KIDS WORSHIP
WHY SINGING SONGS OF TRUTH IS NECESSARY | Yancy
My youngest son came home from summer camp with our church and announced,“ I know the dance to‘ Your Way Is Better’ now.” Yes, the Forrest Frank song that’ s all the rage of late. Whether you’ re scrolling on social media or have attended any Christian event lately you’ ve probably heard the song and seen the dance happening too. I even saw a video of Lego minifigures doing the dance online. The song is no doubt a hit. But not too long ago I also watched a video of Forrest Frank talking about writing the song. He actually had a sinful moment. And in his confession and repentance he was talking to the Lord. In that moment, the chorus of“ Your Way Is Better” were the words and melody he sang to the Lord in his car.
As I processed this more I was thinking about the lyrics to the song and honestly many of Forrest’ s other songs. They are the kind of lyrics that I want to put on my son’ s lips. They are the kinds of lyrics I want to be sung in my life, home and church. They are the words of truth that I want to be on the playlist of the kids in my church. I’ m not saying this as if Forrest Frank’ s music is the only option that does this, but it is an example.
May I challenge you to think through the messages you want to hide in the heart of those you lead? What truth do you want planted in their life? Because music is one of the most long-lasting, sticky tools we have to disciple families with. As you plan your worship sets, think about what the songs you are choosing are about? Do they just hype the crowd? Do they only sound good? But what do they mean? Do they have power? Are they Biblical? What would be some of the characteristics you’ d look for in the songs you use in children’ s ministry worship? I think it’ s a really good thing to define that. Set parameters and guidelines around what you want the worship sets you lead to equip kids to know, do and sing over their life.
Earlier this year a worship leader I was coaching told me as she planned that month’ s songs she really thought about this very thing. What do I want to put on their lips? What truth do I want them to know and sing? She established a filter in how she was going to choose the songs they’ d sing. God had led her to plan the song“ Lord, I Need You” for that month. There’ s a lot of repetition in her weekly sets throughout the month. In those very same weeks, her church experienced a major tragedy. The wife of a longtime staff member and Pastor was murdered. This congregation was grieving. Grandchildren of this family were also on staff. The pain of the loss hit very close to home for this church community. As the weeks unfolded, no doubt that song had been chosen for such a time as this. She had planned her sets prayerfully and God led her to the exact message He knew those kids would need to be singing in those weeks.
I believe He will do the same for you if you will seek Him.
The beauty of a song is it comes up at random throughout the week. It may be the first thing that enters a person’ s mind when they wake up. It could be the song they bust into on the playground or the song they request from Mom or Dad in the car. With every singalong there is repetition of truth being prayed and sung over their life.
Psalm 119:171 says:“ May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees.”( NIV)
This is why the songs we choose matter. Those songs carry spiritual weight. You are training these young disciples and equipping them for the battles of life when you give them Biblical truth in songs with lyrics and melodies that make them not only stick but come alive. Now is the time to put His praise on their lips. Be intentional about putting His praises on their lips. The kind of praise that celebrates. But also, the kind that repents. Start filling your worship sets with songs that overflow with truth, so His truth is on their lips. Morning, noon at night. At Kids camp and VBS. And also on seemingly ordinary Sunday mornings. God wants to meet your kids there.
© 2025 Yancy Ministries, Inc.
Yancy Yancy is a worship leader and songwriter with a passion for kids worship. Every week her music is used in thousands of churches around the world. Her Dove Awards winning music helps kids fall in love with Jesus one song at a time. Yancy authored the book Sweet Sound: The Power of Discipling Kids in Worship to help your church raise every generation to be worshipers. Through her program CHORUS, she coaches worship leaders for Next Gen Ministry. Stained Glass Kids is a podcast she hosts for PK’ s and ministry kids. Yancy lives with her husband and sons in Nashville, TN.
YancyMinistries. com
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