Picking a Pastor for Kids

How do you pick a children’s minister?

Well it goes without saying, but I will say it anyway....Pray About It!!! Someone can seem to be the most perfect on the outside, but only really Father knows who will be the best shepherd for your ministries greatest treasures! Listen to him! Actually, I believe 95% of the time his pick WILL BE your pick, but better ask him just to make sure. Once I had a coordinator position I so longed to fill to take some of the workload off of me. Two equally fantastic people were interested. The one I wanted would have been perfect (and easier for me to work with), but I felt very deeply that it was the other who was the Lord's pick. Both would have been wonderful. I actually still do not know why God had me place her in that position, but he knows. My only job is to listen to him. Being a Pastor especially to children makes it tripley important to listen to Father's voice seeing as how He knows all things, and we will never. The other choice (my choice) did eventually fill a spot for me and it worked out PERFECTLY! Imagine that! God's way usually does!

Trust that still small voice, but the following are criteria that will most likely be found in HIS/your choice:

1. The number one (and really only) requirement: LOVE. “By this you know my disciples, that you love one another.” Nuff said. But just in case you didn’t get it, here is another one: “Beloved, let us love one another. Love comes from God and anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. If someone doesn’t love, then he doesn’t know God.”

2. Someone who loves people. (This is the only true evidence of spiritual maturity.) If people they supposedly love don’t know they love them, then it doesn’t count. Oh and they must even love the peeps that don’t love them back…. That’s how you know.

3. Someone who knows God's love for them is more important than their love for God.

4. They should be the best ministers you can find. (Ministers adults could receive from too. Don’t give your kids a good babysitter. Give them someone with a grace to minister to them.)

5. Someone willing to learn from kids. (VERY Important!)

6. Someone who knows they don’t have all the answer thus relying on the Holy Spirit to get them through each ministry opportunity. A person with a meek heart will also usually avoid sowing little seeds of “doctrine.”

7. Someone who desires to minister to them. (You can also bet that a person who is willing to “feed my lambs” has a true ministry calling on their life. People who do not value these little ones likely are in it for self glory, although assuming that is judgmental. So don't assume that.) Okay, I feel the need for a disclaimer: Some people know they do not have the grace or calling for little ones, but they still value them. They see them as valued members of a congregation. They choose quality adult leaders for them. They spend money on them. They do not think of them as little distractions that need to be taken out of the service so the adults can be ministered too properly.

8. Someone who has the regular more practical attributes of a person in a position of influence: Faithful, Responsible, Honorable, Has Integrity....you know all those practicalities. :)