By MAD21
We each have a calling in life. Most people who know me, know that mine is to work with kids. I am one of those people who could be in a room full of kids and be perfectly happy, but put me in one with a bunch of adults and I’m, well, not so happy.
When I was a young adult with no real responsibilities in life except to pay rent, I spent just about every waking moment outside of work doing something involving children’s ministries. Either getting ready for an event, or going to one. I ran a mid-week program for kids age two through 5th grade during the school year, taught Sunday school during the summer, and was the recreation director for a week long summer camp for kids in 4th to 6th grades. Basically all of my vacation time from work was used to go ... play (because if you work with kids, even the ‘work’ is play—seriously!) :o)
Some of my fondest memories are from events we did with the kids. Like taking all the chairs out of the chapel and building a giant maze to crawl through using wardrobe boxes; playing sardines at night during sleepovers; laser tag in the sanctuary; creating a massive slip and slide at camp using a roofing tarp; counselor hunts... and the list goes on and on.
But once you get past talking about the fun we had all those years, two significant things stand out in my mind. One is how amazing it was to watch the kids we worked with get so excited about all that they were learning regarding who they were in Christ. Not because they were being bribed to learn Bible verses, or forced to play games or make crafts, but because they had a genuine excitement to learn. To Know God, not just know of him. Working with little kids, you get the amazing opportunity to help lay the foundations for their faith as they get older. You get to help them learn that God will truly be there for them before life gets really hard. Over the years, you get to see them not only grow physically, but also spiritually.
The other significant thing from working in children’s ministries that will stay with me forever, were the amazing teachers and volunteers I got to work with. I could write a novel about all of them and the amazing transformations I got to watch both in the kids they worked with, but also in their own lives. I worked with one volunteer who had never volunteered before. He was so nervous in the beginning. But not only did he overcome that nervousness, he became one of the most amazing mentors for the kids (and adults!). They just adored him, and still do even though some of them are in their late twenties now. Another amazing teacher created a character that traveled to each of the kid’s rooms teaching about missions and prayer. He now works as a Compassion advocate who searches for sponsors for kids living in Honduras. Several others have gone on mission trips and moved to other churches in the area that needed people to help build their children’s ministry.
One of the most rewarding things, I have to say, is watching the children you teach, become teachers and volunteers themselves, as many of the kids have. It’s just the most amazing experience.
Someone once said to me that they thought we were in it for the attention the kids gave to us, or for what we could get out of it for selfish reasons. However unintentional the remarks were meant to hurt or not, it really was just an awful thing to say. They obviously didn’t know us at all. Because not one person I knew was there for themselves. Every one of us devoted our time to teaching those kids about Christ, and to try and set a good example in our own lives for them to follow.
Most people who teach kids are on a mission to help them learn all the amazing things they are through Christ. Not just who they are, but also Who God is, and our responsibilities to each other. In 1 Timothy 4:12, it says: “Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” It’s important we teach them that no matter how young they are, God can and will use them. I believed that with all my heart when I worked with other people’s children. But now that I’m a parent, I can say without a doubt, that kids definitely have a wisdom and power all their own. I have learned more from my kids than I ever dreamed possible. Both about myself, and about God.
If you have never volunteered to help in Sunday school, or VBS, or any other program for kids, I highly encourage you to try it. It might just surprise you. Our kids need good examples, from people of all ages, young adult to grand-parent age.
Go... make a difference in the life of a child. Allow those little people to change your life forever.