Tag Archive - puppets

Children’s Pastor 101

June 10, 2008 in Ministry with 5 Comments

My blogging buddy Sam had a post yesterday regarding the seemingly lack of adequate and qualified Children’s Pastors available to fill the available positions. He listed 5 questions and asked for some feedback.
OK, here goes with some honest, brutal answers from someone who’s opinion shouldn’t really matter:

1. What does it take to become a Children’s Pastor?
What should it take, or what does it take? It should take experience, motivation, and some level of educational background (either academic or experiential.) Assuming that they love Jesus, and want to see kids know him as well. What it takes in reality, especially at most small churches, is a willingness to do it. Something we like to call the “mirror test.” They hold a mirror up to your nose, and if it fogs up…. You’re Hired!

2. Why most Children’s Pastors wanted to be youth pastors?
Because it’s when we’re teenagers or college students that we really start trying to live out our Christian walk; and the first ‘church’ relationship we ever had was with our Youth pastor. Therefore, making the youth pastor role the coolest one we’ve ever known! On a side note… it could also be that children’s ministry leaves a bad memory for many…

3. What churches are looking for in a Children’s Pastor?
I think most churches want a person that can advocate for the kids in a serious, and relevant way towards the rest of the church. I also believe that most churches want someone who they can let ‘do their own thing’ and not have to worry about the kids anymore. (I know this sounds terrible; but in reality it’s true!)

4. Misconceptions that keep people from pursuing children’s ministry.
The biggest misconception is that Children’s Ministry is all puppets, crafts, and veggie-tales videos! Another misconception is that it doesn’t pay as well as the other church jobs (This might not be such a misconception!) Not that money is the most important thing in the world, but if I’m looking to support my family with a calling into church ministry then normally I’m NOT going to choose the least-paid position in the church. I’ve seen churches that purposely look for women to run this are of ministry, because they assume that with her husband working they can pay less than they would for a man looking to support his entire family. (This is changing at churches around the country, but ever so slowly.)

5. What makes a Children’s Pastor last?
A willingness to be creative in ministry thoughts and planning; as well as a willingness to adapt when necessary to reach as many kids as possible. Children’s Pastors lose their influence over the long haul when they forget that trends change over time. God, please don’t let me be doing the same thing in 5 years that I’m doing now!

An Abnormal Children’s Pastor

May 9, 2008 in Ministry, Personal with 11 Comments

I am a Children’s Pastor.

For those of you NOT in the know; that means I work at a church and my primary responsibility is for those members of the church having just been born up until they finish the 5th grade. There are many different areas, departments, and budgets within this broad scope of Birth through 5th Grade, but basically I work with the kids. Like most Children’s Pastors at a church my size, I don’t spend as much time ‘teaching’ kids as I do planning for what others will teach them. I basically manage the department that facilitates spiritual growth in the lives of the kids at the church.

Maybe you read this and you think that you have me pegged as a CP (Children’s Pastor). Let me clear up a few things, to help you understand me more. Here are some truths about me, that often cause me to not fit in so much with the other CP’s I meet.

  • I’m a man. Can’t change that, and it has even kept me from getting a job before. Reverse Discrimination?
  • I hate puppets. Seriously, I hate them. Everywhere I’ve ever worked, the first thing I’ve done is thrown out the puppets. Who uses puppets anymore? There not on TV, they don’t make Muppet movies anymore (or at least they shouldn’t), and I can’t justify doing things in front of kids that are so 1980′s.
  • I hate kid’s music. I really can’t understand why anyone would want to listen to kids sing worship songs on a CD recording. I get the value of music like THIS for background stuff, but why is kids’ music so weird? It’s just terrible. I do however, like to play music that is kid-friendly, and trust me… there is a difference.
  • I have never, nor will I ever, dress up like a clown. I wear normal clothes for someone in their early 30′s (at least I think they might be normal.) I do not wear green socks with red pants, and a cartoonish veggie tales tie to church on Sunday Morning.
  • I don’t like ‘Christian’ movies for kids. I think 90% of the ‘Christian’ movies and tv shows for kids are garbage. What I mean is that they are poorly created, poorly thought out, and rarely make any kind of spiritual impact. I’d rather my kids watch Clifford the Big Red Dog than most of the ‘Christian’ DVD’s I see around.
  • I hate making announcements from the stage on a Sunday morning for Children’s workers. Hate it, hate it, hate it, hate it! It’s like telling people to jump on our sinking ship, and it confirms the fears most people have that we’re desperate for help; which isn’t the case. Not to mention that it never works. I also hate for my Senior Pastor to make pleas for workers; it’s even worse than making the announcement myself.
  • I think that what I do in the church is equally as important as every other ministry that falls under the umbrella of our church. Not more important, not less important. Aren’t we really all doing the same thing, but on different levels?
  • I really consider myself someone who works more for families, than someone who works with kids. I love working with kids, but if that is all I do then I would really hate this job. It’s all about getting kids to have an encounter with Jesus that impacts those around them. (That’s you, Mom and Dad!)
  • I’m not a CP because I failed at speaking in front of adults. I really love speaking in front of kids, but not because I’m scared to speak in front of adults. I’m comfortable speaking in front of any age crowd, as long as I have something to say.
  • I’m not patiently awaiting a promotion to Youth Pastor or Senior Pastor. I really like working with kids. They’re more honest, more energetic, less grumpy, and they’re much easier to beat in basketball.
  • I’m not good at crafts. I don’t do coloring sheets in my spare time, and you can’t find craft sticks and glue in my office. I’m just not a crafty guy, so I’ve hired others to do that for me.
  • I don’t act childish. I don’t feel that I have to act like a 10 year old to get the attention of kids, and I think you’re fooling yourself CP’s out there if you do. That doesn’t mean I don’t tell jokes that only 10 years get, or that I act all snooty all the time. I’m just authentic, in a way that kids can understand.
  • I cringe when people call me a pastor. (I know, I know, I am a pastor. I’m educated and trained and ordained…) It took me years to come to this place, but I really can’t figure out what to let the kids call me. I think Mr. Jonathan is a little weird, and I think Pastor Jonathan makes me seem snooty in some way.
  • I read business leadership books. They’re better than most church books out there, and I think leadership is one area that CP’s should spend more time studying up on.
  • I don’t homeschool my kids. Let’s not go there, OK? (Except to say that I think everyone should do what they have convictions to do…)

There, it’s out there. I’ve gotten the burden off my chest, and I can peacefully coexist with those that think I’m a nut. One of the great things about having a blog and reading blogs is meeting other CP’s that are just like me. It wasn’t until I started reading blogs that I realized that I’m not alone. I’m still in the minority, but I’m not isolated!

Orange Conference Recap

May 6, 2008 in Ministry with 2 Comments

I’ve been recovering from being out of the office for a week (which can be a good thing), and trying to process all I took in after spending 3 days at the Orange Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. I’m reluctant to post about the conference; being that a lot of those that read this blog were at the conference or have read elsewhere about it.

But in the spirit of self-promotion, here are my observations:

  • The best breakout session of the whole conference was the second one I took during the Pre-Conference meetings. Nancy Ortberg spoke regarding, ‘Necessary Conflict’. She totally read my mail on how I deal with conflict within my staff; and she encouraged us to see healthy conflict as what it really is: Collaboration.
  • Listening to Craig & Mary Jutila share about their personal journey through some marriage and family problems over the past year was moving. It’s encouraging to hear their story of renewal, and proved to be a good warning about pushing ministry life too far.
  • Reggie Joiner’s session on Monday Night, turned the story of the Prodigal Son on it’s head. It was the one session of the entire conference, that convicted me the most as a pastor and as a man. Get the DVD or audio of the talk if you can.
  • Francis Chan, “If I only had the Bible to lead me, what would I know?” and out of Mark 4:14-20 he said, “Jesus only wants to teach those willing to follow Him!” Francis Chan can really mess you up as a listener of his talks; and I kind of like it!
  • I sat in a breakout session by Donald Miller. He was much better in the Main Session. It was fun listening to him speak when I have read all his books. He’s a brutally honest person, and that really shines through in his talks.
  • Donald Miller, “A leader is someone who gets to know me in such a way that I can’t help but take ownership in their vision!”
  • Listening to Andy Stanley defend Northpoint’s spiritual growth path was fascinating. (Not that it needed defending, but it was nice to hear it from the horse’s mouth.)
  • Andy Stanley, “We have more in common with Non-Christians than we think.”
  • Gabe Lyons did a breakout about the Fermi Project, and learning to understand the culture we live in. I’ve read his co-authored book, Unchristian; and this session was a lot of what is in that book. I felt like most in the room disagreed with him, which created some great tension in the room. I love tension in the room!
  • Louie Giglio is a different kind of Christian. He totally encouraged, confused, and challenged the crowd at the last session. He spoke about the true intention of Jesus to come before, during and after our lives. I said confusing and I meant it…

Overall the Orange Conference was a great trip, not the normal whiny Children’s Pastors conferences I’ve been to in the past. (Who takes a breakout on puppets anyways?) It really had some meat on the bone, and I hope to attend again next year.

The challenge for me after attending is to take what I’ve learned about the “Orange” philosophy and make it work were I’m currently at. Doing it exactly as they teach it would not work in our current church model (as it’s currently structered. I’m not saying it could never happen.) I have to filter everything I’ve learned through how things work at our church. This will be a process that is ongoing.

I have walked away from the conference inspired about what I know God has called me to as a believer. To reach families with the gospel in such a way that a foundation for God Centeredness is created that will stand the test of time. I’ve come back and dusted off my personal mission statement, and I’m believing for great things at my church and in my own personal life.

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