What Type of Kids Pastor Are You?

There are different types of kids pastor. This is why it can be dangerous to go look at someone else’s program and copy it. If a church has a successful program then they built their program around the strengths of the leader and you may or may not have those same strengths.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t learn from others. Everyone needs a mentor or two, but to totally copy someone else’s ministry is a mistake.

You need to build your Kid’s Ministry around your strengths.

This is one of my favorite John Maxwell quotes;

“Work on your strengths and you get great. Work on your weaknesses and you get average”

This means you need to know what your strengths are and you need to know what your weaknesses are. You will need to look for people to help you who are strong in areas that you are weak.

Your strengths are things that you enjoy doing that bring you fulfillment.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Are you more of a visionary or a detail person?

Are you task oriented or people oriented?

Do you like to lead from the front of the room or the back of the room?

What brings you the most fulfillment, working with kids, parents or volunteers?

It’s rare to find a church that is strong in all three areas of kids ministry: kids, parents and volunteers.

I have seen churches that are well organized. Their systems are in place but the actual kids ministry is not very good. This leader is someone who is great at administration but may not have a strong teaching gift.

I have also observed churches that have a good program for the kids, but it’s not very organized. In this situation there is usually one guy, the Kids Pastor who is very good with the Kids, but there is no one leading from the back of the room. Volunteers do not hang around because no one is ministering to them.

In the last decade there has been a shift toward Family Ministry with a focus on ministry to kids through their parents. This can be a positive thing but I have seen some of these churches drop the ball in their Kids Ministry on Sunday Morning.

Is it possible to be good in all three areas?

Absolutely, but you can’t do it by yourself. It begins with you deciding what part you want to do. I love the following quote;

“The indispensible first step to getting what you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.” Ben Stein

Do you want to be the primary teacher of the kids?

Do you enjoy the recruiting, training and organizing of the volunteers?

Do you want to focus on ministering to the kids through their parents?

Make a decision today.

What kind of Kids Pastor are you?

Don’t apologize for who you are, just do it with all your heart, but then find people to help you with the things you don’t like to do.