Over the years I've seen many parents come and go through the different children's ministries I have been a part of. It always amazes me the variety of expectations parents have regarding what goes on in children's ministries during that short time between the time they drop their children off until they pick them up to go home for their Sunday afternoon naps. Don't we only wish they all took naps! Some parents view children's ministries as simply offering child care, to keep their children quiet (or at least out of sight) during the pastor's timely message. Others view us as behavioural therapists, somehow equipped to transform their offspring from the misbehaving wild child at 11am to an angelic being by 12:35pm. Don't get me wrong...miracles STILL happen in children's church on Sunday mornings. Just not always the kind that make dinner times more sane!
The truth is parent's expectations ARE important.
Here is a quick list of what are some healthy expectations for Sunday mornings:
1. Parents should expect their kids to be well cared for in a safe and loving environment. If they are experiencing anything less than love, patience, and safety when they hand us their child, then we're doing a great diservice to the kingdom. We are in a position of trust for that hour and a half, and its best not to forget that as servants in ministry.
2. Parents should expect their kids to leave changed...and we're not talking about diaper-changing people! We're talking about life-change that happens on the inside: growth in spiritual maturity, the kind you don't always see on the surface, but overtime a continuous growth and change in their understanding and love of Jesus Christ.
3. Parents should expect their kids to encounter the Presence of God. If we don't believe it's possible, then we are only minimizing the size of our BIG powerful God. We need to first help ourselves then lead others to break out of the mindset that some kids are too young to experience God's life-changing Presence. We need to remind ourselves of Scriptures such as Psalm 139:13 which state: "you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb". If we believe that God is present as a child is being formed within the tummy of a mommy then why would we doubt he still wants to be a felt presence in the daily lives of our children, no matter how young?
As a children's pastor it is my prayer that as volunteers and staff we will live what we teach each and every Sunday. One of the most simplest truths is that God is in the Nursery. He's also in the toddler room, the preschooler classes and He is present even in kidz church too! When we live and lead out of that expectation, we will be pleasantly surprised to find a God who goes above and beyond expectations every time we meet.
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