What’s it take to be a children’s pastor? Here are four things you need to start with.
1. You must want to be one. The Bible talks about desiring a good work (1 Tim. 3:1) and being a fruitful teacher (John 15:16). If you want to be a children’s pastor, you’ve selected the ripest harvest field in the world to work. A ripe harvest field requires diligence and work. However, if your want is great enough the price will become insignificant. You’ve got to want it and jump in with both feet. Wanting is the first step, but it in itself is not enough. You need God’s help.
2. You must pray to be one. God is all-sufficient and willing to give you a helping hand but you need to ask for it. There are a lot of promises you can claim when you pray. One of my favorites is Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
3. You must prepare to be one. To be effective, you need to keep learning and growing. One of the best ways to do that is to get the right training! I’m a big fan of Children’s Pastors’ Conference. It is at CPC in 2002 that I committed my life to the work of children’s ministry. Events like CPC help you get a fresh vision and passion for your ministry.
4. You must practice to be one. This is probably the hardest part of being a children’s pastor. You have to practice what you have purposed, prayed for and prepared for. Reaching children for the Lord Jesus Christ is one of the hardest things to do which makes sense because Satan wants to prevent it at any cost. Satan will try to get you to believe, “Someone else can do it better than you” but don’t believe his lies. Do what God has called you to do and never quit!
Are you a children’s pastor by purpose, prayer, preparation and practice?
I think that something you left out is the constant education and re-invention of yourself and your ministry. Children’s ministry can get stuck in a rut. Children’s ministers can be caught doing the same thing for a long time without reevaluating the effectiveness of what they are engaging in.
Good point JadedCM. You’ve got to be willing to change don’t you? That’s one thing I appreciate about Brother Jim, he’s always talking about change. Evaluate and change, evaluate and change.
Speaking of change, do you know how many senior pastors it takes to change a light bulb? None. He never does anything by himself. LOL. This is just a joke in case my pastor reads this
Wow Ryan, that was a gutsy joke about Senior Pastors.
It is not just a job that you do, it is your life. Your heart is always ready to serve the children no matter how tired you may be; God always gives the strenght and energy when you need it the most. I find no matter what I am doing my mind is always on children. I think sometimes people just think that it is somthing that would be fun or just another job, but it is so much more than that. These children are under your direction and you will answer to God for what you teach or don’t teach them. It is alot of fun and I love it. On the other hand it is also ALOT of work and sacrifice not just on Sunday, but everyday of your life. It is definetly a sacrifice worth taking!!
Thanks for this little article. I’ve just discovered your site and have found it very helpful. In my own role as a Children’s Pastor I’ve found that being faithful to pastor my own family is priority #1. If I am not praying for & with my kids, leading them in family devotions, and doing all I can to help them move toward Christ - then I have no credibility to serve as a children’s pastor.
Thanks for the website. I’ve added you to my Google reader.