A Tribute to Children’s Ministry Leaders

If you’re in the season of raising kids I understand how taxing, stressful, and high energy it can be. I loved raising my kids and miss those years often. Crying on the first day of school, sobbing when the bus pulled out for camp, distracting them from homework to hang out…yes, I was that mom. Looking back, I don’t regret any of the time spent with them and today my three adult children are my favorite people to hang out with—along with their significant others—even now.

This past weekend, and currently even as I write this, my 6-year-old and 4-year-old grandchildren are staying with me. Dad had a wonderful opportunity to preach at a church in California, we live in Arizona, and I’ve been shifted back to the raising kid years. Oh, how glorious, and oh, how tiring. Where are the kids? Watching kid friendly TV of course, giving Grandma some time to get things done, and then, we’ll be baking and heading off to McDonalds.

All is well with my soul.

But yesterday, Sunday morning I was gripped with concern for the kids. My thoughts went to Sunday school for the kids. Would they like it? Would they need me? Would they feel out of place? Is it safe to leave them? My thoughts were consumed with giving my grandkids—even though they attend church every weekend—a good church experience. It mattered to me. It mattered. Kids and church matter. Kids bring us to the center of God’s heart.  Jesus said, in Matthew 19:14, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.

Kids are important to God. Church is important for kids. What happens at church matters.

So, there I was on a Sunday morning concerned about whether or not my grandkids would be okay at church.

And here’s the funniest part about this…

My husband is the children’s pastor. Even though I know the program is excellent and I know security is top notch and I know our church has a fantastic God-centered children’s program, I was still concerned.

Would you imagine with me how families feel when they are coming to church for the first time? Imagine how scary it would be to drop your kids off to strangers? Is it safe? Will they like it? Will my kids hate church? These are the questions many parents are asking.

One of the most important programs in any church is the kids’ ministry. And if you work with children, THANK YOU, you are making the kind of kingdom differences that matters to God. Many families will decide if they will return to church based on how their kids feel about church. Many families will change churches based on how their kids feel about church. Many families will stay at their current church because of the kids’ ministry.

The grandkids ended up loving church, and as I arrived early to each of their classes I watched as they learned about God, allowing them to stay to the end of their class. It’s important to send a message that what’s happening in their class is important.

And so, this is a tribute to all the leaders who work with our kids—YOU ARE ALL HEROES IN MY BOOK! And in God’s BOOK too.

For more from Lucille Williams check out her books The Impossible Kid: Parenting a Strong-Willed Child with Love and Grace, and for your marriage, From Me to We, and The Intimacy You Crave. And Turtle Finds His Talent for ages 2-6. We invite you to subscribe to LuSays today for weekly encouragement.