The next few weeks will be the toughest in your ministry year. Long winters bring discouragement and dull the passion of even the most devoted. Let me share a few ways I am preparing my heart to make it through discouragement in the ministry this winter. Feel free to comment and add to the list.
Focus on the long term vision.
Short term setbacks can really kill my morale. I get discouraged when my teaching falls flat or when I lose a busy volunteer. Ask yourself, “What am I trying to accomplish in the lives of these children 20 years from now?” Stay faithful to the vision and do the little things well. Then trust God to work things out in the long term.
Be thankful for past success.
Take the time to step back and see how much has been accomplished this year. Write down five ways that God has touched lives through your children’s ministry. Give thanks to God and trust him to continue his work next year.
Pray.
Nothing energized me for ministry like getting close to God. Very few real gains have ever come without prayer. Fight discouragement by seeking direct support from your Heavenly Father.
Remember that kids matter to Jesus.
When God was calling me to work in children’s ministry I was amazed to discover all the Bible verses that spell out God’s love for children. Always remember that his passion to reach the little ones will always exceed your own. All you have to do is get in line with his purpose.
Encourage others.
One of the best ways to get over discouragement is to become an encouragement to someone else. Look a Sunday school teacher in the eyes and say, “Your work matters to God and is making a difference.” Do this every week.
Spend more time with hurting children.
Sometimes I forget the pain that many of these children are facing in their own lives. Take time to connect with a child who is suffering from a rocky home life.
Visit unchurched families.
Few things energize me for ministry like getting into the “rough” homes of some of our kids. Remember, only the Gospel can break the cycles of sin that destroy so many families.
Love the unlovable.
Identify the child that causes you the most stress, the one that you may have written off as a trouble maker. Then make it your personal project to love that child and become the presence of Christ in their lives. If you succeed, you will never forget it.
What about you? What are some ways you rediscover your passion for children’s ministry?
May God bless you as you serve his church and his children.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Sharon Stallworth 12.27.07 at 6:24 pm
To not only serve the kids but the parents to. After my team of teachers teach the kids, it’s the parents job to work along with us to teach and help the kid become all that God has call them to. It all start with a good fondation ,that as they grow to each class level they mature to be youth leaders to work and help the younger kids by serving once month to prepare them for leadership.
Tony Kummer 12.28.07 at 12:02 pm
Sharon - Great point, serving the parents needs to be more of a priority in my ministry.
The most exciting changes I’ve seen this year has been in dads and moms who begin to lead their families toward Christ through family prayer and Bible reading.
Glen Woods 12.30.07 at 12:45 am
Not to be contrary, but for me, the weeks immediately following the holiday are a breath of fresh air. The hardest weeks are the middle of the summer, with summer ministries in full swing and fall prep underway, combined with lowered tithing income due to vacations and a tendency for people to be gone during the summer.
Tony Kummer 12.30.07 at 8:32 am
Glenn - Thanks for your input. I think I’ve always struggled with resting and the natural slow times on the calender. We are actually taking 2 Wednesdays off our club program over the holidays, but our volunteers needed the break.
Summer/Fall are busy to be sure, but for me it’s much harder not to be overwhelmed. I guess winter is just a different kind of hard. Good think VBS planning will be ramping up in January!
Bobbie 12.31.07 at 11:27 pm
Great article. Normally this time of the year I’m able to take a little breather and slow down until February. But with two of my Directors leaving, personal issues, family crisises, and other work related issues, it’s been easy to feel down and discouraged. I’m not in the position to take time off and get away and I’ve been working on refocusing and refreshing. This article is the perfect reminder of what’s really important.
karl bastian 01.01.08 at 7:40 pm
this was a wonderfully refreshing post - and right on! Regardless of our varying seasons of business, you nailed the key to getting back to what is the why of what we do. (did that make any sense?) Ministering to kids is what it is all about.
Tony Kummer 01.02.08 at 9:43 am
Bobbie - I think it’s normal to get a little discouraged when stress takes over your week/month. At least you don’t have all the snow down in the Arkansas!
Karl - Thanks for the encouragement. I should have added something about networking with others to the post. I can see that the Force is strong with Baby Luke, great pictures on your blog as always.