5 Habits of Highly Effective Kid's Leaders

I have been the Children’s Pastor at Cold Lake Community Church (CLCC) for 16 years. When I began, the Lord gave me the mandate to teach biblical truth in engaging ways and develop highly effective leaders, starting when they are children.

After a few years of relying on adult leaders to work with the children, we began a youth serve team, where we empowered preteens and teens to lead stations and small groups. These preteens and early teens quickly blossomed into effective and committed leaders who added a new level of energy to Kid’s church.  

Lowering the leader-to-child ratio also allowed the children to participate in more interactive experiences that cultivated connections. As a result, our youth members, some of whom have since graduated, have inspired many children to love Jesus and serve others. God has been graceful to Kids Ministries at CLCC and has given me some specific habits that have helped enable us to create a unique and special place for kids to encounter and learn about Christ.

Habit 1: Holy Spirit Led

Everything we do has to start with the Holy Spirit. He knows the children who are coming and the skill sets and passions of those leading. As we carry out His ministry, we must include Him in everything we do and allow Him to further reveal Himself to those we ministered to. 

Habit 2: Read Scripture In Context

Before sharing a message, it is imperative to reread the scriptures in context so that theologically sound material can be taught in interesting ways. Merely going by memory or other people’s perspectives not only robs us of new revelation and passion for the topic but can also compromise the truth of the scripture.

Habit 3: Establish A Volunteer Culture

By creating a code of conduct, new and veteran leaders become aware of the volunteer culture and expectations established by past volunteer leaders. Each kids' program, including the babies' room, has a clearly laid-out schedule and curriculum, which helps our volunteer leaders know what is expected.

Habit 4: Establish A Place For Kids And Youth To Serve

Giving opportunity and freedom to lead at all ages is crucial. We weave leadership into the fabric of the children’s experiences so they can serve Jesus. Starting with toddlers, we encourage children to notice and meet the needs of those within their reach. We also provide opportunities for kids and preteens who meet certain criteria to serve in babies, toddlers, and kids’ church. As a result of investing in training our leaders and giving them specific, meaningful tasks, we have had a large number of high-quality youth serving in our kids’ programs and events.

Habit 5: Looking Outward

As Christians, we are called to be outward-focused. We begin to train our kids in this mindset early on. Starting in toddlers, a child occasionally makes two crafts - one to keep and one to give away. In kids’ church, kids have gone on prayer walks and delivered gifts to people in the neighbourhood. We also have our annual VBS, which grew to a morning and afternoon session this year. Twice per year, during a no-school Friday, we host a Kids Summit, a kids’ day conference where we have a guest speaker and a variety of breakout sessions to choose from. This winter, we are putting on our first-ever Toddler Summit as we continue to seek the Lord for other ways our kids can minister to the lost and strengthen the faith of those who have already chosen to follow Christ.

In conclusion, while the children and volunteers within our Kid's ministry continuously change, these unchanging habits form a framework under which our children build a Biblical foundation on which to base their lives, while our volunteers’ experience is the hands and feet of Christ.

Ministering to children in the kids program and watching many of them go on to become leaders in all areas of their lives, graduate high school, and continue to attend church wherever they go has been both fulfilling and rewarding. I look forward to seeing the next group of kids live out their faith as they begin their journey in the Kid’s program at CLCC.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sintia Kraushaar

Sintia has been the Children’s Pastor at Cold Lake Community Church (CLCC) for over 16 years. She is also part of the Kid's Min Network in ABNWT and serves on the ABNWT Executive.

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