I read a great quote a few days ago. It came from the pen of Edmund Spenser who (near as I can tell from the Google search I did five minutes ago) was a 16th Century English poet. I wish I knew the exact context, but I think the quote speaks for itself:

"Ill can he rule the great who cannot reach the small."

Isn't that profound? So many leaders — or would-be leaders, rather, seem intently focused on the greatness of their sphere of influence. And, really, who among us would not love to be thought of as a "great leader". The aspiration to lead is, of course, nothing evil - so long as one can maintain a degree of humility (contrast King Saul and King David, for instance). But in these few simple words Spenser makes a salient point that few of us consider:

I should preface this by saying that I work in the children's ministry at our church. I have worked in children's church for three years, and before that I spent 12 years teaching a Sunday school class for second-grade boys. And old habits die hard so, in spite of the position I hold as a division manager at my "day job", my thoughts on leadership run primarily to teaching elementary-aged children.

Without context, I can't say whom Spenser had in mind as either "great" or "small", but the adage seems to hold in whatever realm you apply it:

In the Air Force, the enlisted men (I was one) had the idea that the best officers were those who had been enlisted men at one point. Not that other officers were automatically bad, of course, but it just makes sense that a former enlisted man turned officer could at least understand both "sides" as it were. They were trained how to lead their peers, but they also knew (better than most officers) how to relate to the enlisted. Personally, I remember only one such officer, and I can say he never made me feel "small".

In the business world, I have seen how the men who worked their way up "through the ranks" (like my father and my father-in-law) seem to have a better grasp for managing their workers. They know how to relate to their subordinates without making them feel subordinate.

Likewise, the best parents are not those who merely tolerate their children, but actively engage them in any and all areas of life that they possibly can. To a lesser degree, this also is the job of the children’s church ministry. And although there are seldom any first- through sixth-graders one might consider "great", there is a solemn duty to "reach the small" that belongs to the whole church – not just the children’s pastor or youth pastor. Remember, Jesus said:

"Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:14).

Forget all the nonsense about "touching the future". We need to engage children to do something for God today! They shouldn’t have to wait until they're "older" to serve God and extend His Kingdom. If you are not involved in your children’s church ministry, I urge you to find a way to at least encourage those who are. They love what they do, but they need to know they’re not alone.