It is the holiday season. A time where we celebrate hope, love, joy, and peace. We celebrate all of these because they come wrapped in the birth of Jesus and what Jesus has done for us. We hear the song, “It’s the most, wonderful time, of the year…..”, but if we are honest, it can be the most discouraging time for a children’s ministry leader, especially in a small church.
The discouragement can come when we begin to focus on the challenges faced, the unmet expectations of church members, and comparison to other ministries. Decades ago, the comparison was focused on just a few surrounding churches in our area; today, with social media, we compare to churches worldwide.
We see the images and videos of others who had amazing Christmas programs, activities, and who share how their ministry has grown over the last year while lamenting how we do not have enough children to have a choir, or volunteers willing to serve this time of year. It becomes difficult to rejoice with those who rejoice, when we feel that we do not measure up. We can feel alone and isolated. I know this, because I experience it. Allow me to be a little vulnerable and share some of my story.
My Story …
I do serve in a small church. Since the pandemic, there are those who see the church as struggling. There have been several families who have left. A dismal future for the church was shared. During the last six months I have heard people say that there is nothing for children and three families with children (a total of five children between the three families) have left this year. Because of the decrease in numbers, I considered cancelling our mid-week ministry for children.
As we enter 2025, there are three children who would attend children’s church and three for the nursery on Sunday (two babies were recently born). On Wednesdays we have seven children who attend, four who do not attend our church. Sundays can be difficult because the stat that people attend about 1.5 times per month is true in our church for a fair number (not all) families; whereas the children are much more faithful to attend on Wednesday. Last year I gave up my modest compensation to help the overall church budget and this year the budget for children’s ministry has all but been eliminated, at my recommendation, because there simply are not available funds being given.
As I look back over the last year, as we all do this time of year, it could be easy for me to be discouraged and I am sure that there are people who would tell me to leave.
Another view …
I shared the doom and gloom of my ministry over the last year, but as always, that is not the full story. On the day that there was a town hall meeting at the church where people shared that there was nothing for the children, prior to that meeting, a parent came to me with her two children who wanted to be baptized. Not long after, a third child sought to be baptized. At the end of the summer, I had the privilege to baptize three children and a fourth was baptized the following week at another church closer to where most of their family lived in a church that had strong connections to their family. At that time that was about half of the children in our ministry! As I write this, I know of two other children who have been asking about be baptized.
Remember the families with children that left the church? All of the parents let me know personally that they were glad for how we partnered with them to disciple their children and how their children loved us and wanted to stay.
Attendance is consistent and there is excitement on Wednesday evenings for a ministry I almost cancelled. Two people have expressed interest in serving in children’s ministry, one of them is already serving.
As I look back over the last year, as we all do this time of year, it could be easy for me to be encouraged and I am sure that there are people who would encourage me to keep building on what God has done this past year.
My Choice …
We all have choices to make. We can focus on all of the negatives in the past year, or we can focus on the positives. What choice will you make?
I am focusing on the positives. I am not forgetting the negatives, I am choosing to use them to drive me to work harder in the new year. I am not comparing myself to other larger churches. I am choosing to rejoice with them as I thank God for how He has worked through me.
Your Choice …
How about you? Are you finding this the most discouraging time of the year? Stop comparing yourself to others and focus on how God has used you through the good times and the struggles. If you struggle to see where God was working, then refocus on Him and make sure that He is the foundation for all that you do.
As we enter 2025, I plan to continue to be vulnerable and share how things are going in my life and ministry in the local small church. I do not know what the new year will bring, but my hope is that, as I share, it will be an encouragement for you and you come to know that you are not alone in your struggles and joys.
How do you plan to enter 2025?
