Yay! You are the new Children’s Director at your church, and it’s no surprise to your friends. After all, you love children! All your life people have told you how great you are with kids, and you knew they were right. Now, as you prepare for Sunday morning, you are wondering just what you have gotten yourself into as you sit cross-legged on your floor cutting out three hundred stars to tell the story of Abraham. Do you know how many corners there are to cut in 300 stars? Ummmm . . . a lot!

Yes, this new role may involve a lot of cutting out shapes and decorating bulletin boards, not to mention counting out crayons, distributing vanilla wafers, and the “joy” of helping volunteer Sunday School teachers deal with a particularly challenging child, but those things aren’t the heart of the matter, are they? You are here because you want these little ones to know who Jesus is and to walk with Him all the days of their lives. You understand that there is no Junior Jesus; Jesus welcomes not only adults into relationship with Him, but children as well. You understand these children are a valuable part of the covenant community.

You recognize you have taken on a weighty responsibility. Parents will be looking to you for guidance. “What children’s Bible should we purchase?” “How can I help my child be more respectful?” “My child says he hates coming to church. What do I do?” Children will come to you with tough questions. “What happens to my dog when he dies? “Why do my parents fight so much?” And the Session of your church will be looking to you for input. “What curriculum should we use to teach our children?” “How can we best help this family with their child who has special needs?” “At what age should children remain in the service for the sermon?”

You know this is important, but now what? Even if you are in a very small church with only a few children, this task is enormous! So where is a new Children’s Ministry Director to begin? I suggest that you start at the beginning! So, let’s go all the way back to when and why God created you. Ephesians 2:10 tells us: “We are [God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Wow! It seems, then, that God has prepared you for this very role. That’s encouraging and helps put everything into perspective. After all, if God calls you, then you can trust Him to work in and through you. Paul instructs us to pray that Jesus, the Great Shepherd, will equip you with everything good so you may do His will—the good works He has prepared for you to do (Heb. 13:21).

Now, with your identity firmly established in Christ, His calling, and equipping, let’s talk about how this can practically play out. It’s important to recognize that you are part of a body—and not just any body—the body of Christ! Members of the body work together as one. You may think you can do it all on your own, and you may not want to bother others with tasks (such as cutting out stars), but this is exactly what the body is called to do! Raising up the next generation is a primary calling of the church. When we do not call others to join us, we are actually keeping the body from being healthy. Just like it isn’t healthy to be a “couch potato” who watches TV all the live long day, it is not healthy for people to be “pew potatoes” who only observe and do not invest in the next generation. And you know, there are innumerable ways for everyone to serve in Children’s Ministries! High School students make excellent classroom assistants and buddies for kids who need extra help. Ruling elders make great teachers. Deacons do a great job at keeping classrooms stocked with glue sticks, crayons, and playdough. Parents of young children often enjoy teaching upper elementary students. Stay-at-home moms often enjoy craft preparation. Empty-nesters are wonderful helpers in nursery and mentors to young parents. Our senior citizens are great prayer warriors. So, be faithful to share the need and ask.

As you step into this new position, take heart, remembering that God has called you and you are not alone. What joy there is in teaching children about Jesus their Savior and leading a team of people in proclaiming the good news to the next generation! Yes, there will be difficulties (broken families, hurting children, and challenging behaviors, to name a few), but God is equipping you. He is with you. So, as you sit cross-legged on the floor, cutting out those stars, pray. Give thanks. You are the Children’s Ministry Director!