RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Plenty of churches have their challenges still and maybe 

even a group of kids on the back row trying hard to not engage 

and possibly even rolling their eyes. Any push back you have 

comes down to three things.

#1 - What have you taught them about worship? Do you tell 

them why you do it and most importantly how to do it?

#2 - What does your music sound like? Song choices, song 

recordings and production style can make a huge difference. 

Is it lame or hokey?  Have you been doing the same songs 

for the past 20 years? All things to consider. 

#3 - Who do you have leading them? Is it someone older kids 

would want to be like? Do they respect them? If you don't have 

anyone leading them, that is something I would work fast to 

change. They need a leader. They need a model of worship, 

someone pointing them the way and inviting them to join the song 

of praise.  Without it, they are just going to watch the song video 

because that's what we do when we're at home.  We sit and watch - we don't stand and dance to it. 

When I am leading worship at an event such as camp or VBS, the first session tells me a lot about what the kids experience on Sundays in their churches.  How they respond and engage with me off the bat tells me where they're at and often, how little they know about what worship time is really all about.

So, I start drawing a box for them and fill it with the understanding of why we worship and what our posture should look like.  I invite them to take a step and session by session we start walking and they start engaging.  I watch the shift happen. It's amazing how far they can come in only a few services.

I go to a church with a lot of Australians on staff and one of the 

Pastors shared about Vegemite. It’s an Australian food staple. 

He shared it’s as common to a kid as our peanut butter and 

jelly sandwich. 

Now, I’ve been to Australia and tasted the famous Vegemite 

and was not a fan. My Pastor went on to share that the reason 

an Australian loves and is drawn to the non-sweet, savory flavor 

of Vegemite and the American shrugs it off saying “it’s gross” is 

their palate was formed to love it. They started eating it when they 

were young and it’s something they have learned to love.

I immediately thought of my southern roots and the delicacy 

that I consider to be of Boiled Peanuts. If you’ve ever driven 

to the beach in Florida you’ve likely seen them set up at the 

gas station. Huge pots where they’re making this salty goodness. 

Those that haven’t grown up with this flavor might judge and 

say “it’s slimy” or “they’re gross” but not to me. I grew up 

eating them and it’s a food that is considered a treat to me. 

My palate was formed to love it.

This got me thinking about our ministries and our times of 

leading kids in worship. How are we forming palates to love the 

presence of God? How are we week in and week out developing 

a hunger in our kids to press in and draw close to the Father. 

Children’s ministry works hard to develop a lot of Biblical 

character in kids as it should. If I’m honest, I think one of the 

characteristics of a Christ follower, that it has worked to 

develop the least, is that of a worshiper.

We are living in a crazy world. I believe now more than ever 

our kids need the hiding place that can be found in God’s presence. 

Teach them week by week, song by song why they were 

created to worship. Show them how to express their worship by 

modeling it and leading them. Most of all, prayerfully consider 

how you can form their palate to hunger for the things of God.

I developed a five lesson curriculum to help you teach kids the 

heart of worship. It truly is a game-changer and will be eye opening 

for both the kids and your leaders. Learn more and view a sample 

lesson at YancyMinistries.com/Heartbeat.

Written by Yancy

©2021 Yancy Ministries, Inc.