--- I'm going to start a 4 part series on the most important lessons, that God has taught me this year. Or I guess the ones that have really caught my attention, my breakthroughs.----
Acts 16: 5 (NLT) So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day
It has followed me since middle school confirmation classes. One of the years of confirmation, we were assigned mentors. My mentor was Ellie. I loved Ellie. She was a sweet old lady, who had a passion for God. I don't think I fully recognized this at the time, but her gentle spirit shone through. Looking back now, I know what I loved about her. I loved God and her faith. She was a living breathing example of a Christ follower.
Ellie passed away around the time of my confirmation graduation. To honor her legacy, I talked my mother into helping me teach Ellie's Sunday school class of pre-kindergarteners. We switched every other Sunday throughout my high school years. I'm not sure I would say that I loved this type of servanthood, but it felt good doing something that Ellie so much loved and did without complaint.
The thing about serving in Children's ministry is I never was big on kids... I say this and I have a child. Don't get me wrong, I've always wanted a child of my own and I love my daughter like crazy. But I have a problem with naughty kids.
My first venture was a pleasant one. There was sweet little Adam, who was guaranteed to know the answer to every question and he listened and obeyed everything I said. Adam was the type of kid, that made me want to have 5 kids. That's not to say there wasn't the kids, where I frequented the question, "What did David do in the story?" or "What did I just say?" and they just stared at me blankly.
My second venture in children's ministries wasn't a good one. There were kids hitting each other, not listening and frustrations galore. I finally had to quit, I couldn't take it anymore. I didn't tell the children's minsitry coordinator the main reason, which was, if I continued on this venture, I would never have kids of my own. :) I signed up for Women's ministries and fell in love immediatley, I never wanted to go back to Kids' Ministries.
Shortly after having my daughter, came a new season in my life, God moved my family to a new, smaller church. Being in a newer church, meant less opportunies to pick and chose where I've served. The pastor's wife approached me about helping in my daughter's class. On the inside, I'm instantly thinking, "oh boy here I go again!" I wanted to serve though and this was my opportunity.
I hate to admit it, but I wasn't so happy about it at first. Fortunately unlike my old church, there were enough volunteers that I didn't have to do it every weekend, so that helped. I pouted though, when it was my weekend, "but God... I want to be fed! I want to go to worship! They are naughty! They don't listen! I can't discipline them, because they aren't my kids!"
It was at a ministry meeting with the pastor's wife, when she spoke about the importantance of the kid's ministry. So many people walk through that door, needing to know God, needing to be fed, needing to hear that sermon and by watching their children, I am affording them the opportunity to really concentrate on God's Word. In a way, you could say, the people watching your children at church, are helping bring people to Christ. A person could be sitting in church and hear that message that resonates with their soul and make a decision to receive Christ as their savior. Could they have done that with their 3 year old wiggling or whining in the seat next to them? Probably not.
And teaching these stories to little ones does sink in, little by little. Children do listen, not always, but they typically do watch what you do. Take for instance my daughter. I started praying with her before bedtime the begining of the summer (she's 2). She now grabs my hands randomly and asks me to pray. Maybe she doesn't completely get it, but it's sinking in.
By honoring God by obeying His commands and helping grow my church, God has grown me. I didn't think I was really that good with other people's kids. Maybe I'm not as good as others, I mean I almost threw up on a poor kid with a really stinky diaper, because apparently I can only handle my own daughter's stinky diapers. But God is working on me, the kids feel comfortable with me, and I'm starting to get the hang of it. I'm also starting to feel less uncomfortable around other kids. :)
We might not always feel like doing what we are asked to do, but helping grow God's church will bless you in ways you never thought possible. So before you say no, think about what you could be doing to help build the Kingdom of Heaven. This could be a growth opportunity for you as well.
For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. Romans 14: 17-19
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