My Favorite T-shirts: One

I recently came across a couple of my favorite t-shirts from my time as a Family Ministries guy. Two in particular really drive home the essence of serving in a children or student ministry context.

This first shirt is an all time favorite of our children’s ministry. Design credit belongs to my friend Dan Scott, who now is the 252 Basics Director for reThink Group in Atlanta, GA. The words formed the basis for our year long emphasis for volunteers.

What we strive for and prepare for in children and student ministry is that moment between child or student and leader where the truth of who God is or what He has done or what He will do becomes clear. We work toward a transfer of truth within a context of loving relationship, a time where the Holy Spirit meets each person and life is passed to life.

We …
hope for this moment
prepare for this moment
work toward this moment
wait for this moment
recognize this moment
revel in this moment
celebrate this moment

We believe important things about a child, about a leader and about a moment.

CHILD
We believe important things about a child. While there are many things, here are a few that are crucial:
1. children and students matter to God
2. children and student need God and His good news through Jesus
3. children and student need someone they can trust beside mom and dad to speak truth to them

LEADER
We believe important things about a leader. While there are many things, here are a few that are crucial:
1. leaders matter to God and kids
2. leaders can express truth to a child about their relationship with God
3. leaders can be a part of changing a child’s spiritual trajectory for life
4. leaders are a necessary part of a child’s life affirming the truth they hear at home

MOMENT
We believe important things about moments. While there are many things, here are a few that are crucial:
1. They don’t automatically exist. Moments Pass
2. Moments require preparation and readiness to recognize
3. The Spirit of God moves in a moment of time that we do not control
4. Moments matter deeply to all concerned creating permanence and lasting change and memory

How will you encourage a child and leader life-changing moment?