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Last year I,Eric, was asked to be in charge of our churches Children’s Ministry. I didn’t feel comfortable taking that kind of leadership positions since there were other capable people in the church. The church is 25 years old and we believe it is not our job to do the job but help Austrians do the job.
This is more tricky than it seems because it means sometimes taking on something in order to train and equip the right people but to do something just because I can doesn’t necessarily mean it is something I must do. Sometimes it means coming along side and helping where they have asked and other times it means standing even further back so others can step up. This last phase can be difficult for all involved because it is not very comfortable. This is a large issue any missionary and even anyone in ministry whether it is full or part time. Anyway, I didn’t mean to ramble on about missiological perspectives in church work.
I did however agree to help out wherever possible and as a consultant. As a result the ministry has been divided between two capable women.
The leader for the elementary age children had to have surgery in December and asked me to take her place until she feels well enough. I have stepped temporarily have been teaching once a month and helping out another teacher once a month. Most of the children are Christians but not all. It has been a challenge working with the curriculum.
I surveyed 6 churches 4 years ago about what they were doing for their Children’s Ministries and as a result discoverd that there is not one curriculum that is published or existant that goes from 5yrs-14 yrs old!
There are some curriculi that span 2 to 4 years but that have a concrete scope and sequence systematically covering the Old and New Testament from an evangelical perspective is not in existance.
One thing that I find exciting with our churche’s children’s ministry is that there are more men teaching and volunteering than women for the elementary ages. That excites me.
Pray that the Children’s Ministry would become a strong discipleship aspect of the Kagran church. To visit our churche’s website go here Gemeinde Kagran. Yes, it is only in German but you can browse the pictures to get an idea of the people in the church.
Eric
