How NOT To Choose A Children's Pastor/Leader.

Choosing the right leader for your team is crucial to an effective children's ministry that will carry out the vision of the church as a whole.  In some cases, parents choose the church they attend based on the children's ministry.  The pastor/leader lays the foundation, sets the atmosphere among the team, the parents, and the children.  Choosing this perfect person is not an easy task.  First and foremost,  there is no PERFECT person.  Choosing a children's pastor/leader is not cut and dry.  The last post described the perfect children's pastor/leader.  This post shares the absolute no-no's of choosing a children's pastor/leader. 

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First, we have Julie Do-It-All.  Julie is an example of one who wants to lead, but does it all herself.  The teachers come in and Julie is right there going over every instruction for the weekly craft, every snack is prepared, every lesson is cookie cutter shadow of exactly the way Julie would do it herself.  She spends all her time hovering over the teachers and with the children.  If she leaves, she fears something will not be done her way.  

Julie Do-It-All maybe great at what she does with the children, what she does works great for her.  However, the role of the children's pastor/leader is to provide and atmosphere for the teachers to do what they do best, teach.  Her time is in training the teachers the overall vision of the ministry, how to use the curriculum provided, how to minister to the family as a whole.  What works best for one teacher, may not work best for another.  

By trying to handle everything herself, and making the teachers follow step-by-step cookie cutter instructions, because that is what works for her, stifles the gifts and talents the teachers bring to the ministry, and the anointing they carry.  Having a do-it-all yourself approach limits the growth of the children's ministry to what one person can do themselves.  The ministry cannot grow beyond the limits of one person.

Second, we have Joey New-Christian.  Joey New-Christian is passionate and excited.  He shares the new Gospel message with everyone he comes into contact.  He is so excited he wants to attend everything and participate in everything.  

While his enthusiasm is great, and can light the fire of those around him.  He lacks the foundation that will keep and hold him in place when something goes wrong, and challenges present themselves.  Even choosing a newbie to the church can be risky.  It takes time to get to know someones strengths and talents, and their faithfulness.  

Third, we have Carla Want-A-Position.  Carla wants to the respect and the importance of the title.  She comes every week to services, and maybe even goes to every function.  She is always right in the center of the action.  Appearance is very important.  She would not be caught dead near so-n-so or so-n-so, because they are not the in crowd. Instead, she is part of the click...the group that hangs out and does not let others inside.  After all influence is everything.  

Ministry is work, children's ministry is REALLY work!  It is not a show. Ministering to children is from the heart to the lost, whether they be the child, the child's parent, the child's siblings and friends.  Becoming a children's pastor/leader is not for someone seeking a position.  These people tend to be very prideful.  In children's ministry, humble is required.  The children can see right through anything else.  Volunteers do not want to work for leaders who are position seekers.  The staff will begin to dwindle, and the ministry to the children themselves suffer.  

Fourth, we have Allen Been-Around-Forever.  Often, a children's ministry will be found in need of locating a new children's pastor/leader quickly.  Alley Been-Around-Forever has been a faithful teacher.  She has a great character and personality.  She teaches well each week, and the parents seem to like her.  What is not to like about her?  

Most often in a crunch, the church will choose someone as children's pastor/leader simply because there is no one else around.  Alley Been-Around-Forever may seem like she could do the job and fill the need at the moment.  However, what is not taken into account here is that she may very well be called and anointed to teach, not lead.  She is great with the children, but can she manage a team of adults, fulfill the administrative duties, and let go of the hands on classroom experience?  The Children's Pastor/Leader is a different calling and anointing than that of a teacher.  By taking the fish out of the water, the whole children's ministry will suffer, even with the good faith heart of Alley Been-Around-Forever.  

Every Pastor/Board must be very careful in choosing a leader.  It may mean taking time and even referrals from other trustworthy Pastors/churches to find the right leader.  He/she will not carry all the qualities of the PERFECT pastor/leader discussed in the last post, but they will possess many of them, and display a teachable spirit that will lend to learning and obtaining the remaining qualities necessary to leading a Children's ministry effectively.