Comments on: Childrens Ministry as a career? Kidmin has bad PR

By: Shannon Combs

Shannon Combs — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:56:56 +0000

I believe that the church just needs to come to a place that the value of children’s ministry come when we understand there is no Junior Holy Spirit. The same spirit working in adult, teens, junior higher’s is the same working in kids.
Good leadership, good bible base is key in kids ministry but so is the importance that a good curriculum does nothing for Kdmin when we don’t allow the Spirit to have his chance. We as Kid leaders constantly need to seek new revleation in how God can speak to our Kids and teach them.

By: Matt McDaniels

Matt McDaniels — Tue, 18 May 2010 17:28:19 +0000

Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Keep your trust in God high Janet. God has a plan for you and your talents.

By: Janet Landwehr

Janet Landwehr — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:31:08 +0000

Well, here I sit and am just waiting for a call to be a CM and no one wants me. I have over 25 years of experience AND a graduate from a Bible College with a BS in Christian Ed. I love kids and stay relevant even though my age would dictate other wise … I also have 2 children at home that keep me in the loop as to what is current and going on in the lives of kids today. So here I sit waiting for a call to be a great CM with a lot on my mind to share. So this is as frustrating to me as seeing a guy who uses this opportunity as a stepping stone (although there are several who do not and are in CM for the long haul) hired over me. So tell me how I can get hired with so much to offer … I’ll be rocking babies in my 90′s (God willing I am still here) … CHURCHES NEED TO STOP HIRING PEOPLE WHO DON’T HAVE DEGREES AND EXPERIENCE and maybe things might look up! There are A LOT of us volunteers who could do 1,000x better job than some people in the position, but no one wants to give us a chance because we haven’t worked in a mega church OR gotten paid for our work. You see a lot while on the sidelines … I’m just speakin’ from experience! (Sorry I am a little burnt by this whole thing. I am trying to move beyond it and on to something else God might have in store.)

By: What does the "perfect" Children's Pastor look like? | Childrens Ministry Online

Wed, 12 May 2010 15:47:36 +0000

[...] to the kind of Children’s Pastor who is the solution to some of the problems discussed in my post from yesterday (and comments). You may or may not agree with me, but Kidmin has bad PR in the church today which I [...]

By: This Week in Children’s Ministry for 5/12/2010

This Week in Children’s Ministry for 5/12/2010 — Wed, 12 May 2010 04:52:22 +0000

[...] the Lord’s Prayer50% of kids drop out between kidmin and youthWhat’s wrong with Children’s Ministry as a career?Free Kids Ministry Training EventNews:Â Who are the richest kids on TV?News: Which countries are [...]

By: Jill Nelson

Jill Nelson — Tue, 11 May 2010 21:38:38 +0000

I will add that my elementary pastor would eventually like to be a family pastor and oversee infants through college, or be involved in adult ed, or both. For right now, though, he likes being able to spend some time getting more pastoral experience under his belt before moving into those roles, so when he went for his MDiv, he did want to take it further. It was just sad to see how his professors were making him think that CM was beneath him.

By: Jesse Smith

Jesse Smith — Tue, 11 May 2010 21:04:39 +0000

I don’t think you’d pick me out in a line up, I only seem to dress goofy because I’m over 40 – you’d likely label me the executive pastor (unless there’s a suit requirement for that).

I’m chiming back in because of the seminary discussion. I’m finishing up at Bethel Seminary and they have a GREAT Children and Family Ministry program. A good balance of teaching and biblical study…but I do wish they had a stronger leadership aspect to it.

That said, I agree with Jill on staffing. Churches seem to have the wrong idea about what they should want in their Children’s Pastor. Many positions seem to be all about numbers and being able to entertain large numbers of children and far less concerned with equipping them and their families.

(And yes, I’d a agree MDiv is likely overkill though I’m not sure I would say you were wasting your degree if that is where God called you.)
.-= Jesse Smith´s last blog ..Learning in a Cohort =-.

By: Karin

Karin — Tue, 11 May 2010 20:09:16 +0000

This is a really great convo, Kenny.

By: Kenny

Kenny — Tue, 11 May 2010 19:53:06 +0000

Matt, those are the kind of puppets I’d watch… if I had to watch them.

Jill, good stuff. You’re right, a lot of churches have all these expectations of what an ideal candidate needs to have, yet they’re the wrong expectations. An education degree and CE degree are great degrees, but they’re degrees to help you as a teacher or educator of kids. In these large churches, Children’s Pastors need to be strong leaders of people who are great teachers and educators of kids. You’re absolutely right, churches and pastors need coaching on what they really need.

As far as seminary professors swaying great leaders from kidmin… they’re just stupid. That was harsh. Actually, I would probably agree with them to a point. An MDiv is a huge degree, little of it would be used in a Chidlren’s Pastor role. Its great for a teaching/preaching pastor. Maybe these future church leaders need to be consulted on what to study before starting seminary.

By: Jill Nelson

Jill Nelson — Tue, 11 May 2010 18:24:28 +0000

I think a lot of churches have created this stigma for who “belongs” in Children’s Ministry, and many gifted leaders get overlooked because of it, furthering the cycle of bad PR. When I was looking for a job, I had a Bachelor’s in Communications and minor in Bible from a Christian College, experience in running different aspects of a program, etc, yet I wasn’t qualified enough. Most the churches I was finding required a Bachelor’s (and some places a Masters) specifically in either Christian Education or a teaching degree, at least 5 (and in some cases 10) years experience leading a program larger than what their church had but smaller than what I’d been involved in, and many many more requirements. They set such high expectation for what a person’s credentials were that they failed to look for good leaders.

While I agree to a point on what you said in the comments, Kenny, about not being impressed by what some seminaries produce as far as Children’s Ministry leaders go, I’ve also seen seminaries push talented ministers away from CM. My elementary pastor was told by several of his professors when graduating with his MDiv that he would be wasting his degree by going into CM.