Typically, children's ministry leaders focus most of their attention on kids, parents, volunteers, and staff. Many don't consider their senior pastor on the list of those they lead. Or at least whom they lead well.

But Bill Hybels offers a different perspective. Bill, the senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois and author of Courageous Leadership, often speaks to church leaders on the critical role they play in their local church. In a candid conversation about effective leadership in children's ministry, Bill provides specific examples and practical approaches you can use to work well with your senior pastor. (Promiseland is Willow Creek's children's ministry.)

In the early days of your church, you were not a big proponent of children's ministry. Today you are a very vocal supporter. What caused you, as a senior pastor, to make such a big change?

I admit I was a late-arriver to see the value children's ministry could bring to Willow Creek. It started when, occasionally, ...