What is the main thing? The gospel of Jesus Christ, plain and simple!
There is so much that goes into children’s ministry. This article is meant to help you continue to strengthen yourself and your ministry. The list in this article includes many things to help make a great children’s ministry leader, along with helpful articles, resources, and webinars to equip you as you dive in.
This list is not exhaustive, but it is highly important to do these 7 things!
7 Things that Make a Great Children’s Ministry Leader
1. Love God in Word and Action
Sometimes we get so caught up in the ‘do’ of our work that we let our relationship with God slip. It’s imperative that we keep Him central in our lives. We don’t want to labor in vain!
- READ: Ministry Leader, God Was Made for This—Trust Him
- WATCH: Encouragement for Children’s Ministry Leaders: You Were Made for This
- WATCH: The Importance of Caring for Your Soul in the Midst of Everything Else
2. Love Your Family and Prioritize Them
This one, just like the last, is easy to lose sight of in the middle of all we have to do in ministry! But prioritizing and loving our own families is key to serving in ministry and setting the example of what it means to follow Jesus.
Be sure in the middle of the busy to keep them a priority!
- READ: Keeping Marriage Fresh in Ministry
- READ: Marriage in the Midst of Ministry
- READ: 5 Things Your Pastor Would Want You to Know about His Kids
- WATCH: Becoming a Spiritually Healthy Family
3. Lead with Vision
What makes a great children’s ministry leader? Setting a vision and leading with it daily. Make sure it’s in your conversations, your trainings, your lessons, and all that goes into your ministry. See the big picture and express it constantly!
- READ: How to Set a Vision for Your Children’s Ministry
- READ: What Scripture Says About Children’s Ministry
- DOWNLOAD: Building for Ministry Now
4. Partner with Parents in Discipleship
Walk alongside parents and equip them to be disciple makers. As we understand that primary spiritual formation happens in the home, it’s key to equip parents for ministry at home! While this sounds like a lot, we don’t have to overcomplicate it!
- READ: Faith Formation: Helping Parents Walk with Kids
- WATCH: Our Role in the Faith Formation of Kids: Parents and Families
- DOWNLOAD: 7 Ways to Encourage Today’s Parents as Spiritual Influencers at Home
What makes a great children’s ministry leader? Setting a vision and leading with it daily.
5. Grow Yourself and Other Leaders
Don’t feel like you have to lead all on your own. What makes a great children’s ministry leader is when you grow other leaders and allow them to shine with the gifts that God has given them! You can’t lead alone. Relationships are key in ministry!
- READ: Leading Together Within Your Greater Community
- READ: Always Choose Relationships Over Programs
- WATCH: Finding a Community of Ministry Support
6. Delegate Responsibilities
Share ministry with your team and your volunteers. Stay out front by entrusting the work to your team! You do what only you can and allow them to do what only they can!
- READ: Our Leadership Skills Grow as We Learn to Shepherd
- READ: 11 Children’s Ministry Job Descriptions for Your Ministry
- DOWNLOAD: A Comprehensive Guide to Leading Your Volunteers through Ministry Now
7. Great Children’s Ministry Leaders Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing
What is the main thing? The gospel of Jesus Christ, plain and simple! Engaging children is critical, yes—the fun, the lessons, the atmosphere! But without the main thing, it’s simply fluff.
Make sure to keep it central in all you do. Jesus is for you. And He is for the kids, families, and volunteers in your ministry. They need to know that!
- READ: God Is Personal: Why Story Matters in Children’s Ministry
- READ: Jesus in Our Midst: The Importance of Sharing a Personal God with Kids
- READ: Simple Language for Explaining the Gospel: Very Good News
- READ: Simple Language for Explaining the Gospel: Redefining Need
- READ: Bringing the Bible to Life in Your Children’s Ministry
- WATCH: The Importance of Sharing a Personal God in Children’s Ministry
Making an Impact in Your Children’s Ministry
This guide was created to help you dive into some of the topics facing your ministries today and lead into why your curriculum matters and how to choose the right one depending on your needs.
How to Guard Yourself from Ministry Burnout
