Maintaining a Heart for the Personal Touch

"Having thus a fond affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us."
1 Thessalonians 2:8

Maintaining a heart for the personal touch. What does that mean in children's ministry?

Everyone loves to be shown that they are special to someone. We love to know that there is someone who not only knows that we exist, but they care that we exist. We love it when someone writes a little note, just because. We love it when people greet us by name. It gives us the feeling of belonging.

The same is true with children. Every child that walks through our doors needs to feel like they belong. This is an easy way of portraying the love of God.
God knows each of us by name. He not only knows us by name, He also knows how many hairs are on our head; He knew us before anyone else in the world had seen us.

In his book, Back to the Heart of Youth Work, Dewey M. Bertolini, writes: "Maintaining the personal touch does not constitute a part of ministry, nor is the personal touch a prerequisite to ministry. Maintaining the personal touch is ministry." (page 90)

The personal touch isn't just a part of ministry, it is the ministry.

Here are some questions that you can ask yourself as you think about your personal touch to those that you reach out to every week in Growing Together, TinyTown, Kidztown, or Kidz Club:

1. What are some unique needs of the children in your group?
2. How are those needs met right now?
3. What are some options that you and your team, can meet those unique needs in a personal way?

I would encourage you to brainstorm together and with your team, on how you can better the "personal touch" to the children in your ministry.

Here are some ideas to start...
1. Greet the child every Sunday morning or Tuesday night...even when you aren't in the classroom!
2. Send an occasional note. Children love to get mail - even a small postcard!
3. Be the first to acknowledge their birthday
4. Send a note of congratulations (if you see their name in the newspaper or hear a positive story about them from someone else)

Let's work together to show each child that walks through the doors every Sunday morning and Tuesday night that we care about them and even more so, Jesus cares and loves them.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me..."

Valentine's Day just passed and for the past few weeks, everywhere we looked there were signs reminding us to buy chocolate, flowers, and cards for those we love.

Jesus showed His love to small children on particular day, not with flowers or candy, but by drawing them to His side and showing them how important they were to Him.

He demonstrated to the parents and adults around that day, that those children were important and should be shown love and care.

This is an excellent picture for us today, especially with Valentine's Day just passed, of how we are to treat children. Love them.

Let us not hinder them from being with Jesus.

Remember that every child that steps into your class or small group is important to Jesus. Take the time to prepare your lessons, pray over them, and be prepared to love each child as we follow in our Master's footsteps.