Long Term Planning with the End in Mind—

Long-term planning has always excited me. Seeing the big picture, setting goals to get there, and visualizing the end-product is one of my favorite things to do. I sit down with my paper planner, pens in a rainbow of colors, a cup of coffee, and enough optimism to conquer the world. Inevitably though, details are left out, people “get in the way,” I run out of steam, and the curse rears its ugly head. My attempt at the perfect Pinterest Board looks like a toddler’s craft time. Through God’s grace, I know exactly what causes the derailment, however. I am too often the glory of my story and the captain of my ship. I started with my end in mind—my goals and my dreams.

One key to long-term planning must be to open our hands and receive what we are given—both at the beginning of planning and as the season progresses with all of its hills and valleys—year by year, month by month, and Sunday by Sunday. Our church has a unique makeup of members and regular attenders. Established within driving distance of a large military base and a teaching hospital, our church welcomes families who are often with us for only a few years at a time. Each family comes with incredibly varied stories and just as varied futures. We always seem to have too little time with many of the children. How can we teach, encourage, guide, and love, in the best ways in these few short years? What shall we do to accomplish the most good? Only the Author of their stories knows the answer. Grasping for what I see or what I think or what I want to accomplish will serve neither God nor the families that are seeking Him. With Jesus as the goal and finish line, the planning and managing of our domain in children’s ministries will be established, and the lesser things of the world will fall away. We must begin by laying our plans at Jesus’s feet, palms open and asking for guidance and then resting in the knowledge that what we see is only part of His story and He does indeed work all things for good! By God’s grace, I am slowly learning to open my hands and release control. In Exodus 8:2-20, God brought Moses alongside to participate in His long- term plan. And Moses doubted. And the Israelites didn’t listen. And Pharaoh, the mighty leader, flat out refused. But God accomplished His purposes in outstanding and mighty ways that reached far beyond Moses’ wildest dreams or strongest capabilities apart from the Almighty. Our response is to pray for trust and obedience and then rest in the promise that God is always moving and the glory He shines will be beautiful.

Nancy Guthrie writes, “When you know how the story ends, you can face the most difficult parts of your story with hope and peace.” Revelation 19:11 powerfully displays the end of God’s story with Jesus, the Conqueror, returning to claim His children and to make all things good and right and new. Jesus, Faithful and True, is the object of all glory in these last days and He should shine brighter to our children than any bulletin board, Sunday School lesson, or VBS week. Jesus’s return at the end of the world is an unimaginable wonder compared to any feeble attempts at success apart from Him. As we look ahead to the coming school year and planning for the children’s ministries in our churches, we should ask if our plans are self-made crayon-scribbles or if they flow from the Author of life Himself. Plans established in God’s guidance allow us to rest in all circumstances that arise through the year, knowing that Jesus will reign and that all things will work together for our good and for the glory of God.

Designate a weekend on your calendar to spend at a coffee house or in a hotel room to minimize distractions. Bring your Bible, your calendar, and some stationery to write down the vision for the coming year. Spend time in prayer and planning. Pray for open hands to release control and ask for God’s direction for your church’s children’s ministry. Submit your thoughts and desires for the ministry and the upcoming year to God. Only He knows what the children need and only He can provide. God has placed you where you are because that is also part of His perfect story! Then return to your church and freshen the children’s space to reflect the upcoming season’s goals. Bring in your teachers and cast the vision. Pray together and have faith that God, who is able to do far more than we can think or imagine, will be at work in ways that will glorify Him as He shepherds the young hearts. He will see His work to completion. Joyfully participate in His plans for the youngest among us!