The Seven C’s of Success for the Children’s Worker
Larry Hipps
You can do it—you can be a successful children’s worker no matter where you serve with kids. A successful children’s worker must be or have:
1. Called
To be a true success in God’s work, there must be a calling. We have to know that what we are doing for the Lord was ordained by the Lord and that we are following His will for our lives. When a Christian tries to minister in an area where God has not called him, it’s like trying to put a round peg in a square hole, it just doesn’t fit no matter how hard you push or hammer it.
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace,” 2 Tim. 1:9
2. Caring
Probably the best question we could ask a prospective children’s leader is, “Do you love kids?” Without a love for those we minister to, we can’t expect success. A person who doesn’t love children is akin to someone who hates music wanting to sing in the choir. A successful children’s leader really cares for kids and wants to see them become all they can in the Lord.
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” 1 John 4:11
3. Character
When I was first called to the ministry, I remember wondering if God wanted me to serve in a local church or to be an evangelist. I talked to my pastor about it and he wisely told me that if dogs and kids like you, you’ll be a good church staff member. If dogs and kids don’t like you, you need to be evangelist. He was saying that children are a good judge of character and through the years I’ve found that to be true. It doesn’t take kids long to size you up and respond accordingly. It’s often been said that our character is what we are when we are by ourselves. We cannot expect to be successful in any ministry without integrity and character.
“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James 1:25
4. Choice
Each time you teach, run your bus route, do a puppet or whatever you do as you minister to children, you have a choice to make: Do you do your very best or do you just do enough to get by? Successful people always do the best they possibly can in every endeavor. Each time you chose to go the extra mile, to try a little harder and to give your responsibility your all, you move closer to success and you always please the Lord.
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” Col. 3:23
5. Commitment
Often we workers fall by the wayside because they are not committed to the task – they view their service more a hobby than as a duty and responsibility. They move from ministry to ministry without ever really accomplishing anything for The Kingdom. Successful children’s workers stand firm with their eyes transfixed on the Lord and the ministry He was given them.
“Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Proverbs 16:3
6. Consistency
People who become successful realize that doing a good job means doing it for a long enough period of time for them to learn the task and know what they are doing. No one can expect to be a success at anything in a few weeks. When you think about the children’s workers in your church that God has used and blessed, you will probably think about people who have been doing it for years. They are faithful week after week and are unswerving in their faith and service.
“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of,” 2 Tim. 3:14
7. Courage
Successful people are brave people. That doesn’t mean that they simply have the courage to face the kids each week, it means that they understand that every ministry has its challenges. They face problems head on and move forward anyway. They continue when others have quit – and for that they receive a reward. It takes courage to move forward when we are fearful or have to overcome obstacles and opposition but that’s what successful people do if they want to have the victory.
“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” Psalms 31:24
This article “The Seven C’s of Success for the Children’s Worker” by Larry Hipps was excerpted from: www.sundayschoolministry.com website. February 2011. It may be used for study & research purposes only.
This article may not be written by an Apostolic author, but it contains many excellent principles and concepts that can be adapted to most churches. As the old saying goes “Eat the meat. Throw away the bones.”
