Every child has Superpowers. Like mutants in an X-man movie some of them have level 1 powers… some are level 4 or more… but they all have them.

Obviously I’m not talking about mutant healing factor or the power to control metal with your mind. To me, superpowers are God-given abilities that each child posses. And these powers can be used for good… or to get them in a lot of trouble.

Some kids have the power of too much energy. They move to much and talk to much. They are overly excited and are constant interrupting.

Other kids have a more socially acceptable set of powers. They play piano, they sing, they’re funny and can make people laugh or they’re just generally pleasant to be around.

I am convinced that each child has these powers and that they are God-given. If they are God-given then they have a good purpose, even if they’re not currently being used properly. It is part of our job, as children’s ministers, to do our part in shaping those children into becoming the person God intends them to be. That shaping doesn’t involve removing their powers… but rather helping them to use their powers for good instead of evil. 🙂

With the overly excitable child, get it in your head that God created him that way. He’s not bad. He’s not a problem, he’s just not using his superpowers properly. Create opportunities in your setting for him (and others) to use their powers in a constructive way. This child has been told his entire life to sit down and shut-up… he’s been told his powers are bad… help him use them for God’s glory.

With the talented child we are so quick to glorify their powers. We’ll put them on stage, give them extra kudos in public… but this child runs the same risk of using their powers for less than honorable means. The church has a way of making a talented child very self-centered. They learn to use their powers to bring attention and glory to themselves. And since they’re children who are still developing it’s more than self-centeredness… it can become the way they value their self-worth. As they grow they will become performance based and chase after public acceptance and possible allow people to take advantage of them just to feel accepted. Why do you think so many secular music artists today had their start in the church? It’s up to us to help these children find a more constructive way to use their powers. God gave them to bring glory to himself… to draw people to him. It’s not an easy task, but it’s what we’re called to do.

I hope this has opened your mind a bit and possibly rewritten your opinion about a few of the kids in your ministry. If we look at them as untapped potential rather than behavior problems we’re already halfway to helping them become what God wants them to be.

If this article has been helpful at all, please leave a note in the comments. Thanks.