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| Playing a game in kids church – mummify your leader! |
So far we have been at our new “job” for three months now.
It’s crazy to think that it’s only been three months, yet at the same time it’s
already been three months. Does that make sense? Maybe it only makes sense to
me.
When you start at any new job there is so much to learn. You
are learning about the culture around you, the people you work with, getting a
feel for the area, and the things your job is going to require of you. In kids
ministry some of the first things we have done is observe the way things have
been done. We watch and see how it has been operated and look for potential for
growth. We watch the kids, we take time to get to know them and get a feel for what they enjoy most. We try to discover what they seem to be interested in to effectively minsiter to them. We immediately are able to recognize the kids out of the bunch who seem
to just really “get it.” These are the kids who are always paying attention,
always answering questions, even asking some good questions too. These are the
kids that are really engaged. Then there is the other side of the spectrum, the
other group of first kids you notice are the kids that are going to need a
little extra care. These are the kids that never seem to pay attention, the
ones that are always causing distractions, and don’t seem to understand when
you ask them not to do things. These are your “extra grace required” kids.
are learning about the culture around you, the people you work with, getting a
feel for the area, and the things your job is going to require of you. In kids
ministry some of the first things we have done is observe the way things have
been done. We watch and see how it has been operated and look for potential for
growth. We watch the kids, we take time to get to know them and get a feel for what they enjoy most. We try to discover what they seem to be interested in to effectively minsiter to them. We immediately are able to recognize the kids out of the bunch who seem
to just really “get it.” These are the kids who are always paying attention,
always answering questions, even asking some good questions too. These are the
kids that are really engaged. Then there is the other side of the spectrum, the
other group of first kids you notice are the kids that are going to need a
little extra care. These are the kids that never seem to pay attention, the
ones that are always causing distractions, and don’t seem to understand when
you ask them not to do things. These are your “extra grace required” kids.
A couple Wednesdays ago one of these “extra grace required”
kids came up to me and had a question to ask me. He was filling out some questionnaire
in a book and the question he asked me, “What is one word that you can use to
describe me.” Can I be honest with you for a moment? All the words that came to
my mind right away weren’t words that I wanted to tell this child. This
particular child usually does exactly what you tell him not to do right after
you’ve asked him not to do it. All I could think of was how he tests our
patience weekly, he doesn’t like to listen, he talks when he shouldn’t talk,
and he enjoys causing trouble. Now, remember I have only been here for going on
the third month now, so I haven’t been around him very long. It took me a good
five minutes at least to figure out what to say. I first had to get over the
thoughts of, really kid, I’ve only been here for three months and you’re
asking me that? Couldn’t he have asked someone who has been here longer? Especially
because every time he is here I have to get onto him for something. I had
to challenge myself to think past what I saw right then, deeper to what I could
see hiding in him. Deeper to the potential of what I could see coming out of
this child. Let me tell you, that wasn’t easy, but I had to do it.
kids came up to me and had a question to ask me. He was filling out some questionnaire
in a book and the question he asked me, “What is one word that you can use to
describe me.” Can I be honest with you for a moment? All the words that came to
my mind right away weren’t words that I wanted to tell this child. This
particular child usually does exactly what you tell him not to do right after
you’ve asked him not to do it. All I could think of was how he tests our
patience weekly, he doesn’t like to listen, he talks when he shouldn’t talk,
and he enjoys causing trouble. Now, remember I have only been here for going on
the third month now, so I haven’t been around him very long. It took me a good
five minutes at least to figure out what to say. I first had to get over the
thoughts of, really kid, I’ve only been here for three months and you’re
asking me that? Couldn’t he have asked someone who has been here longer? Especially
because every time he is here I have to get onto him for something. I had
to challenge myself to think past what I saw right then, deeper to what I could
see hiding in him. Deeper to the potential of what I could see coming out of
this child. Let me tell you, that wasn’t easy, but I had to do it.
As I was praying this morning for each of our kids, God
brought that situation back to mind. I remember overhearing the kid ask another
leader a question right after me. Her question: What do you believe is in the
universe? Really, kid? Why couldn’t you have asked me that one? I could answer
that! I chuckled as I remembered that occurrence, but then I felt God whisper
something to my heart. “You got that
question for a reason.” He reminded
me that to answer the question, I had to look deeper into this “extra grace
required” child and find the potential for more. I had to look past what I
could see on the surface, to what I could see this child becoming as he grew
and someone showed him that he is cared for. What this child could be as he was
taught and guided in making the appropriate decisions.
brought that situation back to mind. I remember overhearing the kid ask another
leader a question right after me. Her question: What do you believe is in the
universe? Really, kid? Why couldn’t you have asked me that one? I could answer
that! I chuckled as I remembered that occurrence, but then I felt God whisper
something to my heart. “You got that
question for a reason.” He reminded
me that to answer the question, I had to look deeper into this “extra grace
required” child and find the potential for more. I had to look past what I
could see on the surface, to what I could see this child becoming as he grew
and someone showed him that he is cared for. What this child could be as he was
taught and guided in making the appropriate decisions.
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| Two of the kids saying their memory verse in front of the entire church. So proud of them! |
Isn’t that what ministry is about? Isn’t that what the
church is about? Looking at people and
situations and not seeing what they are now, but seeing what they can be.
Looking and seeing the potential that lies within each person and each
circumstance. Choosing to focus on the good that we see, even when it’s hidden
under all the bad. Maybe all that person needs is for someone to believe in
them, to believe that they can overcome what’s on the surface and become who
they are meant to be. Maybe all that circumstance needs is for someone to see
the good in it and bring it out. Maybe all this little boy needs is for someone
to give him that extra grace and dig deep enough to bring out that good deep within
him.
Can we be those people today, friends? Can we choose to look
past what’s on the surface, no matter how hard it is, and be determined to see
the potential in those around us?
past what’s on the surface, no matter how hard it is, and be determined to see
the potential in those around us?
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Amen. I like that a lot–"extra grace required!" I think I will be using it a lot 🙂
Hi Alessandra, that's exactly what we are called to do…to see more. It's rather easy to see what things currently are but it takes relying on God to see past the present. Such a good post and reminder to each of us. Visiting from Blogs by Christian Women. All the best to you in your new position.