Five Dangers to Be On Guard For . . . #5

I've been posting about five dangers to be on guard for; the danger of gossip, the danger of child abuse, falling into the "it's-all-me" trap and the "we're-the-only-ones" trap. Now I want to share the fifth danger to be on guard and watching for . . . the danger of being at the "bottom of the totem pole".

It is unlikely leaders in any church would actually say the children's ministry is at the "bottom of the totem pole", but if you look at where resources are invested and the "visibility" of the children's ministry, you will often find the "bottom of the totem pole" is where the children's ministry actually ends up. So, how can you know if your children's ministry is at the "bottom of the totem pole"? Consider the following questions . . . 

• After hiring a senior pastor and youth pastor, who is the next staff person your church hired - full or part time? Often this person is a music person. While I won't say music isn't important, I do believe the children's ministry MUST have a higher position of value than the music ministry for the following reason - most people get saved before the age of 16. If our goal is to fulfill the great commission, then we need to invest our resources doing this. Plus, when it comes to choosing a church, most parents will put more value on what is offered for their children than they will as to what the music is like at a church.
• What areas of your church have the most "visibility"? Is your children's ministry tucked out of the way; out of sight? Are you able to regularly share the vision and the great things which are happening in the children's ministry with your church - from the pulpit?
• Where is your church's money spent? If you need resources in the children's ministry are they considered a priority?
• Are you able to recruit in front of the church, or do you have to use bulletin inserts? While I strongly belive in approaching individuals personally to share with them the opportunity to be involved in the children's ministry, it is also important to let the entire church know when you have needs.

So, what do you do if you see your children's ministry is at the "bottom of the totem pole"? Consider the following . . .

• Pray. This is the first and most important thing you can do.
• Share the value of the children's ministry with the leaders in your church.
• Share the value of the children's ministry with the parents in your church.
• Share the value of the children's ministry with the members in your church.
• When a child is saved, a new family reached, a child makes important decisions - be sure your entire church knows about it!
• Involve your volunteers in actively sharing about the great things which are happening in the children's ministry!

It is about educating people, so they understand your children's ministry is far more than babysitting or child-care So, be on guard; watch to be sure your children's ministry is not at the "bottom of the totem pole"!