I just returned from a fantastic Children's Ministry Forum in San Antonio, TX, hosted by the General Board of Discipleship. If you are involved in Children's or Family Ministry in any way, and have not gone to this annual event, you must try to go! It's really magical.
Over the course of 4 days I got to catch up with old friends and colleagues, meet new people involved in all aspects of family ministry from all over the country (even Alaska!), lead a discussion panel for new Children's Ministers alongside two of my favorite people, Stephanie Dunn from Calvary UMC and Heather Harriss from Belmont UMC (both in Nashville), participate in amazing worship, and last but not least learn some really cool stuff that I can bring home and implement in my own church. What a blessing to be able to attend! The theme for the forum was "Remembering Our Story." The worship at the forum was led by Michael Williams, senior pastor at West End UMC in Nashville. It never ceases to amaze me how his sermons can make me laugh and cry all in about 20 minutes. I have to admit that generally, the celebration and worship times at events like this do not excite me. Quite the opposite as a matter of fact. I am a very traditional worshipper. Contemporary services with praise bands and screens for music are really, really out of my comfort zone. More than one person, i'm sure, has heard me say "When I see a drum kit, I walk the other way." So, you can imagine what my mindset was going into worship the first day. However, I knew Michael Williams would be there, so at least I would like that part, right? The worship began with some music, projected on the screen (here we go, I thought) BUT they were hymns! We were invited to use our hymnals! Okay, feeling a little more comfortable now. Then, the sermon was as fantastic as I expected it to be. Truly touching. I was sold, this was really great! Next, the senior pastor at the host church, Coker UMC, Barbara Galloway, presented the Gospel. All I can say is that it was beautiful. She remembered a story about a Sunday School teacher she had when she was a child. Barbara was a particularly "energetic" child - if you've ever taught Sunday School, you know exactly the kid i'm talking about - there's always one in every class. Instead of scolding Barbara, or separating her from the class, her teacher cupped Barbara's little face in her hands and said "You are becoming exactly who God made you to be." Later on Barbara saw the teacher at her ordination ceremony, the only person she did not recognize until the lady came up to her, cupped Barbara's face in her hands and said "You are becoming exactly who God made you to be." Perhaps that teacher was the person who helped Barbara feel her call to ministry. Most of us remember something about a Sunday School teacher in our childhoods. Sunday School teacher or not, adults have such an enormous impact on children in the church . Each Sunday we see children in worship that are learning how they feel about being in church. Experiences that will likely shape the formation of their faith forever. In many ways, their experiences with the adults around them will "make or break" their adult life in the church. This Sunday, try and see yourself through a child's eyes. Remember what it was like to be a child at church with your family. In remembering these things, remember not only who you are, but who you can be to another. Pray that just like the incredible worship and design team at the forum found ways to make traditional and contemporary worshippers comfortable in the same service, we can find ways to help children and adults feel comfortable in the same service. Reach out to a child, help them look up scripture, give them a bulletin, smile, tell them how happy you are they are in God's house and that you hope they will stay with Him forever. Let them know "They are becoming exactly who God made them to be."
