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If You Were to Leave Your Ministry Today, Would It Fall Apart?
Several years ago, I attended a conference in Denver, Colorado. During one of the breakouts, the speaker, Jim Wideman, made a statement that has resonated with me until this day. He said,
“If you were to leave your ministry today, would it fall apart? If so, you were a lousy children’s minister. You did not do your job.”
Well, if you are like me, I didn’t take that too well.
It reminded me of the first church where I served.
I was a perfectionist, and no one could do the work as good as I could.
For three years, “I” grew the ministry. When I left, like Brother Jim said, it fell apart.
Sadly, I learned a big lesson at this first church.
The Perfect Church For Kids?
The other day I walked into a church, and I was greeted by a child at the door.
As I walked into the children’s building, I saw children and adults sitting at the check-in station.
Children working alongside adult mentors checking children into the children’s building.
As I walked down the hallway of the children’s wing, I saw younger children in classrooms enjoying their classes.
In those classrooms, older children and preteens were teaching the class along with their adult mentors.
Children Are Disciple Makers: You Need to Get Out of The Way
As I was looking down the children’s hallway at my church, I saw one of our kids, Renee, walking towards me with a girl I did not recognize.
She walked up to me and said, “Brother Clint, this is Jordan.
She accepted Christ last night.” I exclaimed, “Praise the Lord! Welcome to the family.”
As they walked away to their Bible study room, Renee’s mother walked up to me.
She said, “Clint, Renee has been leading a Bible study at our house for a year.
The Church Is Called to Equip All the Saints--Including The Children
“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13, NASB)
Paul shows us that church leaders are called to equip the saints for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-13).
This passage of Scripture shows us that all believers (saints) are called to minister, not just a few leaders.[i]
It clarifies that leaders are not to do all the work but to equip believers for the work, for ministry in the body.
This calling includes children and students.
