Hello INCM Community!
I’m honored and stoked to serve you and the INCM team as the new Executive Director of INCM. It blows my mind when I think about the trajectory of my and Stephanie’s ministry and how God has brought us to this opportunity. You see, when I first accepted God’s call on my life to serve in kid’s ministry I had no formal training in kid’s ministry. Fortunately, I have the brain of a 5th grader, and that helped tremendously. But in 1990 a good friend named Eric, a kid’s pastor in the same community, told me about a children’s ministry conference he wanted to attend in Denver, CO. So we took a road trip to Denver to participate in our first CPC. That experience changed my ministry. And now God in His incredible grace, has blessed my wife and I with the opportunity to serve you through the amazing ministry of INCM.
The majority of my 34 years as a full-time pastor has been leading kid’s ministry. But in reality, my time in children’s ministry started long before that. I started volunteering in kid min when I was still a kid myself. I volunteered in kid’s ministry throughout middle school, high school, and college. While I was in college volunteering at a local church, the lead pastor informed me that the kid’s pastor had left. He asked me if I would, “fill in for a few weeks while they search for another kid’s pastor.” They found a kids pastor alright! Months later the lead pastor asked me to take the position, and here we are 34 years later.
Make no mistake, over those three decades, there were numerous times I didn’t think I could keep going and wanted to quit. Most people don’t understand how tough and tiring kid’s ministry can be. They have no idea how much time and energy a kid’s ministry requires. And probably the most difficult challenges for me were the times I felt no one cared. In those moments of fatigue, frustration, or fear, the Holy Spirit reminded me that I have a special calling on my life.
You and I share that calling! We have been called to change the landscape of eternity through kid’s ministry. God has allowed us to do something significant, to make an eternal difference. That is why we absolutely must make the most of this opportunity.
There is a story in the book of Judges that has created a holy discontentment in my heart and has fueled a passion and determination to make the most of the opportunity God has given me to minister to kids and families. This passage is recorded after the death of Joshua, the leader of Israel, and those who led with him.
“After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.” Judges 2:10
Think about this, we are just one generation away from the extinction of Christianity. Pause just for a moment and let those words permeate your outlook on kid’s ministry. You have a holy assignment. You have been called to change the landscape of eternity. And the INCM team understands full well that the mantel you carry can be incredibly heavy and frustrating at times. That’s the very reason INCM exists – to come alongside you in your journey and provide you with the training, resources, and community connections you need to effectively fulfill your calling.
Stephanie and I accepted this ministry assignment because we know kids’ ministry has the greatest potential to change the landscape of eternity. My dream is to see kid min leaders all over the world, thriving in their local church as they lead kids and families toward spiritual health. We are here to serve and minister to you as you serve and minister to kids and families.
God bless,
Steve Adams
