Skip to main content

Tag: children’s ministry

{Guest Post}: I Never Imagined – Inner City KidMin (Part 2)

Kathie Phillips

Note from Kathie: I met Colleen Smith at an Orange-sponsored Chick-fil-A meet up last year and I was so fascinated by her story. I knew that one day, I’d love to share her story with others. Colleen shares her story of inner city Children’s Ministry today in the second of 3 parts. You can read Part 1 here. I pray you’ll be both blessed and inspired.

Over time I began to form even deeper relationships with Baltimore’s Homeless population, fall in love with prostitutes and deepen my fondness for inner city kids. For nearly four years I worked in West Baltimore–where I loved the people in what some would consider the worst parts of this city like Jesus loves me–with no boundaries and no conditions. Within that four years I still felt that something was missing in my heart. Night after night I would drive out of the neighborhood, cross over a few streets and be in my cozy and comfortable neighborhood, where it was “safe.” That wasn’t what I desired in my heart, and after much prayer I quickly knew that wasn’t what God desired for me. Life began to change. Things were happening that made it clear there was change about to happen in my ministry life, a hard one–one that ended with me wondering what exactly it was God desired for my life. After three VERY long months of praying, it was evident that God desired for me to live in East Baltimore, in the middle of one of Baltimore’s “tough” communities. It was a place where most people wouldn’t bother to come, a place that as most people drive by they double-check their locks and sped past without batting an eye.

But for me this little home in the middle of Luzerne Ave has become home for me. It’s become a safe place. It’s become the spot for the kids to hang out. It’s become a home full of love, prayer and Jesus. This community has become my family. This is the place Jesus intended for me to be His hands and feet. This is the place where I would have my house raided by the police at 6 a.m. on a July morning. This is the place where I would pray every night for three young boys who attempted several times to break into my house. This is the place where I would find out that a ten year-old boy who I loved dearly committed suicide. This is the place where I would find love and give love. This is the place that God has not just called me to serve, but to live, to become a part of a community, to allow people to watch my life, to be involved in my life and to hear about the love of Christ. This is the place that I call home. This is the place that I am continuously challenged to grow in my faith, to continue to love people even in the worst of circumstances. This is the place where I get to lead people to life with Christ and cheer them on as they grow in their walks. Never did I think when I boarded that place in March of 2001 would my life be what it is today…and never would I ever change it.

Colleen Smith headshotOriginally from Wichita, Kansas Colleen Smith moved to Baltimore in 2001 to become a nanny. In 2003, she accepted Christ and her heart for the inner city began to develop. Over the past few years she’s quit her full-time job and raised support as a missionary to Baltimore City. These days you can find her living and serving in East Baltimore as the local missionary for Captivate Church (captivatechurch.com) She can be found online at www.colleensamantha.org as well as Facebook & Twitter. If you’d like more information on her ministry she can be contacted via email colleen@captivatechurch.com

{Guest Post}: I Never Imagined – Inner City KidMin (Part 1)

Kathie Phillips 4 Comments

Note from Kathie:  I met Colleen Smith at an Orange-sponsored Chick-fil-A meet up last year and I was so fascinated by her story.  I knew that one day, I’d love to share her story with others.  Colleen shares her story of inner city Children’s Ministry today in the first of 3 parts.  I pray you’ll be both blessed and inspired.

I never imagined being a “white girl” from Kansas who would move 1254 miles from home and live in one of Baltimore’s roughest neighborhoods.  I never imagined that I would witness shootings and watch someone die of a gang beating.  I never imagined that I would love the homeless, street prostitutes, drug dealers, gang members and inner city kids the way I do. I never knew that God had a plan for me.  In fact when I packed my bags almost 13 years ago and boarded a plane to Baltimore, MD (all because I was mad at my mom and knew I needed a change), I hated God, I was angry, I was frustrated and quite frankly there was no room for Him in my life.

However, almost a year later, my life changed completely.  I had been hanging out with a Youth Pastor who was my neighbor, attending youth group, volunteering and getting to know–what I referred to at the time–“Jesus Lovers”.  Little did I know that those “Jesus Lovers” would become some of the most influential people in my life, some of my best friends and my sisters for life. You see when I turned 22, I accepted Christ, and my life began to change.

The love I have found for the inner city life didn’t just happen over night and it didn’t just happen because I woke up one day and decided to venture into the “ghetto”.  It happened because I allowed God to have a place in my life. I had influences in my life who believed in me, who challenged why I didn’t love God, and who were living testimonies of how God worked in their lives. It happened because I was ready to accept that Jesus Christ lived and died for me on a cross!

It was not the easiest decision I ever made.  In fact it was one of the hardest, but the way that God has worked in my life–the way that He’s allowed me to begin the healing process of my own hurt and pain, the way that I have been able to clearly see my calling in life–has been nothing short of amazing. About six years ago, I decided to quit my full-time job with benefits (including a furnished home to live in) to become a part-time nanny and pursue my calling to serve the inner city.  I packed up everything I had, stored it and lived on the couch of a friend for nearly a year. Finally I moved into the city, but a nice part of the city, and commuted for a nanny job.  I loved the kids and the family but I knew I wasn’t happy.  Soon after I felt like it was time to completely allow God to work miracles in my life so I quit my job to raise support and work full-time as an inner city missionary. I was a white girl who loved the ‘hood!

Colleen Smith headshotOriginally from Wichita, Kansas Colleen Smith moved to Baltimore in 2001 to become a nanny.  In 2003, she accepted Christ and her heart for the inner city began to develop. Over the past few years she’s quit her full-time job and raised support as a missionary to Baltimore City. These days you can find her living and serving in East Baltimore as the local missionary for Captivate Church (captivatechurch.com)  She can be found online at www.colleensamantha.org as well as Facebook & Twitter.  If you’d like more information on her ministry she can be contacted via email colleen@captivatechurch.com

Every Child Matters

Kathie Phillips 1 Comment

lifecounts

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous–and how well I know it.

Psalm 139:13-14

Last week, my children (ages 16 and 13) attended the March for Life rally in Washington, DC.  I was so proud of them–their desire to attend and brave the frigid temperature and snow, all to make a stand for life, which is precious in the sight of God.  As I watched the rally online, I was awestruck at huge number of people (estimated at 500,000) standing up for the unborn.  I was reminded of how precious children are to God and how each and every child is valuable.

As a Children’s Ministry leaders, may we never forget that every child who shows up for our weekend and weekday programming matters to God.  Children from traditional homes and children from non-traditional homes.  Children from the suburbs and children from the inner city.  African-American children, Asian-American Children, and Caucasian children.  Children born in America and children born in a foreign land.  Rich children and poor children.  Children with special needs children.  Well-behaved children and misbehaved children.  Prodigal children. Children born to teen moms.  Children born to a single parent and children born to two parents.  Adopted children, abandoned children, orphaned children.  Well-educated children and uneducated children.  Children who come to church in a fancy car or SUV, by taxi cab, by bus or by foot.  Thin children and pudgy children.

Every child matters.

Leadership Lessons from “Restaurant: Impossible”

Kathie Phillips 6 Comments

One of my favorite TV shows is “Restaurant: Impossible” on Food Network.  If you are not familiar with the show, let me give you a quick overview.  With two days and $10,000 Chef Robert Irvine goes to a failing restaurant with the hopes of turning the business around.  Chef Robert chats with the owner, the staff and patrons to find out why the restaurant is failing.  Then, after ordering several dishes off of the menu (he has rarely liked anything on the original menu), he outlines the problems that he’ll address.

Most times, the owners don’t have a clue how to run their business.  Other times, the owners have lost their passion.  They have been failing for so long that they have little hope of ever recovering.

I love the show for many reasons but what I love most are all of the leadership lessons that the owners learn.  I learn a lot too.  Aside from serving really bad food, the reasons why most of the restaurants are failing can be narrowed down to four areas:

1.  Poor service

2.  Poor leadership/management

3.  Outdated decor

4.  Poor marketing

Sadly, these things are often true of Children’s Ministries.  Sometimes, leaders can get stuck in a rut or get accustomed to flying on ‘survival mode’ that we don’t give thought to the details that make our ministry shine.

Use the checklist below to see what areas your ministry might need to address.

Poor Service

  • Do you have friendly greeters stationed to greet families as they enter your children’s areas?
  • Do you have a check-in system?  Is it efficient?
  • Do you try to alleviate long lines at check-in?
  • Do you walk new/visiting families and their children to their classrooms or do you just point them in the right direction?

Poor Leadership/Management

  • Do you have enough staff to cover each classroom?  If not, are you working towards that goal?
  • What are your ministry’s strengths?
  • In what areas does your ministry need to grow?
  • Do you have key leaders (volunteer or paid) in place to help shoulder your ministry’s responsibilities?
  • Are your volunteers aware of what is expected from them?  Do you have written job descriptions in place?
  • Do you hold regular volunteer training opportunities that equip your volunteers to do their job effectively?
  • Do you appreciate your volunteers?  How do you show them?
  • Are you growing as a leader?  Are you reading, taking classes, and/or attending conferences/workshops to become better in your craft?
  • Do you have a mentor, someone who can pour into your life and hold you accountable?
  • Are you mentoring someone?

Outdated Decor

  • Does your ministry area scream “1980”?
  • Are your classroom spaces kid-friendly and kid-appealing?
  • Are your classroom spaces clean and sanitized?
  • How can you spruce up your ministry area, even on a limited budget?  A coat or two of brightly colored paint?  New tables and chairs? New flooring?
  • Are the books and toys in good condition?  Do you have working batteries in all of your battery-operated toys?

Poor Marketing

  • Does your ministry have an informative, eye-catching brochure?
  • Does your website have up-to-date information?
  • Is your signage clear and visible?
  • Does your ministry have a logo?
  • How do parents and those in your church body and neighboring communities view your ministry?

These are just a few things to think about when leading a Children’s Ministry.  Help your ministry grow in 2013 by addressing areas that might be pulling your ministry down.

I’d love to hear what you’d add to the list.  Share your thoughts below!

error: Content is protected !!