Lessons for the long haul

I want to start a new blog series talking about lessons I have learned and am still learning about how to last in kids ministry.

I haven’t been around as long as some have but I have been around long enough to see many people come and go in kids ministry. Ministry in general can be very hard at times, I know I have felt like quitting many, many times before. I want to discuss what are the things you need to remember if you want to make it in kids ministry.

It should be the goal of every kids pastor to train a generation behind them the value of ministering to the youngest among us. If we do not have what it takes to last we will never have the voice of authority to speak to those God is calling to come along side and eventually replace us.

If we do not last, if we take the path of least resistance we make the road for young leaders difficult to navigate because they have no one speaking into their life. When I started in kids ministry I didn’t have another kids guy or gal speaking into my life helping me avoid some of the bonehead mistakes I should have avoided.

Ecc. 4:12 says:

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

We were not meant to do life or ministry alone. When Jesus sent out his disciples he sent them out in two’s. He knew that ministry alone is never a good idea.

I don’t know everything about this topic, and I ask you to join the discussion. In my experience there are clear principles that can be learned and need to be rehearsed and most of all practiced if we are to survive the challenges we face in leading no matter what size church you have or where on earth you minister. We are are called to make a difference not just in terms of weeks or years but in terms of decades.