Three Reasons Kids Thrive in Gender-Specific Ministry
Rich environment, adult mentors, and friendships
If you were to do a quick Google search for “Kids’ Ministry Model,” you would be flooded with hundreds of ideas! There are all kinds of models for kids’ ministry in the local church. For instance there is large group, small group, video-driven, gender-specific ministries, and family focus just to name a few. The curriculum options are endless, with all sorts of philosophies. I’ve found the gender-specific ministry model to be successful because it enhances kids’ learning. Here are three reasons why kids thrive in gender-specific ministries.
1. A Rich Environment. Growing up in Oklahoma City, each spring meant tornado season—April through June! As kids, many afternoons were spent glued to the TV as the meteorologists and storm chasers gave us play-by-play coverage of where the storms were and whether or not a tornado was coming! They often talked about how the “environment” and “atmosphere” were in prefect conditions for a tornado to form. Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, and colliding high and low pressures systems were usually the ingredients for a rich environment for a tornado. In a similar manner, gender-specific ministries can create rich environments for spiritual growth to take place in boys and girls! Boys and girls both learn differently. Boys learn through action, repetition, and topics that grab their attention. Girls love to collaborate with other girls, like tidy spaces, and meticulously work through projects. Gender-specific ministries also allow for more comfortable environments for boys and girls to share about gender-specific issues and challenges. Creating an environment that best allows boys and girls to learn based on their strengths allows for more effective discipleship!
2. Biblical Mentoring. One of the best examples of mentoring is found in Scripture. Paul and Timothy are the perfect picture of how a mentor can speak life into a young person’s life! We don’t know everything about Timothy’s early life, but we do know his mother was Jewish and his father was Greek. We may easily fly over this when we’re reading, but for the culture of the day, this was a big no-no! Half-Jewish people were often hated by the Jewish people of that day and Timothy’s mother may have been a social outcast. Some commentators believe Timothy grew up in a broken home with either a deadbeat dad and/or just a single mom. Timothy’s mother may have prayed that a godly man would mentor him, and she got the very best in Paul! Gender-specific ministries harness the power of men and women mentoring rather than teaching. Mentoring flows out of life experiences and knowledge and is enhanced because of relationship. Teachers impart knowledge; mentors impart life and spiritual growth. The trust and wisdom that mentoring relationships impart into a child’s life are things a curriculum can’t buy.
3. Fostering Friendships. I once heard a story of a bird owner who wanted his parrots to sing like his parakeet. So he put his parakeet in the cage with his parrots and left them for a week. When he returned, he was shocked to learn that instead of his parrots singing beautifully like the parakeet, his parakeet was talking like the parrots! This happened because there were more parrots to influence the parakeet than the parakeet to influence the parrots. This story shows the importance of those we surround ourselves with. It’s vital to foster godly friendships that will encourage kids to live Spirit-empowered lives! Gender-specific ministries create environments for kids to build and develop friendships with other boys and girls who are running after God! These friends will become a circle of influence that will have a positive rather than a destructive influence.
How can you use gender-specific ministry times in your church to give opportunities for kids to thrive and chase after God?
