Helping leaders lead

About 90 children’s ministry leaders gathered in Eastview Community Church, Winnipeg, October 18, to be reenergized for their ministry. People came from about 20 churches in Manitoba, Alberta and B.C.

Linda Unruh

Sponsored by Leaders’ Mentoring Network, a division of Children’s Ministry of the Canadian MB Conference, the conference featured Linda Unruh and the children’s ministry team from The Meeting Place, Winnipeg.

“We’re going to reach the world – by multiplying leaders,” stated Unruh in her opening address. “In order to reach the kids in the churches, better leaders are needed.”

Fun should be a part of children’s ministry, Unruh continued. “According to the dictionary, fun means ‘that which excites; merriment; celebration calculated to enliven’.”

Unruh furthered stated that the greatest tragedy of life is not death, but a life without purpose. To that end she suggested there were two questions which need to be answered by leaders: First, Why are we here? What is our purpose? All activities without purpose are in vain. This concept has to constantly be kept in mind, since vision leaks and needs to be refreshed. Second, In the midst of uncertainty, are we leading with clarity? Non-negotiable values need to be determined and communicated to leaders in “redundant and fresh ways,” and a workable plan has to be outlined.

A leader in children’s ministry needs to be a coach, or an encourager. Values must be transmitted in a collaborative way, rather than top down.

In her second session Unruh stated that leading volunteers demands developing a discipleship culture on every team. A leader of leaders is not the one doing the tasks, but rather is equipping leaders to equip their volunteers. Leaders need to be resourced so they can resource others.

To illustrate these points, children’s ministry leaders from The Meeting Place participated in the sessions. Jan Woltman, leader of children’s worship ministry, encouraged worship leaders to teach songs that are fresh, meaningful and understandable, and stated that leaders need to hear from God in a “fresh, meaningful and understandable way.”

Shannon Martens used a puppet to tell a Bible story, pretending that the participants were 3- and 4-year-olds. It was the story of the Last Supper, and in order to illustrate the story, she asked everyone to wash another person’s hands, affirming that this was a way to remember Jesus.

Unruh encouraged leaders to be discipleship ministers with their leaders, meeting with leaders in one-on-one sessions and asking intentional questions, but also meeting with the whole team to keep them together.

The afternoon continued with a question and answer session, and ministry area breakouts. Saturday evening and Sunday morning were devoted to observing children’s ministry in The Meeting Place and at Eastview Community Church.

Similar meetings were scheduled for North Langley (B.C.) Community Church Oct. 25–26 and Lakeside Church, Guelph, Ont. Nov. 22–23.

—Susan Brandt