When I was younger I read a story written by a lady who became and children’s minister. She said it was the story behind why she became one and it was so moving that it has stayed with me my whole life and even influenced me to become a children’s minister myself. I would like to take a moment to share the story with you.

 

It’s called A simple little elephant

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My husband and I had been going to the same church for most of our lives. We grew up in it and were even married in it so I guess we took for granted that all churches work the same. But we quickly learned that was not true. Shortly after our daughters 4th birthday my husband got transferred at his job and we had to move. I think we were more upset about leaving our home church and having to find a new one that we were about the move in general.  So we prayed that God would direct us to good church.  Shortly after we got settled into the new house I started working at a local office part time. Several of the ladies I worked with all went to the same church. They went on about how great the praise and worship was how good a teacher the pastor was and how friendly everyone there is. So my husband and I decided to try it. We took our daughter and went the next Sunday. Sure enough the music was wonderful, the pastor was great and everyone was really friendly. After service I went and picked up our daughter from class. She had made a picture in class of fish and other sea creatures. So on the way home I asked her what she learned in class. She said “I colored fish mommy.” I tried several times to get her to tell my why she colored the fish and even asked her who made the fish thinking they might be doing creation but all she said was “I played and colored fish.” The next week we again returned to the church and this time daughter came out of class with a beaded necklace she had made of fish, animals and stars. I again asked her what she had done in class and she said she played. I asked her about the necklace and she said “I made it isn’t it pretty?” But I was not able to get an answer as to why they had made necklaces.

 

So the 3rd week I decided I would ask the teacher what they were learning when I picked her up from class. So after church I went to get my daughter this time they handed me a tiny painted elephant. So I asked the teacher what they had taught in class this week and she said they had pained elephants. I asked what the lesson that went with the elephant was so I could reinforce the lesson at home during the week. The teacher again said  they had painted an elephant this week. So, again, I asked her well was it on creation like God made the elephants? By this time a line of parents waiting to pick up their kids had formed behind me, my daughter was pulling at my pant leg asking to go and the teacher was getting frustrated with me. “Look” she said in a harsh voice, “we painted elephants this week why is that so hard to understand? Now please take your daughter and her elephant and move out of line so I can get the rest of the kids to their parents.” and then without waiting for me to move she greeted the next parent in line.  Well, I was very upset by this, in fact I was heartbroken. At my old church no one would ever have talked to a parent like that! And we would have been told what they children were learning for the month. I was so upset when we got home that as I told my husband what had happened I started to cry. “Our daughter needs to learn about God at church not paint dumb elephants.” I sobbed. We then made the decision to find a new church. We did not know where to go and the next Sunday we had a bible study at home and prayed for God to guide us where to go. Well that Monday the ladies at work who went to the church asked where I was and all I could say was that we were considering looking for another church and refused to say more. Well another lady over hear me and after work she stopped me and handed me a business card with church information on it smiled and said “Just give it a try” and walked away.

 

Well my husband and I prayed over it and decided to try the church on the card. Nervously I dropped off my daughter and went to service. The church was smaller, but the people were nice the music was simpler as this small church did not have a band but the presence of God was there. The preacher was amazing he talked right to you like he knew who you were and that he had written this lesson just for you. I should have been really enjoying the whole thing but my mind kept wandering back to my daughter and what she was doing in class. As soon as service was over I went and picked her up. The teacher greeted me and then handed me a small hand painted elephant. The same one the last church had given me, and that was it I started fighting back tears. “Please can you tell me what my daughter learned today?” The teacher was clearly surprised that I seemed so upset but she calmly smiled and said “Sure we painted and elephant today!” Then she took the tiny elephant from my hand and turned to show me the coin slot. “It’s a bank” she said “because we are leaning about giving to God. Last week we made tambourines because we like to give God praise. This week we painted an elephant. Because God loves a cheerful give! The elephant is to help them remember to give God his 10%.”  My daughter came running out of class then and hugged me, “Mommy, Mommy” she shouted “I painted an elephant today! IT’s for giving to God because he loves a cheerful giver.”  At this I lifted her into my arms and cried as we walked away. I made my husband wait around after church until all the other parents had picked up their children and then asked to speak with the teacher. She sat down with me and listened as I told her about the elephant at the other church then she smiled and said.  “All your children shall be taught by the Lord and great shall be their peace.”  We talked for over an hour about how important it is to train a child and that it is the churches responsibility to help the parents in that by providing them a Godly learning experience at church.  Well needless to say we stayed at that church and soon I was working in the children’s ministry. After 10 years of service I was given the job of children’s pastor and have done my best to remember what I learned that first day. That an elephant can be an elephant or it can be a way to change a heart.

 

This story made me think long and hard about children’s ministries in churches and how they are run. What do you want for your child, a painted elephant or an elephant that gives cheerfully to God?

Here, at Word of Life Church, we strive to provide a fun and interactive biblical based classes for your children.  Prayer, praise and worship, lessons and crafts are all designed to lay a Godly foundation in the hearts and minds of the young people in our church.

 

Proverbs 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

 

Isaiah 54:13  All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.

 

Matthew 19 13-15  13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.  14 But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” 15  And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.

 

At WOL Kids we want to see your children thrive and grown in the Lord.

WOL Kids children’s Pastor,

Renee’Wise