That's What I'm Talking About

Lest I only come across as pointing out what's wrong, I'd like to celebrate something wonderful I saw in a job posting at churchstaffing.com.

Here's what this church is looking for in a children's ministry director: Develop and lead an effective children's ministry that connects children and their families to Jesus, the church and to each other.

That's what I'm talking about!

Comments

[Brenna]

Children/Family ministry is the ultimate partnership connecting children with their families and with God. Well-written job ad.

[Abbi]

Thats what it is all about. Eloquently put!

[Henry Zonio]

What? No Masters degree required. No 50 years of experience leading a ministry of over 1000 kids required? No super-organized, fun-loving, loyal, Type-A personlity needed? Maybe that's in their expanded job description...

OK, cynicism aside. Wow, short, sweet, and to the point. If only more churches simply viewed children's ministry as important because children and families are important and not because it is a church growth strategy.

[Lisa Burney]

My first Job Description read like that. At the next church, I was given a laundry list JD; keep resource room organized and clean,substitute where needed, etc. I figured at least I knew exactly what they expected to see me doing. A year later, the staff was asked to rewrite their JDs, so I pulled out my original job description from the other church and wrote a JD that described my role as a kingdom builder, encourager, team builder and shepherd of a lay team that would equip and support parents as the spiritual leaders in the home. The personnel committee chair loved it, BUT told me that everyone else wrote task-based JDs and asked me to rewrite mine. Oh,well. I rewrote it, all umpten pages, turned it in and never looked at it again. I see that most Childrens Ministers just have to live beyond those poorly written and off-base JDs and educate the church leadership by being and doing what God wants us to do. I find if you are focused on that, the ministry grows in faith and numbers and no one ever mentions the Job Description. If they do read it, they will see that it pales in comparison to how you lead in reality.