Many times in ministry, getting started poses the largest challenge. Often, the search focuses on finding the right idea. A better target exists—the right person who’s willing to own a burden.
Let’s look at two stories that demonstrate this truth.
Story #1
A creative team brainstormed ideas to support a lesson focused on Jesus’ teaching about the two greatest commandments. Specifically, to love God and love others (Matt. 22:36-40). The group decided to develop a music video. More importantly, this team included Marta.
At first, Marta liked the idea. Soon, she loved the idea. Then, she became consumed by the thought of sharing this important lesson with kids in a way they would relate to and remember.
So she offered to help write the song for the music video. And then she offered to act as the project’s producer. Okay, she didn’t exactly offer.
She had never produced a video before, but saw that no one else had the time to invest. When it appeared the project might not happen, she couldn’t imagine doing nothing. Even though she also lacked availability—and experience—she said she’d do it. Although unsure how, she felt compelled toward action. Marta realized that she owned a burden to creatively reach children with the two greatest commandments, and that proved to be all the fuel she needed.
A burden is a problem you feel you must fix, an issue you must resolve, a wrong you must right—action you simply must take.
So God completely cleared the path in front of his faithful servant, right? Not exactly.
For the next several weeks, Marta faced obstacle after obstacle, roadblock after roadblock. Do you ever face obstacles and roadblocks in your ministry?
Face obstacles in children’s ministry? Are you kidding me? That’s life. Yes, too many times you put up with obstructions and force a smile while you think, or say, “Oh well, I guess this is part of being in children’s ministry.”
Friends, let’s admit something. When we say, “Oh well, I guess this is part of being in children’s ministry,” we really mean: “If it weren’t for the kids I would ask God to smote you where you stand right now—in the name of Jesus.”
Sorry—let’s go back to our story.
Leadership truth: When you own a burden, the opportunity always appears larger than the obstacles. And that happened with Marta. She couldn’t get rid of the conviction she felt that kids needed to hear this message, so she learned how to produce a video, she carried heavy equipment, she worked insane hours for a brief period, and to the many people who offered criticism instead of help, she calmly responded, “Oh well, I guess this is part of being in children’s ministry.”
Eventually, her hard work paid off with a music video that combines creativity and content, substance and style, in a manner that makes God’s truth memorable to young and old alike. To watch this video, click here.
Story #2
The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven (Nehemiah 1:4, NIV).
We know what happens next. Nehemiah, who now owns a burden for the condition of his homeland, comes up with an idea. He approaches his boss, the king, and asks for permission and provision to go rebuild the wall. Nehemiah could not imagine doing nothing. True, he has never done this work before, but he feels compelled to move forward.
So God completely cleared the path in front of his faithful servant, right? Not exactly.
Nehemiah faced obstacle after obstacle, roadblock after roadblock. When you own a burden, though, the opportunity always appears larger than the obstacles. He learned how to rebuild walls, inspire people to carry heavy equipment, and work insane hours for a brief period, and to the many people who offered criticism instead of help, he calmly responded, “Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads” (Nehemiah 4:4, NIV).
Let’s bring Marta and Nehemiah’s stories closer to home.
Maybe no video or construction projects appear in your future. Good news: There are plenty of burden opportunities these days in children’s ministry—because it’s tough to be a kid. Sure, it’s easy to find violence and abuse statistics, and those are easy to ignore because you might not see their effects firsthand. But all of us surely have noticed:
- Schools are not as safe as they used to be.
- Extracurricular activities meant to be fun are now highly competitive.
- An ever-increasing relational gap exists between many parents and their kids.
- More and more families are falling apart.
- This list could go on and on.
Friends, the safe walls that existed around childhood when you and I grew up are crumbling!
And at times it makes me want to sit down and weep.
What about you? Are you keenly aware of what drives you to do what you do? If yes, way to go! Make sure you constantly remind yourself about it. But what if you’re not sure?
The starting point to find out is simple. Take notice, deliberate notice, of what’s really going on—or isn’t going on—that makes you feel compelled to do something. Here are four “for instances”: 1) “I serve in a ministry that includes a lot of kids from broken homes and I want to give them words that will build into their hearts—because they aren’t getting that from home”; 2) “I want our kids to learn how to love worshiping God—but our music is pretty lousy right now”; 3) “I want to see children’s ministry come alive in South Africa”; 4) “So many kids in our community sorely lack love and hope—we must go to them because they don’t attend church.”
Owning a burden isn’t for everyone—Marta and Nehemiah showed us the need for hard, nearly impossible work. And to own a burden might make you sit down and weep.
But if that happens, then you’re exactly who God wants.
The right person makes a wonderful ministry starting point.
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David Staal, senior editor of Today’s Children’s Ministry, serves as the president of Kids Hope USA, a national non-profit organization that partners local churches with elementary schools to provide mentors for at-risk students. Prior to this assignment, David led Promiseland, the children’s ministry at Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Illinois. David is the author of Words Kids Need to Hear (2008) and lives in Grand Haven, Michigan, with his wife Becky, son Scott, and daughter Erin. Interested in David speaking at your event? Click here
©2010, David Staal
