Advice

ADVICE

Childminders?

It's time we stopped playing down children's ministry, writes Nick Harding

What jumps to mind when you think of a church minister?

Is it the ordained leader of a local church, or the youth pastor? Perhaps it is the vicar or curate. It may be the worship leader or pastoral care worker. Sadly, it's not likely to be the children's worker who meekly confesses to 'just doing children's work'!

When we talk of people being 'called into the ministry', what we actually mean is they are going to lead churches and work with adults. We have turned the idea of ministry on its head, and as a result we're seeing children leave the church at an alarming rate, and a shameful lack of volunteers to work with young people.

Let's tell the truth. We see children's work as childminding, and children's workers as those who are cutting their ministry teeth before they grow into other age groups and ministries. We see working with children as an easy option, as a job for the less skilled, as a place to sideline people. We put children into damp, dirty rooms with old furniture and flaking paintwork, while sitting comfortably in our expensively refurbished churches. We sustain two or three planned services each Sunday for adults, but only manage short sessions for children, led by tired, uninspired and devalued workers with tatty photocopies and broken crayons.

Yet if you ask most church leaders what services they struggle with most, they'll say the all-age services. If you ask preachers what events they fear speaking at, they visibly shudder at the thought of parent and toddler sessions or school assemblies!

Children's work is a high calling, and those called to it deserve respect, support and encouragement. Those in this work need prayer and commissioning so that the whole church body can both see who they are, and learn to value and appreciate their role in the body of Christ.

Children's workers must be given opportunities for worship and spiritual growth, so that they don't lose out as a result of serving children and families, and so that they can model Christian living to the children. And children's workers deserve quality training and development opportunities so that they can learn to do their work better. They need to be seen as people who have heard God's call on their lives and are serving a valuable group of the church family, in the same way that the preacher and worship leader serve another church group.

The church budget, which all too often reflects the low value placed on children and those who minister to them, needs to provide generously for training, resources and materials.

Too many children's workers, who slave away week in, week out in our churches, have been shaped by the way the Church has seen them in the past, and find it hard to see themselves as having value. Many started the work because there was no-one else, and have never really understood the importance of their work. Some have got used to being seen as childminders, and have lost their vision and lowered their standards as a result. We can hardly blame them when we as the Church have given them no support, no encouragement and no respect.

In John 6 we read of Jesus feeding the 5,000 men (and possibly a few more thousand children and women!). We see a boy in the crowd with his packed lunch, and we discover that the boy was the one willing to give his food to be shared. We see the boy handing over his loaves and fishes to Andrew, and then vanishing from the narrative. What happened to that boy? He may have run straight home and complained to his mother that someone took his lunch off him. He may have joined with others and enjoyed the feast. He may have sat at the feet of Jesus listening to every word, and followed Jesus to the cross. We simply don't know. Nor do we know what will happen to the children in our churches, our midweek clubs, or our church-based groups.

We can pray that they are properly discipled, and do all we can to ensure that they stay with the faith and stay with church. But we can't make it happen. All we can do is work with the children God has given us to the best of our ability, with the best resources, valued workers and most suitable facilities. While it is right to look outside the church and try to reach children in our communities, we must also remember those we already have, and devote ourselves to their growth, nurture and spiritual development.

The Gospel is the best message we could ever hear, and every child deserves the opportunity to hear it. Those called to work with children have a great opportunity and a huge challenge - to deliver the message of Christ in an appropriate, relevant and quality manner.

In our modern, high-tech world the days of colouring sheets and felt boards have passed, and children need more and better. In our frantic, time-poor world, children need time to develop relationships, and who better to offer them lasting, positive relationships than those called to serve them.

I am often asked when I will grow out of working with and for children. Once I have controlled my temper, I usually respond with: “Never, I hope”. God has called me to this crucial and exciting work. I'm convinced that being a children's worker is not something to be ashamed of, but something to be loud and proud about.

No one 'just does children's work' - they fulfil a calling, follow a vision, serve a generation, display a passion, make sacrifices, and change lives!

Nick Harding is Children's Advisor for the Diocese of Southwell and a Trustee of Scripture Union. He is also the author of Kids Culture, recently published by Scripture Union.
First published in Scripture Union magazine The Life, Spring 2004

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		ADVICE Childminders? It's time we stopped playing down children's ministry, writes Nick Harding What jumps to mind when you think of a church minister? Is it the ordained leader of a local church, or the youth pastor? Perhaps it is the vicar or curate. It may be the worship leader or pastoral care worker. Sadly, it's not likely to be the children's worker who meekly confesses to 'just doing children's work'! When we talk of people being 'called into the ministry', what we actually mean is they are going to lead churches and work with adults. We have turned the idea of ministry on its head, and as a result we're seeing children leave the church at an alarming rate, and a shameful lack of volunteers to work with young people. Let's tell the truth. We see children's work as childminding, and children's workers as those who are cutting their ministry teeth before they grow into other age groups and ministries. We see working with children as an easy option, as a job for the less skilled, as a place to sideline people. We put children into damp, dirty rooms with old furniture and flaking paintwork, while sitting comfortably in our expensively refurbished churches. We sustain two or three planned services each Sunday for adults, but only manage short sessions for children, led by tired, uninspired and devalued workers with tatty photocopies and broken crayons. Yet if you ask most church leaders what services they struggle with most, they'll say the all-age services. If you ask preachers what events they fear speaking at, they visibly shudder at the thought of parent and toddler sessions or school assemblies! Children's work is a high calling, and those called to it deserve respect, support and encouragement. Those in this work need prayer and commissioning so that the whole church body can both see who they are, and learn to value and appreciate their role in the body of Christ. Children's workers must be given opportunities for worship and spiritual growth, so that they don't lose out as a result of serving children and families, and so that they can model Christian living to the children. And children's workers deserve quality training and development opportunities so that they can learn to do their work better. They need to be seen as people who have heard God's call on their lives and are serving a valuable group of the church family, in the same way that the preacher and worship leader serve another church group. The church budget, which all too often reflects the low value placed on children and those who minister to them, needs to provide generously for training, resources and materials. Too many children's workers, who slave away week in, week out in our churches, have been shaped by the way the Church has seen them in the past, and find it hard to see themselves as having value. Many started the work because there was no-one else, and have never really understood the importance of their work. Some have got used to being seen as childminders, and have lost their vision and lowered their standards as a result. We can hardly blame them when we as the Church have given them no support, no encouragement and no respect. In John 6 we read of Jesus feeding the 5,000 men (and possibly a few more thousand children and women!). We see a boy in the crowd with his packed lunch, and we discover that the boy was the one willing to give his food to be shared. We see the boy handing over his loaves and fishes to Andrew, and then vanishing from the narrative. What happened to that boy? He may have run straight home and complained to his mother that someone took his lunch off him. He may have joined with others and enjoyed the feast. He may have sat at the feet of Jesus listening to every word, and followed Jesus to the cross. We simply don't know. Nor do we know what will happen to the children in our churches, our midweek clubs, or our church-based groups. We can pray that they are properly discipled, and do all we can to ensure that they stay with the faith and stay with church. But we can't make it happen. All we can do is work with the children God has given us to the best of our ability, with the best resources, valued workers and most suitable facilities. While it is right to look outside the church and try to reach children in our communities, we must also remember those we already have, and devote ourselves to their growth, nurture and spiritual development. The Gospel is the best message we could ever hear, and every child deserves the opportunity to hear it. Those called to work with children have a great opportunity and a huge challenge - to deliver the message of Christ in an appropriate, relevant and quality manner. In our modern, high-tech world the days of colouring sheets and felt boards have passed, and children need more and better. In our frantic, time-poor world, children need time to develop relationships, and who better to offer them lasting, positive relationships than those called to serve them. I am often asked when I will grow out of working with and for children. Once I have controlled my temper, I usually respond with: “Never, I hope”. God has called me to this crucial and exciting work. I'm convinced that being a children's worker is not something to be ashamed of, but something to be loud and proud about. No one 'just does children's work' - they fulfil a calling, follow a vision, serve a generation, display a passion, make sacrifices, and change lives! Nick Harding is Children's Advisor for the Diocese of Southwell and a Trustee of Scripture Union. He is also the author of Kids Culture, recently published by Scripture Union. First published in Scripture Union magazine The Life, Spring 2004 © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.