Urban Children's Ministry Top Ten

You know you're in urban kidmin when...

• a banana is a bigger treat than a chocolate bar


• you've had to deal with a four year old's excessive swearing habit


• you've seen eight year olds beat up someone twice their size


• shoplifting is a real issue... for your kindergarten class


• you've had to deal with a suicide - for an 11 year old


• the ten year olds have more sexual experience than you did before you were married


• you have social services on speed dial


• the cops know the birthdate of the kids in your ministry, because the day they turn 13 they're picking them up to go to juvie.


• you're used to seeing kids as young as 3 fend for themselves at eleven pm on the inner city streets.


• you've stopped asking "Who's this kids parents, anyway?"


• the parents of the kids you minister to are still in high school themselves

I think one reason why this is such a quiet topic is that it breaks your heart when you see seventeen year olds at this stage... many of us just can't stomach it at an age that is supposed to still be "innocent."

Yet the joys of urban ministry can outrank any of it!  While teens have already hardened their hearts, these kids are still (for the most part) at an emulating stage: they're not doing these things because they decided to, they're doing it because that's what they see!  So when we can emulate a different way of living - it's often incredibly effective.  They're harder than I (hopefully) will ever be in my adult years, but they're still little kids.  They still chase bubbles.  They still love to run through sprinklers.  They still will watch puppet shows with some kind of awe.  Their joys in life are piggy-back rides and jumping rope.  Their eyes can light up when they see you - and they don't feel the need to hide it!  They ask the questions on their mind (with no censorship) and tell you what they think (also with no censorship).  They still risk to love.

 

And one hug, one kid pointing at me at the corner store, saying "Mom, that's the lady from the church!," one hand tucked into yours, one "aha" moment during Bible story time... those are the moments when you know God is smiling!