How great would it be for your son or daughter to be greeted at church every week by someone who knew them by name, cared for them, and was committed to helping them grow? If you answered, "pretty great," go to the head of the class. You understand Children's Ministry Value #4: Older Christians investing in younger ones.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the difference between head-learning and disciple-learning. Disciple-learning changes us, and is tied up in relationship, as the student emulates the teacher. We've long known that the relationship dynamic between teacher and student affects how learning happens. You don't remember every "bit" of information you were ever taught, but you do remember how that teacher made you feel.
Here's the truth - when one person is teaching another, pure knowledge transfer almost never exists. You have an attitude toward the content that's largely influenced by your attitude towards that teacher. Even when we get information from a book, there's still an author, and how you "absorb" that information depends on the style of the writing: is it clear? Is it moving? Is it boring? Can you detect the writer's passion? Or does it make you want to run away?
What does this mean for ministry with kids? It means that the character of the people we choose as leaders matters, not only because we want them to be good influences, but because how they are with kids affects learning. We need a broader understanding of "teaching". It's not just the process of telling. It's modeling, it's prayerfully shepherding, and it's and even listening. So anyone can be a teacher, and everyone is a teacher - whether they stand in the role we typically reserve for "the teacher" or not.
I wince when I hear people speak of children's ministry as "just childcare" for that very reason. Caring for kids is an awesome opportunity, and it needs to be approached actively, not passively. Same goes for when kids are "just playing". Nothing "just" about it! When a child freely plays, they give you a window into who they are. They're communicating, "Here's how to reach me!" And the mentor is the one who answers that call.
Mentoring in a church context isn't a program (although it can be). Instead, what it means is that every child who calls this church their home is known and has an older Christian in their life in addition to their parents who is looking out for them. That's why we're always on the lookout for people who will own that responsibility. It's teaching - but it's so much more. In mentoring others, we are emptying ourselves and offering who we are to them. It sounds cliche, but this is "being like Jesus" - not that we can execute a 3-point sermon in front of people, but that we can humble ourselves and join them on the journey.
Info, articles, and thoughts for parents of kids at North Coast Calvary Chapel.
