By: Crystal Townsend
A first year in any type of environment comes with successes, failures, and lessons learned. It is no different in the kidmin world. There are always new things to learn and new ways to grow. After being involved in kidmin from helping out as a kid myself to leading some as a teen to jumping in as an adult there have been a lot of lessons learned. My first year of focused work in children’s ministry brought lessons that are invaluable. So here are a few of those things.
Delegation
Oh, delegation! This is a hard thing for someone who loves to do everything. I used to run around like crazy trying to do everything myself because I knew how I wanted it done and I liked doing it anyway. That’s a great justification, right? I learned, however, that it’s not about always having things done the way I want them done or getting to be directly involved in everything that goes on. It’s a matter of not running yourself ragged and sharing some responsibility, letting other people in on the blessing of sharing Jesus with kids.
Loving Kids, But Also Grown-Ups
I have always loved kids. They are precious gifts from God and I love taking opportunities to have fun with them while teaching them about the love of Jesus. If you’re in kidmin you completely understand what I’m talking about! I have also learned that it’s not just the kids that need loving; it’s the grown-ups that need love too. After all, they are the ones we are supposed to equip to take on the responsibility of being primary faith teachers of their children. They are the ones that volunteer to work in Sunday school and go on children’s events. They are important! If we neglect the adults in our ministries we are missing a huge portion of what we are called to do in ministry.
Networking
Now this lesson I’m still working on. However, I do understand it and see its value. It is much easier sometimes, or at least we think it is, to simply do our own thing in our church without reaching out and getting involved with other people in kidmin. It is incredibly important that we build relationships with other folks that are involved in leading kids. It’s building a support system of people that understand where you are coming from and you can laugh, cry, or brainstorm with them. It is a group that can be such an encouragement through rough times. Like I said, I’m still working on this one, but I’m getting there.
Plenty More
These are just a few of many lessons learned during my first year of focused children’s ministry. There are many more and lots that have yet to be learned. I challenge young and old kidmin leaders alike to take some time ponder the lessons you have learned and look for new things that God may be trying to teach you.
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Crystal Townsend is the children’s ministry assistant at Northside Baptist Church in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, where she has served since 2010. She loves having fun with the kids and has a passion for bringing them and their families closer to Christ. Besides working with the little ones she is always up for some bowling and frosted animal cookies with Snapple.
