Oh no, its report card day!!!!

Report cards….   Each quarter of grade school ended with “report card day.”  My stomach churned each time they were passed out.  Did I do enough work to get good grades?  I know the teacher said I was doing fine, but maybe she was kidding.  Maybe, instead of A’s and B’s I was going to get D’s and F’s.  Mom and Dad had to sign the report card, and with D’s and F’s who knew what would happen!  Maybe I’d lose privileges, be banned from riding my bike and playing baseball.  Oh noooooo!!!!!!

Maybe we need a ministry report card now and then.  

Report cards….   Each quarter of grade school ended with “report card day.”  My stomach churned each time they were passed out.  Did I do enough work to get good grades?  I know the teacher said I was doing fine, but maybe she was kidding.  Maybe, instead of A’s and B’s I was going to get D’s and F’s.  Mom and Dad had to sign the report card, and with D’s and F’s who knew what would happen!  Maybe I’d lose privileges, be banned from riding my bike and playing baseball.  Oh noooooo!!!!!!

Maybe we need a ministry report card now and then.  

Last week I received a report card on an Awana ministry in a small country church.  Miriam, a 2nd grader in the Sparks program, greeted me in the lobby of the church.  She gave me a hand written letter with an excellent drawing of herself wearing a flowered skirt, carrying her Awana book bag, heading off to her Sparks club.  Her letter was a ministry report card.  

“My name is Miriam, and I’m in Sparks.  Ruth Ann is one of my Awana leaders.  I’ve been learning verses like John 3:16 and Isaiah 9:6, and Psalm 100:4.  I’ve been praying for you too.  I invited a friend named Elizabeth (Ellie) to Awana.  Miriam Ann …..”

Miriam’s simple letter tells us so much. Ruth Ann is making a difference in Miriam’s life.  She’s not just a number.  Miriam is learning God’s word in Awana, and she has learned to pray, especially to pray for others.  Miriam has learned to reach out to others by inviting others to Sparks.

Miriam’s letter is a report card.  Here’s what we learn about her church’s ministry to kids.
1.    At her church, adult leaders are engaging with kids in a meaningful ways.
2.    Her church values the word of God and placing it deeply in the hearts of kids.  
3.    Children are being taught to pray.  They understand the value of prayer.
4.    Miriam’s church values Evangelism.

All in all, Miriam’s church scores a solid “A”.  How are you doing?  Maybe we should ask for a report card from our kids.  I wonder what your kids would write?  Would their letters reflect the things that matter, or just the “fluff” that is added to ministry?  We won’t know if we don’t ask.  Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to ask your kids to write a letter and draw a picture about your ministries, Sunday School, Awana, or Children’s Church.  

Too many businesses today fail because they never ask their customers how they are doing.  Now, I understand that kids aren’t our customers, and that we ultimately work for the Lord.  But if we never stop to evaluate our effectiveness we may be failing and not even know it.  Lets not fail at this most important task, getting as much of God’s word, as deep as we can, into as many kids as we can.  The stakes are too high, and failure is not an option.