Sometimes I like to show my volunteers a video clip to illustrate a point.  Despicable Me is a great movie that shows an example of Gru doing a not so great job as a dad, and then later, a much better job as a dad.  This illustration can be used when it comes to volunteers in Kids Ministry.  These two Despicable Me video clips illustrate how volunteers can own their role instead of rent it.

Getting volunteers to own their ministry can sometimes be difficult.  Sue Miller & Adam Duckworth talk about this in one of the chapters in their book, Not Normal.

Basically, it’s about caring more about what they do.  It’s about doing the best they can possibly do, for the maximum impact.

WingClips is a website that takes clips from movies, and categorizes them by theme.  This is helpful when looking for a video clip to illustrate a point.  On this website, there are two clips from “Despicable Me”.

Clip #1Can be found here

Gru reads a bedtime story to the 3 girls who come to live with him.  He basically doesnt’ want to read it to them, but he agrees to read it, just to get them to stop bothering him.

Clip #2Can be found here

Gru has had a change of heart.  The children have had an impact on him that he wasn’t expecting.  He has grown to love them.  This time he reads a bedtime story to them with a whole new attitude.  It’s a story that he wrote himself and shows how much his heart has changed towards them.

These two clips are a great illustration of the difference in the approach a Small Group Leader can choose to take.  One approach is basically doing the job to get it done.  The other shows what can happen when a leader takes the time to care for their kids.  Both the kids & the leader are changed.

Many thanks to one of my amazing volunteers on my kids ministry team who came up with this idea.  Way to go Anne!

One Comment

  • Campbellatte says:

    ” It takes a village” to influence kids for Jesus. This is true here. Dan Lovaligia (http://www.danlovaglia.com) first got me thinking about renting and owning. My heart is fuller and more focused because of his writing. And then there’s Universal Pictures that make great movies. I’m grateful for that village that continues to influence me and helps to influence kids for Jesus.

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