How Do You Start a Children's Worship Service?
God's Backyard began with no budget, no volunteers, and no paradigm to follow. We had a vision to form a worship service for children that would draw them closer to Jesus. We knew that the traditional "children's church" idea was not for us. We didn't want this to end up being similar to a second Sunday School hour for the children, but a place where they can learn how to worship God and pattern their lives after Jesus.
Let's address these three excuses that churches cite for not having a children's worship service:
1) "We don't need it."
Why do adults attend worship at your congregation? The answer should be the same for your children, as well. Many churches have the children sit through half of the adult worship service, but are escorted out of the sanctuary right after the children's sermon. What is this saying to them? It says to them, "The rest of the worship service isn't for you."
Children need a time and a place where they can worship God in their own style. How are they going to learn to worship our Almighty God? Children want to worship God, and they can sit through a 15-minute sermon!
2) "We don't have a budget for it."
I've heard from many children's ministry leaders that when they attend children's ministry conferences they leave deflated, knowing that their little church could never afford a multimedia worship blitz or a hi-tech children's sanctuary.
You don't need these things to start a children's worship service! All you need is one parent with a vision to make this a reality and the belief that God can create children's worship in your congregation out of nothing.
3) "We don't have enough volunteers."
That's what we thought, until other parents caught the vision of what we were trying to do. When parents attend God's Backyard or experience their own children applying scripture to their daily lives, they become believers of children's worship.
Now what?
As members of the Body of Christ, we're in this together. We minister to children because we love them and desire for them to spend a lifelong adventure with Jesus Christ.
Do you want to start a children's worship service, but you don't know where to begin? Drop me a line! I may not have all the answers, but I'd love to listen to your concerns.
Blessings,,
Susan Cutshall
Director of Childhood Ministries, St. Luke UMC
Lexington, KY
email address: scutshall@stlukeumc.org
St. Luke United Methodist Church 2351 Alumni Drive, Lexington, KY 40517 (859) 269-4687
This page was last updated on 09/18/07.