Planning CE with Flexibility by Tim McCracken, Children's Pastor Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church
Planning and managing a growing children’s ministry can at times feel like herding cats. Just when you think you have a handle on it a new opportunity pops up or what you thought would be easy suddenly develops into a run away stray. So what do you do when the cats are going in several directions at once and you want to cry out like those old commercials, “Calgon, take me away!” Hopefully our experiences here at Oak Mountain will aid you in your management of the children’s ministry where you have been called to serve.
First piece of advice I would give you is to have a clear vision for your children’s ministry that is lined up with your churches overall vision. Meet with your pastor and get a clear understanding of his vision for your congregation and form your vision with that in mind.
Second, DO NOT GO IT ALONE!! A former professor of mine said, “If you’re a lone ranger your in danger.” We have taken that to heart here at OMPC and God has enabled us to put together a great ministry team that is focused on “Partnering with Parents to Preach the Gospel to the Next Generation.” A team enables you discern a vision and then helps evaluate what programs do and do not fit within your vision for children’s ministry. A team also helps carry the load as they take responsibilities off your shoulders and take care of ministry for you as you minister to them. If you run after every stray cat you will be exhausted and end up not getting a lot done. An example of this is our recent implementation of an initiative called the “Paraclete Plan”. In this plan each team member adopted a few Sunday school teachers and they are coming along side to encourage, pray for and even give treats to those ministering to our children. Spread the ministry out to others and equip the saints to do the work of the ministry, I think I read that in a good book once or twice. Also develop sub-committees to carry out the various ministries you have for your children.
Finally, what do you do as things change in your ministry? Be flexible and creative as you work with your team to develop solutions that will improve the way you minister to the flock God has entrusted you with. This involves patience and sometimes perseverance when you get surprised by a cranky Calico, pouting Persian or even surprising Siamese. Change can be swift and disconcerting but lean on your team as you wade through these various situations. Sometimes you need to adjust the mechanics of the operation, but always stay the course of your vision with your eyes firmly fixed on the cross of Christ and He will guide you through the various obstacles that will get in the way, and as a shepherd He is great at corralling cats as well as sheep.
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