We started a new session of small groups at our church this past Sunday.  We have moved from a regular service to doing more small group Bible studies on Sunday evenings.  We are seeing some peaked interest and even a little rise in attendance.  This is our second session of the small groups that we started this year, and I am excited to see where they go.

I was asked about where I (being the pastor) was going to be during this session of small groups as I was not lined up to teach one.  I had gotten a couple of pokes about my name not being on the signup list anywhere.  When asked the question about where I would be, I simply replied, “I’m doing childcare.”

The look on some of the faces was interesting.  You could see the wheels turning… “The pastor is going to help with child care instead of teaching a class???”

Yep… I was and am.

I had told our church that the area of children’s ministry (from birth up) is one of the most important areas of ministry in our church.  I had done sermons on it, used it as illustrations, and tried to highlight it in many ways.  The time had come for this pastor to put his money where his mouth is.

It seems strange to some that the pastor is downstairs helping watch the children while their parents/grandparents are upstairs in Bible study.  The truth is I truly believe that this area of ministry is one of the most important areas in our church.  So much so, I am willing to step out of the pulpit and get to serving where I see a need.

For some, the child care area of your church may seem like the 7th layer of Hades, but I would encourage you to see the importance of this ministry.  Here are a couple of things to think about:

Children need intentional ministry

It is important for the church to realize that not everyone learns on the level of an adult.  I’m not saying that we need to “dumb the gospel down,” but I am saying that it would serve the church best to intentionally teach different areas according to their learning styles.

This ministry speaks volumes to young families.

As a young parent myself, I recognize the value of a good child care ministry at a church.  There is nothing that will turn a young family away from a church than a bad child care ministry or none at all.  The church is supposed to be a ministry that extends from generation to generation.  The previous generation passes the torch to the next and so on.  When a church decides that the children’s area (primarily the child care area) is not that important, they cut off future generations of ministry.

Church members need to use their gifts.

The Bible is pretty clear when it speaks to every follower of Jesus having spiritual gifts that are to be used to build up the church and do the work of ministry (1 Corinthians 12:4-21).  There are some that feel they do not have a place to serve in the church.  I believe that a person does not have to be the greatest “teacher” in the world to love on children and share with them the love of Jesus.  I do believe that there needs to be some careful precautions in the children’s area, but this area provides a great place for people to set up the next generations of the church.

For the next six weeks, if you come by our church on a Sunday evening and are looking for the pastor, you will have to come downstairs or send someone to the children’s area, because that’s where I will be.  Why? Because it’s just that important.