KIDS WORSHIP
DEVELOPING THE PALATES OF CHILDREN | Yancy
I have led worship for every age . Birth till death is how I like to put it . There are nuances about leading every age but I am fully convinced children are the easiest group to lead in worship . It ’ s naturally in us to worship . It ’ s naturally in us to be drawn to the things of God , the heart of our Father . Kids are closest to the beginning line . They ’ ve allowed less junk in to harden their hearts to the Lord and push Him away .
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 roll 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 sounds 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 the way and inviting them to join in 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 a camp or VBS , that first session tells me a lot about what the kids experience on Sundays is 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 about . So , I start drawing a box for them and fill it with 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 .
© 2021 Yancy Ministries , Inc .
Yancy Yancy is a worship leader and songwriter for kids who travels the globe doing family concerts and training worship leaders . Every week her songs are used in thousands of churches around the world . Yancy has a passion to serve the Church which is why she created “ Heartbeat ”, a five lesson curriculum series to teach kids the heart of worship . This year she is releasing lots of new music in her “ Little Praise Party ” series for young kids . Check out her latest “ Ready , Set , Go !” She lives with her husband and sons in Nashville , TN .
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