Ministry must flow from our relationship with the Lord; ministry can’t fuel our relationship with Him.
One of the greatest challenges in children’s ministry is recruiting and retaining volunteers. But it may also be the quiet struggle of doing many things for Jesus while missing time with Him. Or maybe, for you, the challenge is leadership—the leadership you are serving under, the leadership you are offering to others, or both.
Children’s ministry may sound simple at first—sharing the good news of Jesus with children—but those who serve know it can carry a weight many people never see. Without space to rest, pray, and stay attentive to what Jesus is asking of us, it can be easy to lose heart or drift toward burnout.
A lack of workers is nothing new. It was a challenge even in Jesus’ day. People getting lost in the work—rather than spending time following Jesus—also not new. People losing their way—it has happened before.
Scripture tells us in Matthew 9:36:
“When he [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Have you ever felt this in your ministry? Maybe you don’t feel supported by leadership. Or you yourself feel distant from Jesus. It could be that your volunteers don’t feel supported by you. Or it might even hit your heart as you see the parents and children in your ministry being consumed with life and looking for help and direction from Jesus.
Wherever you find yourself, you have a Good Shepherd. And our Good Shepherd came so that we might live and do so fully.
Jesus sees you in this very moment, and He cares.
Following Jesus in Ministry
Have we focused so much on what’s right in front of us, that we’ve lost our vision and stopped thinking on the things of heaven?
Take a deep breath. Jesus sees you in this very moment, and He cares. In these moments, let’s readjust our posture, just like you would after sitting too long in a chair.
Come and Pray
Jesus offered an answer to each of us. He told us to come to Him (Matthew 11:28-30), and He showed us how to pray (Luke 5:16).
Ministry must flow from our relationship with the Lord; ministry can’t fuel our relationship with Him. We will burn out with the wrong thing at the middle. We must be centered on Jesus, not ministry.
There is nothing wrong with using practical techniques in your ministry, being prepared, and planning what you can for the children you serve. But is what we’re doing flowing from prayer? Does it flow from time we spend with Jesus? Or does the event or curriculum or volunteer recruiting strategy become more important than what the Lord desires?
Is prayer our “first option” when we need direction?
Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest said, “Prayer does not equip us for greater works; prayer is the greater work.”
Everything about our ministry must flow from our relationship with God because it is God doing the work, not us. Psalm 127 reminds us that if God doesn’t do the work, our work is in vain.
Prayer and time in His Word align us with His will and His way.
Lastly, who else is praying for your ministry? Do you have anyone praying alongside you? The prayer in our Sunday huddles is a start, but it isn’t enough to sustain a ministry. Spend time being known by Jesus and knowing Him more deeply. Let your abiding fuel your work.
Ask and Lead
As we read through the gospels, we see how Jesus called the disciples to follow Him (Mark 1:17). He asked. We also see how those in need called out to Jesus. They asked for His help.
Have you asked for help? We aren’t talking about a general announcement on Sunday, or a mass text on Saturday night. But have you given someone a one-on-one invitation, a call to ministry to help you share the good news of Jesus with children?
Have you clarified their role and purpose, where they would fit in the ministry, and how you’d love to see them grow because of the experience? Have you asked for help even if this isn’t your strong suit?
Jesus called His disciples, He trained them, and He sent them out. Many of us stop at the call—maybe the training. But there comes a time where we have to send our people out to do the work that Jesus called them to through this ministry. If we hold the reins too tightly, we could suffocate the very thing we are trying to foster.
We will burn out with the wrong thing at the middle. We must be centered on Jesus, not ministry.
Leadership Rhythm
Once His disciples were on board, Jesus didn’t abandon them in the work. He led through a rhythm of prayer, time together, teaching, and sending them.
- Jesus modeled the life of service that He wanted us to also display. There are numerous examples of this—from pouring Himself out as He served the crowds, to demonstrating humility when He washed the disciples’ feet, and, ultimately, by allowing Himself to be sacrificed on the cross. How are we modeling what we are asking volunteers to do in our ministries?
- Jesus taught the disciples. He modeled for them what it looked like to teach and love people well. In the same way, we must train and model in our ministries—not simply throw people in rooms with a teacher guide and say good luck. We must be intentional in developing the ministry God has called us to.
- Jesus empowered His followers. After showing them that He was in this life with them, and after teaching them to serve, He sent them out. He didn’t insist that His disciples do everything exactly like He did but rather, told them the end goal and empowered them to do the work in the ways they were individually gifted to.
Whether you are thriving or struggling in your ministry right now, following Jesus must always come first in your life.
We cannot give what we do not possess. And the best way to lead is to follow Him.
How to Get Heard and Supported by Your Church Leadership
How to Get Heard and Supported by Your Church Leadership
