"Expert" advice?

I had a pastor from Zimbabwe in my office this morning, who heard I developed a kid's church programme here a while ago. He's busy developing a manual or programme or something like that for an upcoming children's day at church and wanted my input.

I'm the first to admit I'm not run-of-the-mill when it comes to kids ministry (and most other church-related stuff). I tend to fly by the seat of my pants - you could tell me 2 minutes in advance that there was no leader but me available, and I'd be able to step in and do a cool kid's programme for an hour. I've gathered resources from all over - I pick and choose and dig under rocks to find what I need.

But this gentleman wants me to sit down and give him resources and info and ideas - my "expert" advice on running a kid's day or programme.

Yeah right - like I'm the expert on ANYTHING!? I'm actually pretty clueless, but do put on a good show of being the Intelligent Blonde - and it seems to fool most folk.

I did have a passion for kids ministry at one time. I realize kids are extremely important and making sure they're spiritually healthy is top priority. I also realize what I'm up against in the traditions of the church - the set menatilities of the parents (and thus also the kids they raise), the "we don't do that here"s of the Big Wigs who run the church. To try break the mold and really connect with the kids, to completely grow them and not just entertain them - THAT is a gigantic job and requires a total shift of perspective.

Perhaps as a pastor, this man will be able to achieve what I (poor old black-listed me) can never do. I hope to point him in the right direction, to get him to step out of the well-trod path and see what's hiding in the grass of the verge. I hope, but I'm not sure how much hope I should hold out.

Kid's ministry is not as easy at it seems. Pretty much the same as worship leading - there's more involved than you might imagine, and there's a whole lot more at stake.

So I'll prepare what info I can and trust that God will use it - praying that those involved will actually let God lead them beyond what they know, beyond what they've always done.