I am a man. I am a Children’s Minister. I have learned that I need a woman’s touch to my ministry. Unfortunately, my wife is the nursery coordinator and is therefore tied up with that when church is in session. I will give you an example of how I need a woman in my ministry. I thought it would be a great idea to take everyone camping. However, when I mentioned it, the girls gave me one of those looks like “are you seriously going to take me to sleep not in a house?!?” So, the next time we met, I said that I made a change and told the girls that they would be having a Movies and Make-over night at the church. They went nuts! I got the idea from a woman and would have never thought to do such a thing.
Now, I realize that men and women bring different perspectives to the children’s ministerial table as it were. What I am wondering is what do you think. As a woman, what do you offer that you feel a man does not? As a man, what do you believe you do better because you are a man?
I feel I bring a fatherly approach that is missing in most of the children’s homes that are involved in my ministry. I also feel that I have an ability to control the younger boys better than the women who teach them on occasion.
What about you? What do you feel you offer? What do you feel you lack?
More Children's Ministry Ideas
Teaching Boys To Be Men & Respect Women
The topic of training boys has become a big deal in my family. My oldest son is nearly seven years old and I am...
How Do You Expel A Child From Church?
When God called me to serve in children’s ministry I never imagined some of the situations I would face. Over the years I’ve learned...
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Terry,
If you take any pictures of you “make over” we should post them here on the blog!
What a great topic. I work with many women in children’s ministry. In the office, I’m usually out-numbered 3 to 1.
What I help with: organization, vision, pastoring, teaching, leading
What I need help with: fun ideas, EVERYTHING preschool, recruiting (which is typically recruiting more women). It’s much easier (and natural) for our women leaders to recruit and make calls to other women and get them to help out then when I do it.
Yes, I’d like to see your “before” and “after” pictures also!
This is a good topic. Women definitely bring a sense of nurture, comfort, and fun to children’s ministry (although most children’s pastors I know are way wackier than the women who serve!) But I think strong, godly male leadership and modeling is greatly needed in these times, when children’s ministries are often largely served by female volunteers.
One thing I think we don’t realize with the inclusion of men is the value of having a husband and wife who love each other teaching as a team in the classroom. Many kids have never seen two adults who are married to each other act in love and kindness–often, the I think that the most important teaching for some kids comes from watching a husband love and value his wife and vice versa! They love the fathering, too–but the marriage interaction is even more rare.
I have actually been very intentional about the inclusion of married couples in my classes and such. I have also been very intentional of using the term family when stating who will be teaching our children’s church and such.
Don’t forget, some girls love to camp too…. coming from a houseful of girls who love to camp!
“Teaching Boys To Be Men & Respect Women” sounds like a really great idea. I absolutely love it. I think our world needs more “men”, when I say this I mean boys and men who abide by God’s will. Anyone who abides by God’s will is someone who knows how to respect women and someone who stands up for what is good and righteous.