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Every kids ministry leader knows the beauty and challenge of leading kids to authentic worship.

We all have a worship element to our weekly experience.  Designated segments within the hour to sing, dance and celebrate God alone.  These segments serve multiple purposes.

1. To get the wiggles out.  Kids can only sit for so long.  Peppering in a few worship songs gives them the chance to move around
2. Raise the energy level.  Sometimes you want to amp it up a bit… a lively worship song is a great solution
3. Unforgettable close.  When you’ve got an engaged group of kids and volunteers there is nothing like closing out the experience with worship.  You just can’t top it

But the thing about worship  that continues to stump me is…

How do we effectively teach kids how to worship?

How do we teach them that worship is more than choreographed movements to a song but rather a posture of the heart?

The trend I’ve seen in my experience is that I capitalize on music to engage and energize the crowd.  I’ve inserted slower, more thoughtful songs in the set, but even then there is more emphasis on engagement with the motions rather than coaching them to internalize the words.  I’ve not found an effective way to coach kids in how to center their minds and hearts on the Lord during worship.

And because I’ve not found a solution here I’m transitioning kids into youth ministry that don’t know what to do during worship.

I can successfully transition a 6 year old into the elementary experience by teaching them the right ways to move when a worship song plays.  I can successfully draw in the 2nd & 3rd grader to engage physically to a point they aren’t self-conscious.

But how do I lead them through a shift from physical movement to spiritual submission?

I recognize that the Holy Spirit is the key player in spiritual submission.  But there must be a clear path to it and I think that ball is in my court.

What is your experience?  How do you create a worship environment that fosters a shift to focusing their hearts and mind on Jesus?

Communication is critical.

Good communication is clear, simple and concise.

Communication is not restricted to verbal exchange.  We all know that communication is a series of verbal & physical cues.  But people are not the only things that communicate.  Physical space communicates, as well.

In the kidmin world, physical space communicates more than you realize.

• It speaks to kids… setting the tone for the kind of experience they’ll have.
• It speaks to parents… defining the level of care their child will receive.
• It speaks to volunteers… the expectation you have of their investment.

A clean, organized, crisp environment sets the tone for kids, parents and volunteers.  It plays a significant role in keeping the bar high.

Never underestimate the impact of your physical environment.

The pic above comes from Grace Fellowship Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  You can find a list of ‘must see’ kidmin environments at ColdWaterCafe.  The list is a few years old, but still worth the look.

I received a gift today.  One that I could easily have missed in the busyness of Children’s Ministry on a Sunday morning.  But I’m in a predominantly “absorption” mode right now as I settle into a rhythm at Faith Promise Church.  And a big part of that absorption is listening.

Listening to volunteers tell me what they love about their role.

Listening to my leadership as they relate their vision for Faith Promise Church.

Listening to the Holy Spirit as He prompts & directs.

Today I listened to a volunteer as she told me the story of a group of people that took a big risk 15 years ago.  She talked about their shared desire to start a church that was different than most churches in Knoxville.  Her knowledge of the history of Faith Promise Church was vivid… because she lived it from the beginning.

She recounted the fears, the excitement, the realities of planting a church.  How she went from volunteering in a large church where resources were readily available to pioneering a church plant where the only resources available to kids ministry were a few rooms.  No tables.  No chairs.  No crayons.

Inside of 20 minutes she walked me through the journey of children’s ministry at Faith Promise Church.  Though she never mentioned the amount of time or money she invested personally, it is apparent that sacrifice is a core value she’s willing to exercise for this church.

That conversation was a gift.

Looking ahead, I’m seeking God for where He is leading this Children’s Ministry and the role it plays in the overall work God is doing at Faith Promise.

I want to build upon the foundation that was laid.

I want to honor the blood, sweat and tears shed to get where we are today.

I want to bring glory to the One that moved in the hearts of a handful of people 15 years ago.

At that time I doubt they had any idea Faith Promise would look like it does today.  But I have no doubt they are amazed.