I was thinking today about what makes a good KidMin leaders (staff or volunteer).
There are so many things that go into the mix, but I jotted down a few virtues that went a long way toward making someone a great KidMin leader. These include:
- Patience. Have you ever seen someone working with kids who is impatient? I always wonder what they are hoping to produce through their impatience. They certainly can’t win over the child…and thus they pretty much negate the purpose we’re trying to accomplish in our ministry. Patience is a virtue in KidMin.
- Flexibility. A fun definition of children’s ministry is “controlled chaos”. Accurate, too. I’ve learned that allowing program to be a little on the edge reaps the the greatest engagement. But it means you don’t always know what’s going to happen. And then, of course, even in the calmest of times, you don’t know when the pastor will go extra long in the main service, or when a child will get sick just as you get to the critical point in your lesson, or when that object lesson goes awry and your left holding a balloon with no point to make. Being flexible can make the day!
- Presence. It’s so easy to be distracted in the world of children’s ministry. There’s other kids to watch, the last minute prep to take care of, making sure parents follow procedures…on and on. But that 5 year old may tug on your arm just one time in an attempt to get your attention long enough to tell you his grandma died this week. Or that 5th grader may work up the courage to ask you for help just one time before she goes back into her protective shell. Be present.
- Calm. Like I said before, children’s ministry really can be “controlled chaos”. And that’s when we follow the plan! Disaster – real disaster – is more likely in children’s ministry than any other. I’ve had estranged, violent criminal Dads try and take their kids, a mom faint in the hallway, an aunt GO OFF (like, throwing things around the room!) on a volunteer when she wasn’t allowed to pick up her nephew, fire alarms go off in the entire KidMin building in the middle of class, a kid missing after VBS…and so many other “disasters”. I’m sure you could tell me incredible stories, too. As leaders, we have a choice. And that choice will largely determine how those around us respond to such “disasters”. Will we panic and freak, or will we remain calm and follow the procedures that are in place? (You do have procedures in place, don’t you???). Calm is King!
- Enthusiasm. I remember being at a party one time and one of my new volunteer leaders there, too. She kept asking if I was ok. I kept telling her I was fine, and finally I asked her, “why do you keep asking me that?” She said “because you’re just sitting around & not doing a lot of talking. I thought you would always be the life of the party from what I’ve seen at church.” I smiled. I am most definitely not the “life of the party” type. I’m an introvert…big time. But when I step inside the KidMin building, I become my volunteers biggest cheerleader. I’m loud and big and animated when I teach. I try and engage kids in fun ways (although some kids need their space). In short, I learned early on that enthusiasm draws people in, no matter the particular situation. And if I wanted to effectively engage people – kids, volunteers, parents…it didn’t matter what group – I needed to get over my natural shyness and learn to be enthusiastic. Enthusiasm is contagious.
