savior, heaven rejoices, just like when an adult does the same thing!

A lot of times, children’s ministry workers don’t see the value their work has. (Often times because it’s viewed as “daycare.”) If you work in children’s ministry, you are helping lay the foundation for a child’s faith! It doesn’t matter if you are teaching a Bible story, passing out snacks, have bathroom duty (wash your hands!), changing diapers, or any of the other jobs that comes along with volunteering in children’s ministry, you are making a difference! You are showing that child how to love and care for another person. You are showing them that someone cares about them. You are showing them the love of Christ by your words and actions. You are doing all of this even if your only job is to fill up the water cups for snack time. Your work in children’s ministry matters.

I’ve heard so many times that a child won’t remember if a person gives them gifts. They will remember that a person was there for them, spent time with them, or showed them love. Serving in children’s ministry shows kids that you will be there for them and love them while spending time with them. You may feel forgotten, but these kids will never forget the love you have shown them.

Children’s ministry matters for so many reasons.

You may be thinking, “you’re just saying all this because your husband is a kids’ pastor!” And you would be wrong. Very wrong.

My work in children’s ministry started way before I even knew my husband was on this planet. I grew up in a very small country church. Everyone had to volunteer in order to get things done, or at least that’s how it seemed. I started working in the nursery when I was about 12. When I was 15, I taught the Royal Rangers (and to my non PHC friends, it’s similar to RAs). So a 15 year old girl teaching a group of little boys? Yes. I told you, this church was small. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to grow up and continue working with kids in some way. Little did I know that I would end up marrying a seminary guy who was also a children’s pastor. I also learned very young that children’s ministry matters and it matters just as much as the adult ministries. So no, ma’am or sir, I am not saying this because of my husband. I am saying this because I believe it. I have lived it. I have worked in kids ministry for over 14 years. I know it’s true. And I know it is important to God.

Please, don’t forget the kids. Just because they aren’t sitting in service doesn’t mean they aren’t learning about Jesus. Kids are like sponges. They soak up everything. So every second matters. This time is so important. They need to be taught about Jesus and hear the truth of the gospel. Please don’t put them in a corner just so the service is quiet. Next time you hear a baby cry during church or see a kid squirming in their seat because they have been sitting still for too long, take the time to thank God that your church is growing. The next time you hear the kid in the row behind you singing WAY off key and very loudly during worship, ask God for that kind of love for him, the kind of love that makes you not care what you sound like, the kind of love that just makes you want to sing and sing loud! If you take your kids to kids’ church, please know that they are worshiping, they are learning, they are reading their Bible, and some are even taking notes justlike the adults sitting in “big church.”

Please, don’t forget the children’s ministry workers. Their work is important. Their job is to teach kids about Jesus. Their job is to show kids the love of Jesus. Their work matters to God and it should matter to you. The next time you see a worn out Bible School worker, thank them. “It’s just watching a couple kids.” Excuse me, but no. It’s not “JUST” watching a couple kids. And if you’ve made it this far and you STILL think that, please reread all of this. The next time the kids ministry department needs help, don’t dismiss it because “someone else will do it” or “it’s not for me.” Give it a try. Even if it’s just for one Sunday. The love these kids show, watching them learn and grow in Jesus, and seeing their little faces light up when they walk into the room and see you and scream “HI MRS ASHLEY!!!” or whatever your name is…These are some of the reasons working in children’s ministry is worth it.

And please, please don’t forget that God loves kids just as much as he loves adults.

Children’s ministry is not daycare.

Children’s ministry is just as important at adult ministries.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY MATTERS.

AMS