KIDS WORSHIP
BEST SUMMER EVER : MAKING WORSHIP A WIN ! | Yancy
Summer is no longer something on the horizon that we are looking forward to , it is here . I have no doubt you have extra things on your plate for these months . In children ’ s ministry it can be one of the busiest seasons of the ministry year . Whether you do a traditional Vacation Bible School ( VBS ), an alternate evening experience , kids camp , special family events , a themed series spread across the Sundays , play dates and activity days , back to school events or anything and everything in between , the list is pretty long of how you get to make it the best summer ever for the kids and families in your community .
I want to share some ideas around these things that I believe will help you win at leading worship this summer . Hopefully you can implement these ideas right away . Remember , it ’ s never too early to make plans and take notes to help you think through these methods next spring .
BEFORE AN EVENT :
Add new songs you ’ ll be introducing in worship sets to your pre / post service playlist . It does not have to be a song they ’ ve never heard before when you introduce it . Weeks and months ahead of your big event like VBS or camp , start infusing your playlist with some of the songs you ’ ll be teaching them . Allow it to soak into their subconscious . You don ’ t have to announce like a DJ “ Hey kids , this is the theme song for camp !” No announcement needed . Just simply play it and let them hear it . I promise you ; you ’ ll get more participation when you start leading it live simply because it feels familiar . ( Since you had been playing it before service this last month .)
Can you introduce a worship song or two ahead of the big event ? Yes , it may be from your summer curriculum . I wouldn ’ t introduce the theme song early but a supplemental worship song that will reinforce the message being taught . Feel free to start introducing some of those songs in the couple of months leading up to your big event . Letting them become familiar will gain space for them to learn other new things during your big event .
DURING AN EVENT :
Really think through what songs you ’ re going to introduce . Kids can only handle so many new songs in one week . That ’ s in many ways , one of the hardest parts of a week-long event . Yes , you want songs that connect to the messages you ’ re teaching but you can ’ t introduce all 5-8 new songs in one week and expect your kids to be singing along to every word . This is where I would greatly encourage you to balance out your sets . Just because the curriculum came with a song doesn ’ t mean you have to do it . One of the greatest ways I have found to teach new songs is to surround them in my sets with familiar songs . Having the balance of new and familiar is so important . You want to have your kids be engaged and able to participate in worship . Surround your new songs with some of your kid ’ s favorite worship songs . I call these “ home run ” songs because they are so loved and command the room to really offer up their praise .
USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO PUSH PLAY :
The great part of social media is it ’ s free . All it takes is your time and attention to curate some content . Do you wish that you had more parents playing the music in their cars and homes that you ’ re singing at church ? Post about it . You can post about specific songs you ’ re singing .
You can link them to the video on You Tube or audio on Spotify so their kids can watch and singalong .
Share actual video footage from class of the kids participating in worship . Show them and allow them to see and hear for themselves their kids engaging in worship . You can make it a recuring theme of your week like # worshipwednesday where every Wednesday you share a song their family can sing . Use social media to share specific songs , testimonies and full playlists from your kid ’ s ministry so the ripple effect of your big event goes beyond any single five-day event . Music is sticky . Use music to help you disciple the kids you ’ re leading .
Additionally , make slides that go on your announcement reel pre / post your event , in hallways , etc . Have a QR code on that slide so a parent can grab the playlist . Put the same QR code and a simple description on any take home papers . You ’ re sending them home with coloring sheets , activity pages and lesson recaps . Add access to a great playlist of your summer worship songs so they can have praise parties wherever they go .
Remember you are curating worship experiences so kids can engage with the Father . One encounter with Him will truly make it the best summer ever !
© 2024 Yancy Ministries , Inc .
Yancy Yancy is a worship leader and songwriter for kids that travels the globe doing family concerts and training worship leaders . Every week her songs are used in thousands of churches around the world . Her Dove Award 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 . She lives with her husband and sons in Nashville , TN .
YancyMinistries . com
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