GinaMcClain.com

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.

Equipping parents for spiritual conversations with their kids is one of the most important things we can do in kids ministry.  Easter weekend is particularly a great time for this.

In the kidmin world, Easter weekend prep starts in February.  We spend a great deal of time and energy making sure we have the volunteer schedule stocked, curriculum is  ready to go, materials are purchased and environments are pristine in preparation for the mass of kids and families.  It’s a weekend where we take more care than normal to ensure the message taught is that much more compelling.

Knowing it’s a key opportunity to capture families that have never been to our church (or retain the ones that haven’t returned since Christmas!) the need to make sure every detail is in place is critical.  But one item I’ve missed in the past is equipping parents for the aftermath conversations.

Don’t get me wrong.  We’ve always had something to put in the child’s hand to serve as a conversation starter.  Something that prompts them to talk to mom or dad about what they learned.

But what have I put in the parents hands to help them?

On Easter weekend (just as every other weekend), kids are going to hear the Truth… digest the Truth… and hopefully respond to the Truth.  If the message accomplishes what I pray it does, then kids will be processing long after they leave the church.

So, who’s most likely to be the one helping them process?  Parents

And if mom or dad is the one most likely to respond to the questions kids have about the gospel then what easy to use resource can I give them to help?

When I consider the parent that has just responded to the gospel message themselves, I cannot assume they are prepared to walk their child through this decision.  They barely grasp it themselves.  So, what tool can I put in their hands to lead them as they lead their child?

February is coming to a close.

Easter weekend will be here soon.

This is the question I’m asking.

Thoughts?