KIDS WORSHIP
FREE TOOLS THAT ARE PRACTICAL INVESTMENTS IN DISCIPLESHIP FOR FAMILIES | Yancy
I was having a conversation with a leader recently. In trying to find her a link to share the information I’ m about to present to you I realized it had been way too long since we had talked about this thing here in Worship Musician Magazine.
I always smirk a little bit when I have someone share with me about the power of music and how songs from long ago and decades gone by remain in our memory throughout the years of life. As I smile, I think“ Yes, I know. It’ s why I believe in what I do SO much. It literally keeps my motivation in check and helps me fan the flame.” To this day, I know the power that’ s in music when I reflect on my own childhood. I can remember the songs that played in my Mom’ s minivan as we ran errands after school and headed to ballet class. I find it amazing because in most cases I haven’ t listened to the recording of these songs in thirty years but alas all it takes is for a phrase to be stated in a conversation and that familiar phrase starts singing the song I know in my thoughts. I’ ve sat through countless sermons and meetings where this scenario repeats itself. When a CCM artist passes away and I pull up some of those albums I haven’ t listened to in years, I’ m always in awe at how much I still know. Every background part and adlib even remembered. My friends and peers, this is exciting! Consider it a secret sauce that is at your disposal to use with great intentionality. Music is sticky and it has the power to seal Biblical truth in the hearts and spirits of the young ones we lead. Are you smiling yet?
As a parent I try to be intentional about the songs that I play in the car for my two sons. I love that the music becomes a form of discipleship. Number one. I am aware that what they are hearing is getting locked inside their heart. Number two, some of my favorite parenting moments are when one of my boys speaks up and asks a question about a song lyric. Each time it becomes a moment of discipleship. It’ s not forced. It wasn’ t assigned a time on our calendar. In a very natural way of life, we are suddenly discussing what they are hearing and try to unpack it more to help them understand. An example with my youngest son is him questioning what the lyric“ What the devil meant for bad God meant for good” means. I realize these songs have given me a gift in facilitating conversations with my boys that we would have never had, if it had not been for these songs we listen to in the car, on the way to the next stop of our journey.
As a church leader, I’ m sure you’ re looking for ways to partner with families to disciple kids. Well, I have the perfect solution. Make a playlist of songs and share it. Communicate with parents why what they push play on matters. What truth do they want impressed on their kid’ s hearts? What truth do they want on repeat in their spirit? How do they want to partner in helping their children experience the presence of God and even be convicted along the way? They get to choose. The right song at the right time is the perfect verbal confession. It’ s the timely prayer to be prayed. It’ s the truth put on their lips now to help them in the days and years to come. On the days where everything is great and in the middle of the hard, challenging, yet holy seasons. Music is approachable and it is one of the greatest tools you can give parents to help them disciple their kids well. Consider it an investment in the future!
It’ s as easy as this:
• Build a playlist of the songs you use in ministry( especially with VBS and summer camp coming up) on Spotify, Apple Music and / or YouTube.( No licensing required, the parent’ s account will allow them to play the playlist you create legally and free to you. All this resource costs is your time.)
• Set a reminder to update it quarterly or whatever works best for you.
• Make it available through a smart link or QR code on take home papers, social media, emails and more. Want to share it on more than one platform? Use linkfire. com.
• Make a video reel, write some copy, include a pre-service slide loop and encourage the parents of the kids you lead to push play intentionally. Every drive time can be a discipleship investment in their family.
Just imagine the faith that will grow out of these seeds we plant in the shape of three-minute songs.
© 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.
YancyMinistries. com
May 2026 Subscribe for Free... 67