This weekend, listen to your ministry.
The cackle of laughter means fun abounds. The stillness of a room indicates captured interest. And the sound of a sniffle can signal pain—maybe emotional, maybe physical—or simply a common cold. Listening to kids tells us plenty.
Even life change becomes apparent based on what’s heard. This three-part series of articles helps us determine the effectiveness of ministry by concentrating on key spiritual maturity indicators that begin with G—Grace, Growth, Groups, Gifts, and Good stewardship. The last article examined Grace, so now let’s turn to Growth and Groups.
Consider for a moment that while you can only see what you look toward, you receive sounds from 360 degrees. An important distinction, because auditory cues will clue us in on what’s happening in ministry below the surface. And we must go deep to assess the spiritual Growth of children and the impact of small Groups on kids’ lives.
So what do we listen for? One answer is the stories of life change in children that parents and teachers/small group leaders share. Another answer, more reliable but typically at lower volume, is the manner with which kids describe personal spiritual activity and their perspective of your ministry. In the two ministry examples that follow, imagine that you are actually listening to the kids tell you their stories.
Ryan
“In our small group time we talked about how we can live what we learned about in the Bible lesson. Each of us tried to think of what it would be like to obey God or to honor Jesus in some new way. Sometimes we played a game that showed the teaching in a fun way. I really liked games because they kept me interested in learning about God, while having fun.
“Studying the Bible was not the only thing we did. Sometimes our small group served together. One of the things we did recently was serve in the P.A.D.S. ministry—a service to homeless people who come during the winter to spend a warm evening in our church. Our small group made sack lunches for them and even drew creative pictures on the lunch bags to encourage them. I really wanted to cheer these people up, so on one of my bags I wrote “Wazzup!!” It felt good to know that I was honoring God and serving people who really needed it.
“But our small group is not just about fun. We care for each other. This past year, a boy in my group lost his four year-old little brother to leukemia. Our whole group prayed for him through this hard time. Every day I prayed that God would comfort my friend and his family and I even wrote him a note to encourage him.
“As I’ve grown older, I know how important small groups are for my spiritual growth. My relationship with God is stronger and I am more caring toward others.”
Growth
In his book, The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren sums up spiritual Growth when he says, “Your heavenly Father’s goal is for you to mature and develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ.” As you listened to Ryan tell you his story, did you hear key words that indicate maturation and Christ-likeness in him and his buddies? Let’s review a few: “Live what we learned about in the Bible… Interested in learning about God … Honoring God and serving people who need it … We care for each other … Every day I prayed … My relationship with God is stronger.” These phrases describe spiritual Growth in ways that might not be seen, but are definitely real to Ryan.
Two questions will help evaluate the spiritual Growth occurring in your kids. If you answer “no” to either, spend time as a team discussing changes needed in your ministry.
- Is willing participation by children strong in worship, prayer, and Bible application discussions?
- Do you hear kids talk about spiritually based activity aside from, or in addition to, your ministry’s curriculum lesson?
Small Group/Big Hearts
Anna’s family moved to Chicago from Germany. After attending our church for several weeks, Anna landed in a small group of third grade girls. Now a very real challenge would begin because she spoke only German. During her first Sunday morning in the group the challenge proved too much for her, and this brought tears.
But something else happened, too, in the hearts of the other girls when they decided that their small group would embrace Anna. Especially Taryn, who describes a life-changing experience: “At first, we accepted her because we just wanted her to feel welcome. Eventually, I learned a lot about patience and love, especially towards someone I didn’t know how to love at first.”
Mary, the small group leader, noticed that the love shown by the girls made a profound impact on Anna. “She (Anna) moved from being shy and alone to part of the group. It was amazing to see how they (the small group) just instinctively knew that Anna belonged.”
Every child needs a place to belong—to know and be known, to love and be loved. A place that will only exist when the same handful of kids and leader looks for one another each weekend, sits together, laughs together, and cries together when needed. Along the way, as Taryn learned, the Holy Spirit teaches valuable, life-changing lessons: “We learned how to get along with one another.”
Groups
Taryn’s words shout the importance of a strong small Group experience. Rick Warren says, “God intends for us to experience life together…It includes unselfish loving, honest sharing, practical serving, sacrificial giving, sympathetic comforting, and all the other ‘one another’ commands found in the New Testament.”
The small group Taryn and Mary describe must have pleased God. Their little band collectively lived out John 15:12: “This is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you.”
Most groups won’t encounter the challenge of including someone who speaks a different language. Every group, though, will face personality, socio-economic, and physical differences. We serve kids well when they learn firsthand how to get along with one another, which then leads to deeper relationships. Ministry offers an excellent opportunity for kids to put priorities that Jesus gave us into action: “You shall love you neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39)
Two questions will speak volumes about the Groups in your ministry. Again, your answers will dictate the next steps you should take to fully maximize the impact groups have on your kids.
- Does every child belong to a specific small group?
- If you were to ask five kids about their small group experience, what would they say? (hint—go ask them!)
Many ministries talk about the importance of spiritual Growth and Group life, which is a great Kingdom win for kids. To assure effectiveness in ministry with these two Gs, though, requires a big step past mere talk: You must listen!
Susan Shadid is the Director of Training for Promiseland, the children’s ministry at Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Illinois.
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, MI, with his wife Becky, son Scott, and daughter Erin.
Copyright © 2006 Promiseland.
