It’s June! That means that most of your Kid’s Ministries are beginning to slow down, if they haven’t already closed for the school year. Days are getting longer and warmer (I say that in faith, of course 🙂 ), and you and your volunteers get to take a bit of a break. Today, I want to give you something to think about as you prep for KRC and think through your next year of Kid’s Ministry.
Kid’s Ministry has traditionally attracted more female than male volunteers. I know that speaking about gender roles can be controversial these days, but I’m going to say this anyway… We need more men in kids’ ministry. Here’s why…
- According to the 2016 Canada Census, nearly 1 in 5 children live in a single parent household, with the vast majority of those kids living without a father figure. Most of the children that come to our kid’s ministry have no godly male influence in their lives.
- Boys need to see men that are serving Christ with all their hearts. This gives them a clear picture of what it means to be a male follower of Christ. Without a male influence to exemplify servanthood, love and strength, many boys come to view Christianity as a female religion…Real men don’t need Jesus. Boys really do emulate the men in their lives.
- Many of our girls also need to see a godly example of manhood that portrays strength and respect.
- An atmosphere that is much more feminine in style and nature can sometimes alienate the boys in the group. I’ve seen groups that are staffed predominantly by women lose the 8-12 year-old boys because the atmosphere was too “girly”.
- Boys are different than girls. Duh! Sometimes female leaders can misinterpret a boy’s natural rambunctious tendencies as them being rebellious or bad, leading to confusion and resentment.
As you prepare for your summer, I would encourage you to think through whether or not your group is meeting the needs of the boys in your group. Are there males in your church that would be great volunteers? Do you have a plan for recruiting new leaders? Are you casting a compelling vision…one that shows men why they are vital? Are your creative elements “boy-friendly”? As you teach about Jesus, are you only emphasizing His gentleness, or are you also showing him as the fierce warrior that He was? Do you have quality male chaperones for Kids Rock Camp that will minister to the boys in your group?
We need to raise a generation of men that love and serve Jesus with all of their hearts. As boys are growing and learning, they are constantly asking what it means to be a man. Let’s provide them with examples of godly, genuine manhood.
Agree? Disagree? Feel free to comment on the NextGen Facebook page.
photo credit: gratisography.com
