Order the New Kidmin Covenant Reflective Guide, companion to the Kidmin Covenant series.
If I could sit across from a new children’s ministry leader and offer one piece of advice, it would be this: take care of your soul. Ministry isn’t sustained by talent, strategy, or passion alone. It’s sustained by the quiet, consistent work of walking with Jesus. These 12 commitments are born out of that truth. They help me stay inwardly healthy so I can lead with lasting impact.
Covenant Commitment #7:
I will maintain a teachable spirit and always be eager to learn, grow, and invite correction and suggestions.
One of the greatest gifts you can give your ministry—and yourself—is a teachable spirit. It’s not flashy. It won’t get you a standing ovation. But it will keep you grounded, growing, and effective for the long haul.
Proverbs 9:9 says, “Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.” The wisest people aren’t the ones who know it all—they’re the ones who keep learning.
There’s always more to learn in ministry: new strategies, fresh ideas, better ways to communicate. But even more important is the willingness to grow in character—to admit when you’re wrong, to invite feedback, and to welcome correction. That takes humility. And humility is the soil in which wisdom grows.
Proverbs 12:1 puts it bluntly: “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.” Ouch. But it’s true. If we reject correction, we reject growth. When we’re defensive or insecure, we miss the opportunity to become more effective, more Christlike, and more connected to those we lead.
Colossians 3:16 encourages us to “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom.” That word “admonish” implies correction—not harshly, but in love. A teachable spirit isn’t just about taking advice from those above us—it’s also being open to those beside and even beneath us. Sometimes the best insights come from a rookie volunteer, a kid’s comment, or a parent’s passing suggestion.
Being teachable doesn’t mean you’re unsure of your calling. It means you’re secure enough in who you are to keep becoming who God wants you to be.
Ask questions. Read books. Watch others. Reflect on what’s working—and what’s not. And when someone offers feedback, don’t bristle. Listen. Pray. Then respond with a heart that says, “God, if there’s something You want to teach me through this, I’m listening.”
You don’t have to be perfect. But you do need to be pliable. God does His best shaping in hearts that stay soft.
Next: Kidmin Covenant #8 – “I will be quick to overlook an offense and even quicker to forgive.”
Get ready to unpack how grace, forgiveness, and thick skin make you a stronger, freer leader.
