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Children’s ministry can be messy. The main reason that it can be messy is because you, as a children’s ministry leader must deal with parents of young children. Most often that means you deal with young, first-time parents. These parents love their children and will kill for them (not literally…at least I don’t think). One of the areas where children’s pastors may experience some conflict is philosophy. Do you have a leadership philosophy when it comes to leading your children’s ministry?
My mission statement is simple: Jesus.
My vision statement is more complex: FirstKids desires to provide all children with a safe, loving, and fun enviornment so that they can come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ and grow spiritually in Him.
How we work that vision and mission out practically becomes our philosophy, whether or not we penned one or not. For instance, my philsophy as a children’s pastor is to partner with parents in ensuring that they are doing their God-ordained job of discipling their children in the home. Therefore, I invest fully in building relationships with parents through friendship and teaching so that they know that I support them in leading their families. Through these relationships I can build healthly relationships with their children. The parents know that I care for them and love them and their kids. Furthemore, I emphaisize that fathers are called to carry the spirutal mantle for their families. My philosophy starts with my theology, which influences my philosophy, which then influences my methedology.
How about you? What is your ministry philosophy?
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Kristen,
It’s always good to put thoughts down. Sometimes our thoughts don’t match our actions and we wouldn’t know that any other way…
Dana,
I completely agree with you on parental involvement!
Olga,
Thanks for the kind words.
I find your point in partnering the parents essentially true. If you live out God’s love towards them too, it nurtures the spiritual life of the whole family. NOT ONLY while their children are sweet little ones, but even when they grow and become unpredictable teenagers. God bless you in your ministry,
I totally agree with you on your philosophy. I think the parents need to show their kids who God is and how they should worship him. The role of the teacher is to expound on what the parents teach at home. we do not just tell the stories to the to entertain but to instill a true love for God and what His plan is for our lives. I think the parents should be involved in what goes on not only in the Sunday School class but in the Children’s Church as well. If the parents show a interest in what the child hears at church then the child will be more eager to learn what is taught.
I teach 1st -5th grade Sunday school, help in the Children’s Church, and the Nursery. I am a Deacon’s wife of 19 yrs. and also help were I am needed in my church. I think if all parents took an active role in the church, the church will withstand the hardest of storms not only in the member’s lives but in the life of the church.
I love that your philosophy is partnering with parents. That’s the foundation of a healthy family ministry – coming alongside parents to encourage and equip them in their God-given responsibilities.
You’re certainly right about the challenge to live out what you believe. But having the mission and vision statement identified, along with your philosophy penned out – that will help, as you make decisions along those lines, towards those goals.
Thanks for the encouragement to get these things on paper. It’s something that I certainly need to do.
Jeri,
Thanks for the kind words. It always seems that one of the biggest challenges is actually carrying out what we say we believe.
Charles, thanks for a thought-provoking article. If I had to distill a philosophy for children’s ministry into a few words, it would be along the lines of your own: to partner with parents in ensuring that they are doing their God-ordained job of discipling their children in the home. There can surely be nothing more important. I appreciate the vision you, Terry, and Tony, as pastors, have for that.