KIDS WORSHIP
EMPOWERING YOUR TEAM TO LEAD FROM THE AUDIENCE | Yancy
Over the years of kid’ s ministry, I’ ve seen it all. I’ ve seen the volunteer leaders that help engage the kids by participating in the worship time. I’ ve also seen the leaders do the opposite. It can feel almost like they are working against me in those moments. You want to ask,“ Don’ t you know?” Truthfully, I don’ t think they do. One thing I’ ve noticed in serving in churches is sometimes as Pastors and ministry directors instead of communicating specific vision we have and ways we want to see the team engage we just articulate,“ You guys know!” Well, I hate to break it to you ministry leader, no, we don’ t. We don’ t know because we haven’ t heard you say it. You haven’ t shared your vision. You haven’ t told us what you are longing for us to do. I’ ve read those grammar police articles where they tell you to remove“ that” from your sentence. Well, how about we remove“ you guys know” from ministry leadership vocabulary!
Communication is such a huge part of worship. We communicate to the Lord as we sacrifice our offering of worship. As worship leaders we are also communicating with our audience. Every kid’ s classroom has other people that are helping you lead worship too. It’ s every other helper in class. Whether you call them volunteers, team members, servant leaders or some other title unique to your church it’ s important to communicate to them how much influence they have in helping the kids worship. Let’ s be real. Most of them probably do not realize they have influence in this area. So, let’ s tell them. Start the process of communicating to them how they can help you from their post in the wall, in the middle of the chairs or wherever they serve.
Every adult or teen helper you have in a class is passing out permission slips. The question is are they passing out permission to be checked out and uninvolved? OR. Are they giving permission and even encouragement that invites the kids to worship God more fully with everything they’ ve got? I was reviewing some videos of kid’ s worship being led in a few churches recently. This is one of the biggest things I noticed. I saw example of it being done both ways. I saw the leader that stood against the wall completely unengaged. Not even trying to sing along. Not even trying to follow along with the motions, clap their hands or lift their hands to worship. It’ s like they thought they were invisible. Whether they thought“ I’ m not needed for this part of this service.” Or“ Nobody can really see me.” I’ m not sure but I do know they stuck out like a sore thumb while not participating. I do know they weren’ t supporting the worship leader and doing anything to help the kids around them grasp that this is something that’ s important for us to do.
I watched a different video where I saw leaders that were helping from the audience. At times they moved around the crowd. Maybe getting near a couple kids that needed some extra guidance. I heard one leader even reinforce verbally the instruction or action that the worship leader on stage had shared. This is huge. He was in support of the worship leader. Both with his words and his action, he was letting the other kids know“ right now in this part of the service, our participation in worship matters.”
You have probably witnessed both types of things. Don’ t be afraid to communicate the expectations of what you need these helpers to do. They might think they are there to help kids take bathroom breaks, be a small group leader or help facilitate a game but it doesn’ t end there. Empower these leaders to lead kids in worship by their own example. Standing, singing, moving along with the motions or just grooving to the music. Them participating in the worship that you’ re leading is a must. It’ s not optional. It’ s necessary. Remind them they are leaders themselves. I’ ve seen adults follow the kids when they sit prematurely or aren’ t involved. No, why not model to the kids? Encourage them with an extra reminder.“ Guys, right now it’ s time stand and show honor to God.” Remind them that they lead by their example. Colossians 3:17 says:“ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”( NIV)
Yes, let’ s encourage our helpers to be worship leaders from within the crowd. Let’ s set the tone and model the way to disciple kids in worship. I can think of no better way that we could say to them“ Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 NLT
© 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.
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