The Biggest Dangers to Your Children's Ministry - Danger #3

Yesterday I wrote about what I consider to be the fourth biggest danger to our Children's Ministry: having too big a view of ourselves, what we know, and what we can do. I said, "Having too big a view of ourselves, what we know, and what we can do will stop your Children's Ministry from being effective . . . it is a big danger; so be on guard, call it out, and pray, because there is no room in any Children's Ministry for having too big a view of ourselves, what we know, and what we can do."

Today I'm writing about Danger #3 . . . 

. . . comfort. This is also an easy trap to fall into . . . in fact, it is one we might not even realize we have fallen into. So, how can we know if we have fallen into the trap of, "comfort"? Consider the following . . . 

• When we have the attitude - or even find ourselves and others saying, "We've always done it that way." (It does not really matter what the "it" is, whenever we think we can not do something, or must continue to do something, because it is the way we always do it, we have fallen into a trap and endanger our ministry.)
• When we do not even think about tweaking, changing what we are doing, or trying something new.
• When we think we have all things where they need to be in our Children's Ministry.

These are just a few ways of falling into the trap of comfort might show up in our ministries and when it does, it is a big danger to our Children's Ministry. So, what do we do about the danger of falling into the trap of comfort? I believe there are at least six things we can do . . . 

• Pray! Pray and ask God to protect your ministry from falling into the trap of, "comfort". Pray and ask God to show you whenever and wherever it shows up. Pray!
• Call it out! Identify it and call out those who are "comfortable" where they are in your Children's Ministry - call out yourself whenever you show this attitude, too.
• Be on guard for it! Watch and watch and watch for it and act quickly whenever it shows up!
• Attend conferences to keep aware of what others do so we are open to trying those things in our ministry
• Connect with others in ministry and have a bigger view of Children's Ministry  than the view in your own church
• Try something new!

Falling into the trap of, "comfort" will stop your Children's Ministry from being effective . . . it is a big danger; so be on guard, call it out, connect with others in ministry, try new things, and pray, because there is no room in any Children's Ministry for comfort when it stifles and/or stunts our ministry.