Christian Children's Ministry at Colleges

By Calli Wolfenden, Staff Writer
 

The Lord keeps no secrets about his love for children and his demand for their wellbeing. The Bible references children about 1,700 times. Within these 1,700 references, topics such as protecting children, their inheritance in God’s kingdom, and the responsibilities of parents are explained in detail. Another key theme within many of these verses is the raising up of children in the faith. This is where a children’s ministry degree shines.

Pursuing a children’s ministry degree from a Christian college equips you with the encouragement to grow spiritually and professionally. To be a spiritual leader, even for children, you need a solid foundation for your faith, which is not only encouraged at a Christian college, but nurtured through numerous opportunities and events aimed at spiritual growth. They will sharpen your communication skills and provide you with a foundation for teaching and engaging children with the word of the Lord.

Potential careers for someone who chooses to major in children’s ministry:

• Children’s Pastor: A children’s pastor is a church leader who works to develop a foundation of faith in children by leading worship services and Bible lessons for children aged from infancy to elementary age. They may also be in charge of training and leading volunteers to work with children in a church environment.
• Religious Education: Religious Education involves teaching the Bible, theological concepts, and religious practices to various age groups, from children to adults. This could be through Church, community centers, or schools.
• Elementary Teacher: An Elementary teacher, as the name implies, teaches elementary students. Typically, elementary runs from kindergarten through 5th or 6th grade, and the elementary teachers will instruct students on core subjects like math, science, reading, or social studies, giving them important foundational knowledge of each subject. Elementary teachers work with other teachers, parents, and administrators to best serve the needs of each student in their class.
• Camp Director: A camp director oversees the logistics, planning, and safety of a Christian camp, be that for children or for Christian groups looking for a spiritual retreat. Their role also takes care of planning worship services, camp activities, overseeing staff and volunteers, and ensuring the environment is safe and inviting. Ultimately, their goal is to create a safe space for enjoyment and one that encourages and facilitates spiritual growth.
• Missionary Work: Missionary Work is service or evangelism to different cultural or geographic communities. Usually, with a degree in Biblical studies, this involves preaching, teaching, and sharing one’s religious faith and Biblical understand with the goal of conversion in mind. Often, evangelism is coupled with some other form of service, such as education programs or healthcare, to serve others and benefit the community.

Placement rates for the children’s ministry degree are believed to be relatively high, and the potential earnings typically range from $45,000-$65,000 per year. That said, the salary is quite dependent on the role and the size of the church (if you pursue the traditional route with this degree), with smaller churches paying quite a bit less than mid-size or large churches. While the placement rates for this degree are promising, it’s important to be intentional with our efforts while in college to give ourselves the best chance of success upon graduation. So, what steps should we be taking?

The first step is to gain experience in a ministry setting. Be that through internships, volunteering, or getting a job with a church, camp, VBS, or a ministry organization, prioritize gaining hands-on experience in a ministry setting, preferably where you serve others and work with children. Build relationships with the leaders or pastors at the church or in the ministry, and keep these connections, both for growth personally and to have references or someone who can speak to your character in service and towards children. These connections and this experience are massively important to have when you graduate and seek more permanent employment.

Make your spiritual growth and gifts a priority. If you intend to lead others, then your life needs to be an example—even if you plan to lead children. Join Bible studies—or even better, lead them! Spend time with the Lord, study his word, take your Biblical studies classes seriously. Be invested in your prayer life and seek out Spiritual mentorship. Having accountability in this area is a key to growth. Create healthy habits in your life now that encourage spiritual growth and deepen your relationship with the Lord.

Some important characteristics to develop for a career with a children’s ministry degree would be patience. Children are energetic, fun, and bursting with creativity. But, keeping up with a room full of them can be challenging. Being able to remain calm and positive while also keeping them all focused requires patience and determination. Leadership skills are also a must, in addition to solid communication skills. You’ll be taking some complicated Biblical stories and principles and teaching them in simplified terms, quite literally for children to understand. Having high energy and being able to motivate yourself is also important in keeping a fun and engaging environment that encourages growth and learning. Someone with these characteristics is well suited to a career in children’s ministry, whether that be in the church, education field, or in mission work.

Work Cited:

• Gonzales, Susanna. “Funding the next Generation: How Much Should You Pay Your Children’s Ministry Staff?” Tithe.Ly, 4 July 2025, get.tithe.ly/blog/how-much-should-you-pay-your-childrens-ministry-staff. Murray, Dr. Lawson.
• “What Does the Bible Say about Children’s Ministry?” Childrens Ministry Basics, 15 Jan. 2025, childrensministrybasics.com/2019/11/05/what-does-the-bible-say-about-childrens-ministry/.

By Calli Wolfenden, Staff Writer
 

Matthew 19:14
“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’”

Proverbs 22:6
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

Someone with a children’s ministry degree can be used in multiple forms of ministry, even outside of the church walls. They can work in camps or with ministries that work with children from all backgrounds. They can serve in outreach to the community, offering childcare and Bible lessons as part of afterschool programs or ministry events. Someone who chooses to major in children’s ministry can be a powerful part of introducing children to Christ, in or out of the church.

Additionally, they can offer outreach to children outside of the USA, in the mission field or on mission trips. In any mission trip, there are opportunities to share the gospel with children and adults alike. The skills of teaching learned from a children’s ministry degree can be massively beneficial when translating the gospel and Biblical truth in a simplified way so that someone who’s never heard it can understand. Even if you don’t end up serving in church, there are a number of ways you can make a difference and serve the Lord with a children’s ministry degree.

The career opportunities provided by a children’s ministry degree offer the chance to make an impact for the kingdom of God. If you are spiritually grounded, love working with children, are a strong communicator, and are the picture of patience, then perhaps the Lord is calling you to pursue a children’s ministry degree!