logo.png

Lessons Learned From a Skunky Situation (Yes, Really)

Monday, January 27, 2025

The KidzMatter Blog/Lessons Learned From a Skunky Situation (Yes, Really)

We don’t always get it right in children’s ministry. Sometimes our plans work out perfectly. Other times, they end with the entire staff scrambling to clear the smell of skunk from a 150,000-square-foot building.

Yes, that happened. To me.

Here’s the story.

We were filming videos for our curriculum recently, and the lesson was about “disgust.” I wanted to create a video that would drive home the concept. So, some members of our Kidmin team played Bop It. Each time contestants lost, they had to spin the Wheel of Punishment. The wheel was full of unpleasant smells the loser had to endure. I scoured Amazon for some gross smells and included skunk essence in the mix. A few drops on a piece of fabric, sealed in a container, seemed like a safe and creative way to drive home the point.

What I didn’t realize was that we chose the worst location in the building to set up the skunk smell: near the air conditioning return, which fed the entire building. Within minutes, the smell began to spread—and when I say spread, I mean spread faster than I could have imagined.

Suddenly, my great, creative idea turned into a logistical nightmare. Staff members rushed to air out the building, opening doors and windows in 30-degree weather. While I stood by the open lobby doors, freezing, I prayed the stench would dissipate before the coming Sunday service. At that moment, I felt about an inch tall.

Mistakes like this are humbling. Although I’ve been in children’s ministry for over twenty years, I felt like a first-time minister again. Watching everyone work extra to manage the chaos I’d unintentionally caused was a tough pill to swallow. Thankfully, my church staff, along with our Senior Pastor and Executive Pastor, met the situation with grace and good humor. By the following day, the building was back to normal. Whew!

Here are the lessons this smelly situation left me with:

1. Own Your Mistake

When things go sideways, be quick to take responsibility. It was embarrassing, but being honest about my misstep made a difference. I let everyone know it was 100% my fault and thanked those who worked extra to help clear up the problem.

2. Learn From It

Mistakes are wasted if we don’t learn from them. Next time—uh, no, there will never be a next time for skunk essence—but for something similar, I’ll test things outdoors before bringing them into a shared space. This experience reminded me to think through the ripple effects of creative ideas, no matter how small they seem.

3. Give Yourself Permission to Laugh

Not every mistake is catastrophic. Sure, the skunk smell was inconvenient, but it wasn’t the end of the world. Sometimes, you just need to take a step back, breathe (preferably fresh air), and laugh at yourself. Ministry is serious work, but it’s okay to not take yourself too seriously.

4. Embrace Grace

I’m so thankful for a team that handles mistakes with grace. Their kindness and understanding turned a potentially humiliating moment into a manageable one. Grace matters—not just for ourselves, but for others. This experience reminded me to extend that same grace when others make a mistake.

The Good News

We don’t always get it right in children’s ministry. We’re human; sometimes, our best intentions lead to a 150,000-square-foot building that smells like a skunk. The important thing is how we respond.

Own your mistake. Apologize. Learn from it. Laugh it off.

And remember: if no one died, it’s probably not as bad as it feels at the moment.

So, if you’re having a rough day, just think of me standing by open lobby doors, praying for fresh air, and feeling like the smallest person in the room. It happens to all of us, but the good news is we get to move forward.

Dwayne Riner has been in children’s ministry for over two decades. He serves on the children’s ministry team at The Ark Church in Conroe, TX. Dwayne oversees the development of the curriculum for birth through 5th grade. The Ark Church provides its curriculum to other ministries at no charge through https://lessons.church. Dwayne and his wife, Staci, have been married for 25 years and have two children.

customer1 png

Hi, it's Ryan and Beth

Founders of KidzMatter

Welcome to the KidzMatter Blog. Here you will find a growing library of content from the kidmin community. Need help recruiting nursery workers? Looking for budget hacks? Want the inside scoop on everything KidzMatter? You're at the right spot.

1 png

Your Secret Weapon in Kidmin

Membership with KidzMatter PRO strengthens your skills and links you with a thriving community committed to empowering kidmin leaders like you.

1 png

Your Secret Weapon in Kidmin

Membership with KidzMatter PRO strengthens your skills and links you with a thriving community committed to empowering kidmin leaders like you.