Know-Love-Obey God

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“I hope that we’re going to do more in heaven than just sit on a cloud and play a harp—forever and ever!”

I have heard people say things like that, but if that is “all” I’m doing on that side of eternity, then heaven will be, well, HEAVEN to me!

Making music to the Lord is a little of heaven on earth. Nearly every Sunday I would spend the first twenty to thirty minutes of the worship service behind an instrument or holding a microphone. Often I would stand surrounded by the rest of our thirty-voice choir or in an ensemble, yet it felt like no one else was there but my God and me. It was incredible worship of our awesome God.

Members of the Body frequently encourage those in music ministry. We often receive expressions of thanks and appreciation for the worship music. “That song was exactly what I needed to hear.” “It was such a worshipful service. Thanks for what you do up there, week by week!” “That was beautiful!” The musicians thank God, for His name was exalted.

Music ministry is high-visibility. People know who you are. They greet you in the halls and in the parking lot. Because of being in music ministry, I got to know many faces; I engaged in several edifying chats and conversations.

Many find music ministry desirable. Our church is blessed with a high percentage of ridiculously talented singers and instrumentalists. The worship team roster is sixty-four names long. People sign up or audition for music ministry without being asked. This is a blessing.

Not long ago I made new choices and rearranged priorities. I still appear on the worship team schedule now and then, but not nearly as often as before. Now, every Sunday I am in the 5th grade Sunday School room co-teaching with my husband.

Teaching is an even greater passion for me than music ministry. Yet I have noticed some key differences between teaching, say, a Tuesday morning women’s Bible study and a children’s Sunday school class. The women go out of their way and go to great lengths to be there—finding child care, using their lunch hour, whatever it takes. They want to be there.

In many—perhaps most—cases, a child in Sunday school is there because he has to be.

To the teacher, this makes a big difference.

Children’s ministry is low-visibility. Because the teachers are in their rooms early and stay late waiting for parent pick-ups, not many people know who they are. Sometimes the hallway conversations and doughnut-time fellowship is difficult after the energy output required for classroom control and engaging uninterested students in the Word.

Few find children’s ministry desirable. Every year much recruiting is required for grades 1-6, and combining grades is often the solution for a teacher shortage. The children’s Sunday school teacher roster is not that long.

Children’s Sunday school teachers rarely hear from the Body regarding their ministry. Perhaps it is partially because these children’s ministers are generally low-visibility—off the radar.

I am overwhelmingly thankful for supportive parents and an extremely supportive Children’s Director. A little bit—even a few encouraging words—goes a long way. If you are already doing this, keep at it! Great!

If this sounds like a plea for children’s Sunday school teachers . . . it is. The next time you’re in church, try to find, say, the 2nd grade teacher. Initiate conversation and fellowship. Ask, “How is your family? How’s your ministry coming along? May I pray for you?” Chances are, you’ll be blessed, too.

(I would enjoy interacting with anyone over this. However, because of computer issues I may not be able to reply to comments for about a week.)