TRUTH ABOUT SERVING IN THE GREENHOUSE: It's a great place to build on those relationships!
MYTH ABOUT SERVING IN THE GREENHOUSE: It's a great place to meet and make friends and build those relationships WHILE serving.
We are a team and it's our goal that we build relationships with those that we serve with and do life together. But when we are serving, we are ON.
What does that mean? It means once that pre-service meeting is over, it's go time! It's no longer about us. It's not about us making friends or building those relationships. Our focus, attention, and energy transfers over to the kiddos in the room.
When those kiddos enter the room, it's about them... their safety, if they're having fun, if they're discovering Jesus, and if they are building relationships--with others and with YOU!
If you are focusing on interacting with another leader in the room then you are missing out on a great opportunity to love on the kids, to help them feel accepted and to build trust with you... a chance for them to see Jesus through you!
I like to use the "20 second" rule. If you find yourself talking to a team member more than 20 seconds than that means you are having your focus gone for far too long on the real reason you are there to serve.
But Pastor Tiffany, I joined a serving team so I could meet people and make friends. GREAT! I want you to and I want those to build and grow. But that can happen in the context of a lunch or play date outside of service or being in a small group together or communication throughout the week.
Once you step onto the playing field, so to speak, it would be so beneficial for you to back each other up and look out for each other to make sure each other's focus is where it's supposed to be.
From infants, toddlers, preschoolers, to 4th graders: each area has a great opportunity to make the most of the opportunities God is bringing your way to reach these kids.
It's usually a good rule to be on the kids level---height I mean. If you serve with toddlers, sit on the floor with them. Did you catch that? With THEM. Play and engage with the kiddos. That's a perfect time to get to know them, encourage them, and be Jesus to them. Do what you can to stay away from just sitting there, engaging in conversation with fellow team members. It's not about them.. it's about the kids. It's about fully giving your attention to the kids.
Same thing with 4th graders... when they are spending time together in pre-service activities, what a FANTASTIC time to engage them.. to play with them.. to be silly with them.. to build that trust and relationship with them where when they leave, they can't wait to come back because they want to see YOU. They invite their friends because they want them to meet you--cause you're just so cool!
For 5 years I was a nanny to 2 kids, Alex (now 9) and Charlotte (now just shy of 6). One day, Alex was off to school and Charlotte and I were playing in the living room. Well, Charlotte was playing and I was probably surfing facebook on my phone. Something that she said to me has stuck with me ever since. Simple really but so eye opening. She came up to me and said, "Tiffy, be with me." I said, "I am with you Charlotte." She said, " No. Be WITH me." Wow.
Here I am in the room with her but not engaging her.. doing my own thing.
We are missing the mark and the goal of what God wants us to do if we aren't WITH the kids.
We have an incredible opportunity to see these kids grow... to help them get closer to God each time we are with them... So many people who come to Freedom are newer to a relationship with Christ. What an amazing opportunity we have to show and tell these kids about Jesus NOW... at a young age!
So remember this the next time you serve... it's all about the kids.
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