There is a lot of pressure for children’s pastors to make there children’s ministries bigger, better, glitzier, funner, more like Disney World. While we should look for ways to engage our students with innovative, exciting new methods, I’m not a fan of turning Kidmin in to Disney Land. I’m not saying we should go back to the days of flannelgraphs, but we need to keep our focus on what’s eternally important. Here are three reasons why you should resist the temptation to become like Disney.
1. We have a better brand. Disney is a well known brand for children, but there is no way we can compete with them. We cannot spend enough or recruit enough worker to create a Disney like atmosphere in our children’s services. Here’s the good news. We don’t have to because we have something better. We are presenting the Kingdom of God to children every time we meet. When we start becoming convinced what the world has to offer is better than what we have to offer, we need to spend time getting to know the King of Kings and Lord of Lords all over again.
John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
2. We have the source of joy. Disney is known for making children happy, but that happiness is fleeting. We can introduce our students to the Holy Spirit, the source of joy. He’s not only our source of joy, but of peace and of righteousness. How could Disney ever compete with that?
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
3. We foster eternal relationships, not momentary pleasures. Disney is exciting, but fleeting. The relationships we are fostering with our students are eternal. Those relationships aren’t only with children’s workers and the church members, but the most important relationship we can foster with our students is to introduce them to Jesus Christ. That relationship is eternal. Disney won’t help them during the hard times of life. Jesus will. Disney won’t be there throughout their lifetimes. Jesus will. A relationship with Jesus Christ doesn’t only benefit our students throughout their lives. Their relationship with Jesus Christ is eternal.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
I so agree with this! I haven’t read the book that talks about what Children’s ministry can learn from Disney so maybe the title is just hype and the content inside is good, but that title makes my skin crawl! Church is not meant to entertain people of ANY age and I think that a focus on marketing like Disney easily becomes manipulative and false!
Thanks, Leah. I couldn’t agree more.