Jesus took a little child whom He placed among them. Taking the child in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me; and whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me but the one who sent Me.”
Jesus cares about children. Throughout His ministry, He ministered to children. In the passage you just read, Jesus placed a child in the middle of the 12 disciples.
Jesus is still doing that today. He places children in our midst. Who has He placed in the midst of your ministry?
What child is He asking you to mentor?
What child is He asking you to love unconditionally?
What child is asking you to encourage?
What child is He asking you to believe in?
What child is He asking you to invest in?
Then it says Jesus took the child up into His arms and made a big statement. He says those who welcome a child are welcoming Him. It means that much to Him.
Are you welcoming the children that God allows you to cross paths with?
I often say this.
A church that minimizes children’s ministry is minimizing God’s blessings upon their ministry. A church that maximizes children’s ministry is maximizing God’s blessings upon their ministry.
If you want to make a big impact for the kingdom, it will happen through your children’s ministry. I truly believe that.
As I travel across the country and minister in churches, one thing has become very apparent. The churches that are growing are investing heavily in the next generation. They have placed the importance of children’s ministry in their midst, just as Jesus did many years ago.
On the flip side, churches that are dying have something in common. They haven’t placed children in the midst of them as Jesus did. The next generation is just an after thought. This makes the church terminal. As the older members pass away, the church dies with them and eventually they have to place a for sale sign out front.
Let me ask you this.
Where are the children in your ministry? Are they in the middle where everyone can see them? Is the children’s ministry elevated in importance?
“Jesus loves the little children. All the children in the world. Red and Yellow, Black and White, they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.”
If you find that your children’s ministry is not at the center of your church, then here are a few steps you can take to bring them to the center.
Priority – make children’s ministry a top priority.
People – the best volunteers will be serving in children’s ministry.
Programs – children’s ministry programs will be very important.
Program Funding – children’s ministry will have one of the largest budgets in the ministry.
Passion – the church will be passionate about reaching the next generation.
Physical Space – the children’s ministry space will be the best in the church.
Are children at the center of your ministry? If you want to minister like Jesus, then place them there and watch as God blesses your ministry for it.
This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.
