Commitment to Giftedness

Children's ministry staff and volunteers work best as a team when everyone serves only in roles that allow them to use their God-given gifts and abilities. This is a simple definition of a "gift-based" ministry.

Placing volunteers in their areas of giftedness is vitally important to maintaining a positive, effective ministry. If volunteers do not have a passion for the area in which they serve, their responsibilities will become burdensome rather than joyful.

When the staff and volunteers serve in their unique areas of giftedness, the children's ministry becomes team-based and joy-filled. No one person carries the whole program. Leaders are free to fully lead, administrators can administrate, teachers can teach, shepherds can build relationships, helpers can assist, etc. When the whole team serves together, all the needs are met. This naturally leads to community and care, not just for the children, but for the adults as well. Through the team approach, children see a vivid example of the body of Christ in action.

Often in ministry, people jump into whatever help is needed at their church rather than find a place to serve that fits how God created them. A better approach is to look at each team member's giftedness and place him or her accordingly.

It is vitally important that team members know and understand their God-given gifts. Make training available to your volunteers so they can serve with confidence in the specific area of God's calling for them. When believers are functioning out of their God-given gifts, they will experience joy, feel energized, and know God is real, active, and at work in them. Key Bible passages referring to spiritual gifts are Romans 12; I Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4; and I Peter 4.

Copyright © 2005 Promiseland.