KIDS WORSHIP
HELPING KIDS PASSIONATELY WORSHIP | Yancy
You know how they say,“ A picture is worth a thousand words”? I believe it. Yesterday I was texted a photo of my son from church. It was from during worship on Sunday. You could see the passion as he was kneeling, singing or dare I say, crying out to the Lord. His hands were extended. Other boys were gathered around, praying for him. This photo gave me a glimpse into something that was happening to him with a certain song. I had heard him singing it at random around our home. Then in the car after it played, he requested me to play it again. Suddenly, when I saw this photo I understood my boy’ s spirit is connecting to these lyrics. The message in this song is the soundtrack and the prayer he is praying in this season. It’ s a worship song called“ Hours” by The Belonging Co, which is our home church.“ You are all that really matters. I could sit at Your feet for hours. I could sit at Your feet for hours. Desperate for a fresh encounter. I could sit at Your feet for hours. I could sit at Your feet forever.”
Thinking about this song connection at play in his life I was reminded of a few things. It’ s a slow song. A heart song of worship. It’ s not the“ Church Clap”. It’ s not“ Your Way Is Better” by Forrest Frank. It’ s the type of song that many children’ s ministries forsake. The slow, simple, calm song. Why? Because it’ s harder for them to tell it’ s working. It requires a little more dirt under the fingernails of digging in, teaching and guiding them. But, my friends, it is so worth it. The sweetest moments you will experience in ministry will be found in seeing and hearing children sing in worship. There’ s a reason my book is named“ Sweet Sound”. Do not fear these types of songs? They are the songs that will help kids encounter the presence of the Lord. They are the songs that encourage them to worship the Lord who is seated on the throne of Heaven with all the other angels and saints singing“ Holy, holy, holy.”
I also believe the lyric of the song is something that he is connecting to. Which is nothing that science and research hasn’ t already told us. You don’ t have to look hard to find about how we connect to music. How we get lost in a song or melody. How a songwriter sang about something that feels like it’ s a part of our story. Somehow the song written for one becomes the anthem of many.
Songwriters give us a gift with the songs they write that help us say something we don’ t otherwise know how to say. They give us the words to describe what we feel or even what we want to pray. I have been blessed time and time again by songs that help me articulate what my heart longs to express to the Lord.
All of this got me thinking about“ putting praise on their lips”. What are the messages that you are putting on their lips and helping them sing? Does it have substance? Does it draw them closer to the Lord? Does it stir their faith and boost their confidence in the One we are singing to? These are crucial filters we use to examine our songs. As you plan worship sets, evaluate songs and even search for new ones to sing consider what you are putting on
their lips. Because they will often go home still singing the song at random. Then in the car on a random Tuesday afternoon, they may singalong and ask their parent to play it again.
The songs you choose and lead matter. They carry weight. Not in a way that’ s to be feared but to posture them with reverence. Through your song choices: Help kids grow closer to the Lord. Help them articulate what’ s on their heart. Stir their spirit up and fan the flame inside them. I believe we have a generation of boys and girls who will live boldly for Jesus. Let’ s put a confession on their lips that brings them to their knees, extends their hands and compels them to sing and cry passionately to the Lord. This is what I’ m burdened to see in every church. I believe it’ s possible, but it starts with you and me.
© 2026 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 tours leading worship and doing family concerts and would love to come to your community. She has 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, ministry kids and anyone on staff at a Church. Yancy lives with her husband and sons in Nashville, TN.
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