The Littlest Leader

by Dave Travis

I get to participate in a few email newsgroups from time to time. Last month one featured a conversation around the question: At what age should someone be a leader in the church?"

A few weeks ago, I got a partial answer. Our church is pretty average. Average size, average age, and average people. Every third Sunday of the month is my Sunday to help out in "Extended Teaching Care" our period for preschoolers during the worship service. My class is usually for three, four and five year olds. Threes and Fours get to lay out of all of "big church" and the five year olds get to come back during halfway through the service. (Don't ask me why - it's just the way it is.)

On that Sunday I had one little girl back in the class to start with, little Dorothy, also affectionately known as Moochie. Moochie and I were playing the blocks, building our own tower of Babel or what not when I heard some loud cries down the hall in the nursery.

Now our nursery area is a friendly place, but even the friendliest places are hard on new comers. The child emitting the cries of "I want my Daddy!" at the top of her lungs was new to the whole nursery experience. I stepped down to the nursery and asked the workers if they needed help. Their answer was "I think we are going to have to get the parents." I volunteered to take the child, Lexi, down to play with Dorothy for a while. The nursery workers agreed and with Lexi now screaming in my arms I walked her down the hall.

I called over to Dorothy: "Dorothy, Lexi is not having a good time. Can you play some blocks with her and make her feel welcome?" Dorothy immediately called to Lexi: "Come play blocks with me!"

In a few moments Lexi was sitting on the floor next to Dorothy. They were making a high tower. When it would fall, Dorothy would laugh and Lexi would imitate. Dorothy would hold Lexi's hand and show her around the classroom. She showed her the sand box, the play kitchen, and where the snacks were kept.

By the time the rowdy, older children came in, Lexi, though technically too young for the class, fit right in. There was not another peep out of her all morning.

We had a special dinner that day after church and I enjoyed telling Dorothy's parents and other kin folk what a great leader and helper she was at church.

Dorothy needed no special training to be a leader. She just needed to be asked and she displayed a willing heart.

How young? I guess three years old is my current answer.

P.S. Lexi was back this week and her first question was: "Where's Dorothy." She jumped down and Dorothy ran over and gave her a big hug.

___________________

Copyright © 2002 Leadership Network. Used by permission from the February 28, 2002, issue of Church Champions Update. Click here to subscribe to this and other free e-mail newsletters from Leadership Network.

 2000-2010 New Life Ministries (www.NewLifeMinistries-NLM.org). All Rights Reserved.
(see information on our copyright policy)

Top of Page