Dick Gruber's Ministry Musings

Talk to the Parents

2006-09-30T07:23:00.000-05:00

He came into children's church one week. He was obviously troubled. This boy had been easily frightened on several occasions and at times clung to one or more of my workers. This was one of those days.

I had written it off to immaturity or slow development. I should know better. That particular Sunday, I searched out and found the boy's father. I talked straight with him explaining my observations. The dad informed me that mom had some reoccurring physical problems and had spent part of Saturday evening in the hospital. Suddenly the lights went on. This explained his need for comfort, attention, and security. I thanked the father and went to work. With a little encouragement to my workers, and regular prayer for the boy, he began to feel more at ease in our children's church. He began to participate without fear. He still clings occasionally to one or more of my helpers, but now we know why. It's okay.

I encourage you to approach parents when a child has reoccurring issues in church. In a loving non-judgmental fashion, you can ask the God-appointed expert on that child how you can better minister to him. I don't know why I have had to relearn this over and over again.

Learn from my life and ministry so that yours can better serve His children. God bless and have a great day for praising the Lord.

PG

The Children's Pastor's Prayer

2006-04-15T05:38:00.000-05:00

Here's a song I've written entitled "The Children's Pastor's Prayer" that clearly expresses the prayer of the children's ministry leader seeking to be used by God to see children come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and grow in their relationship with Him. If you serve in children's ministry in any capacity, I trust that you will find this song to be a great inspiration.

I'd love for every person involved in children's ministry EVERYWHERE receive a copy of this song and be able to use it to help inspire others in ministry. If you'd like to download the mp3 of this song, either with the vocals or just the background track without vocals, you can do so at: http://www.cmuniversity.org/freesong. You'll also be able to download the lyrics for the song as well. So, if you find this song to be a blessing, just head over to http://www.cmuniversity.org/freesong to download your own copy for free.

1) Listen online by clicking ">" on the following player.Listen below, click the "podcast" link to listen or download the .mp3 file. Or, best yet, subscribe to the podcast and have this and all future episodes delivered to your media aggregator of choice, such as iTunes.

2) Click on the green podcast button below or on the title of the posting to download and listen to the .mp3 file for the episode. *Note - If you want to download the .mp3 file, right-click on either the title or the image and then you'll be prompted with the option of saving to your computer.

3) This is the best option....subscribe to the podcast to have this and all future episodes deliverded to your media aggregator of choice, such as iTunes. You can then automatically download the episodes and listen to them whenever and wherever you go! *If you are new to podcasts, you simply need to click on the podcast subscribe button below and then copy & paste the URL for the podcast into your iTunes or any other media aggregator.

The Children’s Pastor’s Prayer
Dick Gruber © 2004

If I could reach one child today
If I could show one child your way
If I could lead one child to pray
Grant this prayer, O Lord.

If I could step into this world
And share your love with boys and girls
Raise high your standard grace unfurled
Grant this prayer, O Lord

Chorus
Help me to shepherd
Your little lambs
Lead them to water
By your strong hand
Let me be faithful, humble and true
As Lord I lead each child to you

Lord, let my teaching pass the test
Help me Lord to do my best
And by your power each child refreshed
Grant this prayer, O Lord

Lord grant me wisdom to succeed
To show each child eternal need
And to your cross each young one lead
Grant this prayer, O Lord

Chorus

If I could help each child to grow
To use their gifts to others show
If they could help this world to know
Grant this prayer, O Lord

The Peace Patrol Podcast

2006-04-14T08:50:00.000-05:00

I've put together a podcast of a few select Sam Saint Super Sleuth episodes, including the background track, that can be downloaded for free at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/peacepatrol

You can subscribe to the podcast to have all past and future episodes deliverded to your media aggregator of choice, such as iTunes. You can then automatically download the episodes and listen to them whenever and wherever you go! *If you are new to podcasts, you simply need to click on the podcast subscribe button below and then copy & paste the URL for the podcast into your iTunes or any other media aggregator.

Below you can listen online to the Sam Saint Super Sleuth case of "The Two Minute Warning." Enjoy!

5 C's of Children's Ministry

2006-03-16T05:57:00.000-05:00

In this message, I share 5 traits that Jesus wants every individual involved in children's ministry to exhibit.

1) Listen online by clicking ">" on the following player.Listen below, click the "podcast" link to listen or download the .mp3 file. Or, best yet, subscribe to the podcast and have this and all future episodes delivered to your media aggregator of choice, such as iTunes.

2) Click on the green podcast button below or on the title of the posting to download and listen to the .mp3 file for the episode. *Note - If you want to download the .mp3 file, right-click on either the title or the image and then you'll be prompted with the option of saving to your computer.

3) This is the best option....subscribe to the podcast to have this and all future episodes deliverded to your media aggregator of choice, such as iTunes. You can then automatically download the episodes and listen to them whenever and wherever you go! *If you are new to podcasts, you simply need to click on the podcast subscribe button below and then copy & paste the URL for the podcast into your iTunes or any other media aggregator.

The Cutting Edge Children's Pastor

2006-02-02T19:06:00.000-05:00

The Cutting Edge Children’s Pastor
By Dick Gruber

WHAT IS CUTING EDGE, REALLY?
Oftentimes, Pastors call me when they begin looking for a Children’s Pastor. In recent years, those searching for a Children’s Pastor have described their dream person as someone that is “cutting edge.” When I question the prospective pastor as to what he means, I get all kinds of answers. Some of the words used to describe the “cutting edge” children’s pastor are young, exciting, entertaining, techno-savvy, and full of energy.
Let me describe a cutting edge children’s pastor to you. This person can be young or old. I know “sharp” ministers of all ages. The idea that a young person will automatically be a cutting edge person is ludicrous. There are some very well-trained, well-rounded Children’s Pastors coming out of our six colleges that have made this ministry a priority. But, some of the most forward thinking creative children’s pastors in America are over forty years of age. Jim Wideman, Bob, Hahn, and Billy Burns are some of the names that come to mind. Many of our older Children’s Pastors have a great deal of wisdom, experience in administration, and a relational ministry with the children and their families.

I find the younger crop of children’s pastors to be good entertainers. Pastoring children includes much more than running a fun children’s church. The cutting edge children’s pastor will build relationships with children and families. They will love and listen to children in and out of church. They will visit homes, hospitals, PTA meetings, recitals, and ball games. They will counsel, equip, and care for children, families, and those who work with the kids.

NON-NEGOTIABLE!
Exciting and entertaining are two words used to describe the “cutting edge” Children’s Pastor. I am pretty certain that you can find exciting and entertaining children’s performers that have no clue how to run a children’s service. I know of young exciting Children’s Pastors in our movement that do not even know how to give an altar call. Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “Getting children to meet in the morning and the afternoon is a waste of their steps and yours if you do not set before them soul-saving, soul-sustaining truth.” (Spurgeon page 30)

The cutting edge children’s Pastor must know how to lead children in all the fun ways they enjoy. But it is imperative that he weave into this fun a depth of spirituality that will impact the children for eternity. George Barna writes, “Kids ages 2 to 7 average nearly 25 hours per week of mass media intake; the figure balloons to almost 48 hours each week among those ages 8-13. Evidence of the changing times and the new generation in place is the favorite medium of all, the Internet, according to 54% of kids under 8 and 73% of kids 8 to 12 years old.” (Barna page 23)

A large number of children that are served in children’s church are watching around 48 hours of TV, video games, or net surfing each week. We have them in children’s church for maybe and hour and a half. There is no time to waste! The cutting edge children’s pastor makes every moment count. The children’s church becomes a singular message preached in a variety of ways. It always ends with a time of response.

EPHESIANS 4:12 PASTORING
I am computer-dumb. I definitely am not as techno-savvy as a prospective pastor may wish. My son, Tim taught me how to use PowerPoint when he was eleven years old. What I know now about computer, video, and the internet has been learned by trial and error.

A friend of mine recently visited a children’s church that had all the bells and whistles of technology. The team didn’t minister using live costumed characters. Their characters were all shown to the children through the modern miracle of DVD projected on big screens. Songs, Scripture, and games were all projected for the children’s viewing enjoyment. There is nothing wrong with showing an occasional video clip in children’s church, but a cutting edge children’s pastor cannot afford to be technology-dependant. The greatest long-term impact on an individual’s life in the children’s church or classroom is still generated through relationship and active involvement. Kids need to interact with real people.

Ephesians 4:12 encourages us as Pastors to prepare the saints for works of ministry. Jim Wideman writes, “Leaders come along side people and help them get better at what they do. They become coaches…A wise football coach wants to make each player outstanding at whatever position that player fills.” (Wideman page 27) The cutting edge Children’s Pastor will share the ministry, training and encouraging others to grow in the use of their gifts.

For a number of years I led children’s churches ranging from a hundred to two hundred and fifty children ages 5 through 12. I used PowerPoint, video, overhead projectors and occasional Gospel illustrations with surprise endings. I trained my workers to have back-up lessons in case of electrical failure or the occasional “audio-visual demon.” I also trained my workers to use children in positive ways to assist in teaching lessons. It is amazing how attentive a crowd of two hundred children will be when several of their friends are up front holding objects for the sermon.
The cutting edge children’s pastor will use technology in creative ways. But he doesn’t have to do it all himself. I have grown to trust volunteers to update the webpage, develop the presentations, and send out the e-mailings. When children are in need of a physical pastor to talk and to pray with, I cannot afford to spend an entire day tweaking the next mailing on PageMaker. Somebody in your church has a ministry in page tweaking. Let them soar in their ministry.

ENERGY, EXPERIENCE AND BALANCE
I am closing in on fifty years old. Frankly, it is a little bit harder to get up from behind the puppet stage, play soccer with the Royal Rangers, or stay up all night at the kids retreat. I don’t blame a pastor for wanting somebody that is full of energy. I guess younger guys are more apt to fit this point in the “cutting edge” job description. But what the young Children’s Pastor contributes in boundless energy is many times made up for by an older Children’s Pastor in efficiency. Being full of joy does not necessarily mean bouncing off the walls. I know very productive Children’s Pastors, young and old, that are exciting, enthusiastic, non-hyper leaders.
I submit to the Senior Pastor of today, that having a balanced, growing children’s ministry is not “old school.” The cutting edge children’s ministry of today must include ministry to the total child; physical, spiritual, mental and social.

An exciting “Nickelodeon-style” children’s service CAN indicate cutting edge leadership. The well-groomed entertaining leader may or may not be the cutting edge Children’s Pastor you desire. Just because a leader or team can keep the kids from rebelling while you preach to the adults does not mean you have the spiritual children’s ministry your need.

The “cutting edge” Children’s Pastor you are looking for may not be young, exciting, entertaining, techno-savvy, and full of energy. He or she may have something deeper that breeds eternal results. That person may be someone that loves children and families, uses creative methodology both old and new, and trains up an army of children and volunteers that know how to reach this dying world. That Pastor will generate long-term growth in your church and community through relationships. I challenge you to define your need in terms a bit deeper than “cutting edge.” In your search for the perfect Children’s Pastor, find someone with a heart for people young and old, an ability to preach a solid message to children, and a lifestyle of prayer.

Resources used for this article

Barna, George. Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions. Ventura, California. Regal Books, 2003

C.H. Spurgeon. Come Ye Children. Pasadena, Texas. Pilgrim Publications

Wideman, Jim. Children’s Ministry Leadership. Loveland, CO., Group Publishing, 2003

Welcome to my blog!

2006-01-28T13:53:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my new blog! I plan to add children's ministry insights here in the days ahead. To subscribe to be notified by your favorite news reader whenever I update my blog, click the link for my "Site Feed - XML". God bless!

- Dick