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Friday, July 1, 2011

The Calling

I am a Children's Pastor.  It's who I am...I make no apologies for it.  This is what God has called me to be.  I am goofy ... sometimes, to my own embarrassment!  In fact, I will do almost anything in order to bring Christ alive to one of His most precious creations.  And yet, nothing pleases me more than to 'see' the Light come on in a child's life.  My heart's greatest desire is to see a child come to know the fullness of Christ and His love for them.  Several years ago, I came upon the article below.  It was originally written by Roger Fields who is the founder and president of Kidz Blitz Ministries.  I pray that when you read this, you will see children's ministry and children's pastors in a new light.


I am a minister. I minister to the largest mission field in the world. I minister to children.

My calling is sure. My challenge is big. My vision is clear. My desire is strong. My influence is eternal. My impact is critical. My values are solid. My faith is tough. My mission is urgent. My purpose is unmistakable. My direction is forward. My heart is genuine. My strength is supernatural. My reward is promised. And my God is real.

In a world of cynicism, I offer hope. In a world of confusion, I offer truth. In a world of immorality, I offer values. In a world of neglect, I offer attention. In a world of abuse, I offer safety. In a world of ridicule, I offer affirmation. In a world of division, I offer reconciliation. In a world of bitterness, I offer forgiveness. In a world of sin, I offer salvation. In a world of hate, I offer God’s love.

I refuse to be dismayed, disengaged, disgruntled, discouraged or distracted. Neither will I look back, stand back, fall back, go back or sit back. I do not need applause, flattery, adulation, prestige, stature or veneration. I do not have time for business as usual, mediocre standards, small thinking, outdated methods, normal expectations, average results, ordinary ideas, petty disputes or low vision. I will not give up, give in, bail out, lie down, turn over, quit or surrender.

I will pray when things look bad. I will pray when things look good. I will move forward when others stand still. I will trust God when obstacles arise. I will work when the task is overwhelming. I will get up when I fall down.

My calling is to reach boys and girls for God. It is too serious to be taken lightly, too urgent to be postponed, too vital to be ignored, too relevant to be overlooked, too significant to be trivialized, too eternal to be fleeting and too passionate to be quenched.

I know my mission. I know my challenge. I also know my limitations, my weaknesses, my fears and my problems. And I know my God. Let others get the praise. Let the church get the blessing. Let God get the glory.

I am a minister. I minister to children. This is who I am. This is what I do.

Roger Fields


I may not always talk to the adults in the room.  I may not always make it too 'the sanctuary' to greet the other adults in the building.  However...I will always make the effort to greet the kids to whom I minister.  I will go out of my way to make a child feel comfortable their first time in Kidz Klub.  I will cry with them...I will laugh with them...I will hug them even when the world says it's not 'proper' because sometimes they just need a hug...I will gently correct them when they need correcting.  Children's ministry is not always easy.  It is almost always fun.  Children's ministry is so often looked at as 'babysitting the kids' while mom and dad 'hear from God.'  Don't EVER tell me that Children's Church isn't 'real' church.  I will fight you tooth and nail on that.  The fact is, every time I study and prepare for a sermon in Kidz Klub...I hear from God just as a 'real' preacher hears from God.  The fact is, every time I preach in Kidz Klub...I hear God as He gently whispers to my spirit..."Debi, this is for you, too!!"   

Please, please...understand that children's ministry is just as important as the ministry that the senior pastor engages in.  I am so very blessed to be in a church where the senior pastor truly believes in children's ministry.  I am so very blessed to be invited to preach in 'big' church to the adults AND to bring Kidz Klub to the sanctuary and show the grown-ups just exactly what it is we do every week in children's church!

Walking the walk & talking the talk,





6 comments:

Connecting to the soul said...

Wow! This is just what I needed to hear because that's where my focus is now, working to be a youth minister- would you be my mentor? I would love to learn from you. Children are our future.

Debi

Debi said...

Debi, I don't know how 'good' a mentor I would be, but I would love to share with you and pray for you as you progress in you journey to work with youth.

God bless.

Unknown said...

Debi, children's church - at least in our church, is a ministry, not just a babysitting ministry. And we are blessed to have you as our children's pastor. Great post!

Jenifer Metzger said...

Children's ministry is such an important ministry. It is never, or at least should not be, babysitting. You are a wonderful CP as well!

Deane said...

I have heard you preaching in children's church and the adult church and WOW, you are excellent. God knew you would be an excellent pastor for children even though He knows it is a thankless job. I love the excitement you put forth in both churches and that is what the kids need, they need to know there is so much excitement in knowing and loving the Lord. Sis, I believe you are the best pastor in the world, the time you spent getting your messages ready and all the things that go with it shows you are the best and the commitment to your ministry is out of this world. Love you and blessings to you.

Phather Phil Malmstrom said...

Debi, thank you for sharing this heartfelt post with us. All too often, Children's Church is viewed as babysitting when in fact it's sowing the seeds of Christ in the hearts and minds of our youth. God Bless you and your ministry to our Children.

Have a Blessed Day!