Would I Really Cut a Hole Through the Church Ceiling?

This past Sunday was exhilirating! We had a great Sunday in Children's Ministries. From listening to the preschoolers practice singing "Away in a Manger", to greeting a little girl we haven't seen in a long while, and having all the children greet her just as enthusiastically. It was a real "body of Christ" kind of day. We were all functioning in giftings and having each other's best interests at heart. Loved it!

The story that was being taught Sunday, is still stirring in my heart. It was about the paralytic man who was brought to Jesus on his mat, through the roof of the building Jesus was preaching in. The leader who was telling the story asked the children to imagine our pastor preaching upstairs in the sanctary, when suddenly a group of people start peeling back layers of the roof, cut through the ceiling and lower their sick friend on a stretcher with ropes. I found myself drifting into imagination land, as I pictured Pastor Matt suddenly being distracted by the sound of drills and skill saws above him, and sawdust annoying people as it falls in their hair as pieces of ceiling are torn open. I wondered if Jesus just kept on preaching. Or perhaps there was an awkward pause in the service, as two board members ( I mean disciples) were sent outside to see what was going on. I quickly concluded it would take a lot of determination to resort to cutting a hole through the ceiling just to get to Jesus.

As I sat there lost in the story, I asked myself "Would you do it?", "Would you cut a hole through the church ceiling to bring someone to Jesus?" As I looked at the little faces sitting around me, I quickly concluded. If it meant bringing one of these children needing Jesus, close to His presence...Yes, I would do it.

This blog is for all those who minister to children (children's pastors, volunteers, parents, teachers). No more apologizing for children's worship music blaring from the basement during the sermon. No more feeling sheepish about asking people to minister to children instead of ushering on Sunday morning. No more saying " I can't pray for that prayer request, in case it doesn't actually happen". No more needing to finish that days activity, instead of listening to a child explaining what Jesus has been telling them. No more holding a baby while on nursery duty, and missing the opportunity to pray over that baby the words of Christ. No more excuses about the number of carseats in your car versus the number of your children's friends you could bring on a Sunday morning.

What hole are you cutting in the ceiling in order to connect children with the life-changing presence of Jesus? What extend will you go to in order for that child, or your child to hear Jesus personally saying "Your sins are forgiven" and "Take up your mat and walk"? It's time to get determined about bringing others to Jesus. Life is overcrowded. Sometimes it takes more than just conventional methods. The fact is, the power of the Lord is present...sometimes, we just need to cut a hole through the ceiling.

Giving away "Presence"

This past weekend while at a leadership retreat, I was reminded about how essential it is to function out of the Lord's presence. We watched a great teaching video by Bill Johnson on the topic. Essentially what was being said is that the church was never intended to be known by its disciplines but rather its passion. That passion comes out of relationship with Christ. In the area of children's ministries, I likened it to not being known by our techniques and programs, but by the life-changing presence of Jesus shared with children. One of the statements that stood out to me was that "Presence is what we actually give away". Immediately I was reminded of a Sunday during my first year in children's ministry. I was walking up and down the hallways of the church basement in Barrie, kind of doing "my rounds", when a grandparent and their grandchild were having an interesting struggle. The grandparent kept saying, "that's Pastor Michelle, honey", and the little girl (who was maybe four), kept pulling away from her grandma and trying to run over to me. "I want Jesus!" she kept shouting. "There...Jesus!". I was a little stunned. I thought to myself...what I have I done to mess up this child to thinking that I am Jesus? Afterall, I hadn't been at the church that long. The grandmother slightly embarassed, said to me "She has been talking about seeing Jesus, since we left home this morning. When we got here and she saw you, she said you were Jesus!" I feel like I will never forget that moment. I remember feeling something stir in my spirit, as I thought to myself "I think she's really seeing Jesus". While giving the little girl the biggest hug possible, I'm sure I tried to clarify to her that my name is Pastor Michelle. Then she happily went into her classroom, while still staring a hole right through me, as if she was right afterall.
And here's the point...

I'm reminded again today that what's most critical to everything I do in ministry, in the name of Jesus...must be that people actually see Jesus in me. Not only do I want them to see Jesus, I want to actually share His presence simply because it's overflowing from who I am in Him.

I haven't been called "Jesus" since that moment in ministry. I also know that there has been no greater compliment since that experience. Remember the disciples, holding back children who were brought by their parents to Jesus? Jesus said "Let the little children come...for the kingdom of heaven belongs to these" (Matthew 19:14). The Bible then says Jesus placed His hands on them, before going on from that place. Each week we as children's ministry volunteers, staff, and parents, cross paths with a child who simply wants to be near Jesus. We are pretty good at letting the little children come...now let's allow the Saviour to touch them, as we give His presence away.