Much of children’s ministry happens behind-the-scenes.
Faithful people who love God and have a heart for reaching the next generation.
They put together small group materials when no one is there to applaud them. They run copy after copy after copy of the lesson for those who will be teaching and leading groups on Sunday.
They serve not for the income (volunteers don’t get paid) but for the outcome.
What they do is sometimes taken for granted. Everyone gets used to the class materials being ready and forget that someone gave of their time to put it together.
It may seem like the people teaching the lesson are the most needed. But that is simply not the case. Without the behind-the-scenes people, it would be a struggle when the weekend rolls around.
They wiped down the toys in the preschool rooms so the children would be in a safe environment. No one saw them doing this…no one except Jesus. They laid out the name tags that the greeters would pick up and wear. No one say them doing this…no one except Jesus. They took the “missed you” cards to the post office. There was no one there cheering them on. They baked brownies for the other volunteers to have on Sunday. There was no one in the kitchen while they were doing this…no one except Jesus.
You see the big things are made possible by the little acts of service that happen behind the scenes. The big things are made possible not just because of the person in front of the camera, but the person behind the camera as well. Without the person behind the camera there is no in front of the camera.
Since it is football season, I was thinking this morning about the dynamics of a football team. Of course, the quarterback is in the spotlight. He is at the center of all the attention. Everything revolves around him. He is often one of the people who talks at the press conference following the game.
And then there is the center. The person who hikes the ball to the quarterback. He does his job, not worried about who will get the “praise” for the victory. You never see him being interviewed after the game or giving a speech to all the players and reporters following the game.
But without the center faithfully hiking the ball to the quarterback, there is no play. The center who hikes the ball is critical for success. If he messes up, the play is not going to go anywhere.
If you are one of the behind-the-scenes people in your children’s ministry, let me encourage you today.
Keep serving for the cause not for the applause.
The applause for the behind-the-scenes people may not always be there. You may feel at times that no one cares about what you do. You may not have heard the words “thank you” in a long time.
Keep hiking the ball…even when no one pats you on the back. Keep hiking the ball…even though the spotlight may never be turned your way. Keep hiking the ball…even though others will get the glory for the great play.
Be encouraged today. Your behind-the-scenes work is what makes the “up front” ministry possible. God keeps great records and great will be your reward in heaven. You are making a huge impact. And the full extent of it will be known in heaven, when Jesus says to you, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
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This article originally appeared here.
