I get tired. In fact, many times, teaching yet another lesson to children is the LAST thing I want to do. I've gone through a whole lot of burn out several times over the years. In fact, I've wanted to QUIT repeatedly. I can't quit being a mom, but I've been tempted to "put the kids on the bus" and stop homeschooling. I've been tempted to stop doing children's ministry at church.
Who wouldn't? During the school year, I often wonder if I'm really doing any good. While I'm teaching academics, am I really reaching my children for Christ in our home? Is that Bible time effective? And, if I feel like a failure with my own children, do I believe I am reaching the children that aren't mine?
I'll be honest and admit that I don't know. I don't feel that I have a natural affinity as a children's teacher. I generally think the successful teachers are big children themselves. "They" know all the hand motions to those time-honored Sunday School songs that I barely learned. I wasn't raised in church, so my knowledge is limited. "They" have all these great ideas for object lessons that bring the Bible to life in the mind and heart of a child. "They" naturally jump into the kid activities, and are perfect for puppet shows, magic tricks, or just to do the worm to make the children fall in love with Jesus. "They" are great at pulling together a program for Christmas or Easter to show the adults.
I'm not great at any of those things. Occasionally I come up with a great object lesson on my own, but mostly I scour the internet and curriculum books for ideas. I've never worked a puppet in my life. I stink at magic. If I do the worm, I'll probably hurt myself. The thought of trying to put together a play or program for a holiday makes me a wreck.
So, in my list of qualifications as a children's teacher, at least in church, I have few. I think that inner child never existed in me. I have no clue if, over the years, I've had the impact for Christ that I hope. But I have been teaching for years. Why?
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| My husband, teaching a lesson |
First, I teach because I've read the statistics. Have you?
"When it comes to church engagement, those who attended Sunday school or other religious programs as children or as teens were much more likely than those without such experiences to attend church and to have an active faith as adults. For instance, among those who frequently attended such programs as a child, 50% said they attended a worship service in the last week, which is slightly higher than the national average and well ahead of those who rarely or never attended children’s programs. Among those who frequently attended religious programs as teenagers, 58% said they had attended a worship service in the last week. In comparison, less frequent participation as a teenager correlated with less frequent adult participation." - barna.org
According to the Barna Research Group (BRG), the 5/13 window is the age group most prone to accept and act upon the salvation message. The research indicates that unless a person accepts Christ as Savior before the age of 14, the likelihood of ever doing so is slim.
That is why I teach children.
You see, It isn't always easy or natural. I love to teach. I'm not a showman or a director, but I'm a teacher. I love to see the children's eyes light up as I teach them about Jesus. I may have to work hard at certain parts. I avoid other parts like the plague, but so what?
The second reason I teach children is one that most think is a bad reason. I teach because... No one else will.
I've been told repeatedly how horrible it is to do ministry cause no one else will. Well... Shame on those that refuse to step up. I know God has called others and they weren't obedient. To those that have volunteered to teach a Sunday a month, THANK YOU! It is appreciated more than I can say. Many of you are the natural teacher I wish I could be.
Many times God calls those who are able, but not necessarily naturally gifted. He does this to show His strength. He also does this because He is so saddened by no one stepping up to teach His little ones. It is wrong for the church to have a need and no one step up to fill it. It isn't about a "calling". It's about filling a need! No one else will step up, and the cost of that might very well be the souls of your children. That wasn't ok with me.
There should NEVER be a lack of teachers for children. But finding teachers to teach a class, even occasionally, for children is a huge struggle! Priorities are messed up in our churches!
I know this might offend some, but it's important. We, as a church, aren't grieved for the lost. We aren't grieved for the lost at our jobs, in our neighborhoods, or in our nation. We don't look at the children in our church as lost, but I venture to say that the children are a huge mission field. If the best window to accept Christ is between the ages of five and thirteen, how many will be lost? By the time that young, hip youth pastor meets a child, the odds of winning that child to Christ are drastically reduced. Already the child's heart is hardening and is being filled by the world.
The best place for a child to meet Christ and form a relationship with Him is in the child's own home. But... If a parent won't volunteer to help a children's class or teach Sunday School, do you think the home is centered around Christ.
This isn't about circumstances such as working parents that are scheduled and can't miss work (though my husband teaches a couple times a month after working the midnight shift the night before). This isn't about the parent that is ill (though I've taught while fighting the urge to barf when I had morning sickness). This is about the one that would rather spend years feeding at the trough of the adult sermons, getting spiritually fat, but not feeding others. This is about the malnourished child that is spiritually empty, and feels
he or she isn't important enough for anyone to disciple.
You know who you are if God has tugged on you to teach children. Don't think you won't have a place or will step on toes. You won't.
In the words of Matthew West: "It's not enough to do nothing. It's time for us to DO SOMETHING."
Our children need adults to step up to the plate and swing at the ball. But, unlike baseball, if you are horrible and strike out, the game isn't lost. You may learn that the best way for you to serve children is to pay to send a child to camp or bake cookies for their snack every few weeks. But... What if you hit the ball! (GASP) You might enjoy the children. If you get a home run, you might win a child to The Lord and change, not just their life here on Earth, but their eternity. That child, in turn, might reach countless others.
We don't have teachers for our children at church because it isn't important to us. We aren't eternally minded. We don't think about fifteen years into the future when that ten year old will be 25, and he'll have to decide if he wants to take his two year old to Sunday School. Or 20 years in the future, when your grandchild never goes to church because the ball games were what was important to you, the grandparent. You'll wonder how sports became the family legacy instead of loving and serving The Lord.
We have a limited time to impact young people for Christ. I teach when no one else will because I don't want to answer to The Lord for the children that were lost cause no one took the time to try. I may not be a "natural", but I made myself available. For me, to ignore a need that I can try to meet is sin.
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