Why Children’s Ministry Volunteers Are More Than Babysitters

When one of my granddaughters was little, she announced, ‘Our car is getting fixed at the chemist.’ Now, I know chemists stock remedies for a remarkable range of human complaints, but I’m fairly certain engine troubles are beyond even their expertise. A bottle of cough syrup might soothe a sore throat, but it’s unlikely to cure a faulty gearbox!

Children often use the wrong word because they haven’t yet learned the right one. They understand part of the picture, but not all of it.

Sometimes I think the church does something similar when it comes to Children’s Ministry volunteers.

We might describe our role as “helping out,” “watching the kids,” or “keeping them busy.” While those descriptions contain a grain of truth, they don’t come close to capturing what God has called us to do.

A babysitter supervises children.

A Children’s Ministry volunteer disciples them.

Every week, volunteers open God’s Word, pray with children, answer difficult questions, model Christian character, and create opportunities for young hearts to encounter Jesus. They are helping to lay spiritual foundations that may influence a child for the rest of their life.

When a frightened child needs reassurance, a volunteer is there.

When a child struggles to understand salvation, a volunteer helps explain it.

When a child learns their first memory verse, asks their first deep question about God, or makes their first commitment to follow Jesus, chances are a volunteer played a part in that journey.

That’s far more significant than simply keeping children occupied for an hour or two.

The next time someone refers to Children’s Ministry volunteers as babysitters, remember my granddaughter’s chemist. It’s an understandable description, but it misses the bigger picture.

God has called you to something extraordinary. You are helping shape faith, build disciples, and invest in eternity.

That’s a role no babysitter can fill.

Speaking of difficult questions, I have written a series about finding answers to children’s tricky questions.  It’s called, ‘Jerry and the J’s of Johnson’s Creek. 

Free Series to Download! https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/short-stories/jerry-and-the-js-of-johnsons-creek/

Jerry and the J’s of Johnson’s Creek

Meet Jeri and The J’s of Johnson’s Creek!  Jeri is the teen band’s lead guitarist and singer.  Jandi is on the keyboard, Jazz is on bass and the accident-prone Jericho plays the drums.  Their sound engineer and self-appointed manager is Jax.  Johnson’s Creek is a rural town in Western Queensland.  The J’s attend the local Church and it’s their job to run the Kid’s Club every Friday night in the century-old, wooden Town Hall.  And every Friday night one of the children asks Jeri a profound question he and The J’s do not know the answer to.  So where do they go for answers?  To Reverend Mac of course!  Unfortunately, they always seem to catch Reverend Mackenzie in the middle of an important town event such as a wedding, a baby dedication, and even a funeral.  Can Jeri and The J’s get the answer they need from Reverend Mac before he officiates?  Jeri and the J’s is an enjoyable series that combines teenage fun and rural community life with the big questions that kids ask.