"Working Without Credit"

Robin Malcolm
Children's Ministries in Africa

“How long will you do children’s ministry before you look for a senior pastorate?”
“Practice in children’s church! It’s a great place to start out in ministry.”
“It must be nice to get paid to color and pass out fishy crackers.”
“If there is nobody to teach children’s church, we’ll just let the youth baby-sit.”

Did you just cringe? If you share the same passion for children that I do, then you probably did. And sadly, you’ve probably heard something similar in your career. While common, statements such as these demonstrate a lack of understanding of the importance of children’s ministry, and a failure to understand the lifelong call God places on the hearts of people to reach and disciple children.

Let’s face it. Within the ministry community, there is a hierarchy among ministers. And whether it is ever expressed audibly or not, children’s ministers are traditionally seen as the bottom rung on the ladder; children’s ministry the first stepping stone to a “real” ministry. It isn’t just an American attitude. In fact, in the US, a children’s pastor likely has more esteem than a children’s pastor in another part of the world.

So how then do we, as Children’s ministers and missionaries, reconcile the lack of recognition and regard that should (and we all know it should) accompany our call? How do we make people understand that we are engaged in a critical battle for people’s futures? How do we show them that what we do is significant and deserves respect?

The answer is: we don’t.

“Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, “Come along now and sit down to eat? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do should say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.” Luke 17: 7-10 (NIV)

We all understand that we don’t work for the approval of men- even our fellow ministers. We all can quote Jesus’ teachings on humility and servanthood. But every once in a while, a little bit of the old self taints our thinking. We wonder why our calling never gets any credit or recognition.

Be encouraged! God has commissioned you to train up the next generation of His servants. You have faithfully counted the cost and answered His call. You are a vital link in the chain and whether or not you ever receive any earthly recognition, one day the Lord will say to you, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”