A children’s pastor wear many hats. This week I’ll post about some of the roles of a children’s pastor. Today I’m talking about the children’s pastor’s role as a shepherd. God assigns pastors to care for His sheep or, in this case, his lambs.
Feed His Lambs:
Notice the first thing Jesus told Peter was to feed his lambs. Later He told his to feed His sheep, but his first concern was for the young. Here’s how we feed the lambs God gave us to care for.
Preach God’s Word. Don’t water down the Gospel for children. Teach them the full measure of Scripture using methods they can understand. Children need more than Bible stories. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Increase your students’ faith by preaching God’s Word.
John 21:15(NKJV) So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
Protect the flock:
God expects you to protect the lambs He’s placed under you. This means spiritually by teaching the sound doctrine, but it also means physically. Protect them from those who may wish to harm them by having worker screening and policies in place. Teach your workers, not only how to teach, but how to recognize signs of abuse and what to do about it, and how to administer first aide.
John 10:12-13 (ICB) The worker who is paid to keep the sheep is different from the shepherd who owns them. So when the worker sees a wolf coming, he runs away and leaves the sheep alone. Then the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them. 13The man runs away because he is only a paid worker. He does not really care for the sheep.
Know the flock:
It’s important to develop a relationship with the lambs under you. One of the best ways to do that is to set up regular times to visit and call the child in your ministry. But it goes further than that. When a child in your ministry has a special event like a concert or a game, do your best to attend. If a child is in the hospital or has another crisis, be there.
John 10:4(NKJV) And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
Pray for the lambs:
Follow the example of the Apostle Paul, and pray daily for the lambs God has entrusted to you. Here’s a great prayer from scripture to pray over children.
I Thessalonians 3:10-13 (ICB) And we continue praying with all our heart for you night and day. We pray that we can see you again and give you all the things you need to make your faith strong. We pray that our God and Father and our Lord Jesus will prepare the way for us to come to you. We pray that the Lord will make your love grow more and more for each other and for all people. We pray that you will love others as we love you and that your hearts will be made strong. Then you will be holy and without fault before our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy people.
Model Christlikeness:
Be an example the flock God has given you. Take it seriously because God does.
Jeremiah 23:1 (ICB) Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
Matthew 18:10(ICB) Be careful. Don’t think these little children are worth nothing. I tell you that they have angels in heaven who are always with my Father in heaven.