July 29th, 2024
Have you ever had one of those moments that you wish you could freeze in time? A moment that you knew you would want to look back on for years and years to come? Personally, I have had so many of those moments this summer that there are too many to count. This summer has been full of God-moments, full of times when I have seen God move and use our students to share His Word and His love. This is a summer that I truly never want to forget…and not just for the experiences, but for the moments that I heard God speak to my heart.
You see, when I first stepped into ministry over ten years ago, I only saw the stage side of kids’ ministry. I practiced object lessons, worked on writing sermons that would engage kids’ attention, and tried not to look quite so goofy leading praise and worship. However, as quickly as I accepted this role at VRC, I began to see more clearly the breadth and feel the weight of kids’ ministry. God started to show me the small, easily overlooked moments that He wanted to use to truly minister to children, and He began to show me how important it was to seize those moments.
Have I always seized those moments like I should? Absolutely not! But in His incredible grace and kindness, He doesn’t give up on us. Instead, He gently reminds us to listen to His voice and follow His lead, not to be ruled by our schedule or to-do list.
Between our time at camps this summer, our Revival Kids Crusade, and our Sunday morning services, God has shown up in so many ways. From first time salvations to kids being filled with the Holy Spirit to our own team members being called into ministry, He has shown how faithful He is to meet us wherever we are! And in little moments throughout the summer, I would hear Him whisper to my heart, “This is kids’ ministry.” Here are just a few of those times…
Sitting in the altar at Springville holding one of our sweet Revival Kids that was sobbing over a lost pet. Were there kids that wanted to pray for their parents who were fighting or a grandparent that was sick? Of course, but this little one was heartbroken over a pet that she hadn’t seen in weeks. So what did we do? We prayed because Psalm 37:23 says, “He delights in every detail of their lives.” How can we teach this verse to a little one and then not pray with them over the details? When she came in Revival Kids a month later with a huge smile on her face to tell me she had a new cat because God had answered her prayers, I was instantly reminded of God’s whisper in Springville, “This is kids’ ministry.”
Rocking a little one that was new to the nursery and missed his mom, and there was the whisper again, “This is kids’ ministry.”
Hearing the change in a teenager’s prayer from stumbling over words to boldly praying for God to change the hearts of kids for His glory. “This is kids’ ministry.”
Having a four year old run up to quote their Bible verse and celebrating with their parents that they are hiding God’s Word in their hearts! “This is kids’ ministry.”
Hugging a little guy that appeared at my side countless times during our week in Memphis because he was walking back into a rocky homelife after camp, “This is kids’ ministry.”
I looked at our RK Team this summer and tearfully told them that Jason and I are currently living in the answer to prayers that we prayed when we stepped into this role at VRC. We prayed for a team to serve with us, and God gave us the BEST! He gave us a team that truly gets that kids’ ministry is real ministry, and that only the tip of the iceberg happens on a stage. Ministry also happens in real life conversations, in the high fives and encouragement, in the hugs and prayers.
So, I want to encourage you to ask God to show you the ministry that He has for you! And when He answers and shows you that ministry, jump in with both feet and start to look for the God-moments! I promise they are out there waiting for you! You just have to slow down enough to see them!
You see, when I first stepped into ministry over ten years ago, I only saw the stage side of kids’ ministry. I practiced object lessons, worked on writing sermons that would engage kids’ attention, and tried not to look quite so goofy leading praise and worship. However, as quickly as I accepted this role at VRC, I began to see more clearly the breadth and feel the weight of kids’ ministry. God started to show me the small, easily overlooked moments that He wanted to use to truly minister to children, and He began to show me how important it was to seize those moments.
Have I always seized those moments like I should? Absolutely not! But in His incredible grace and kindness, He doesn’t give up on us. Instead, He gently reminds us to listen to His voice and follow His lead, not to be ruled by our schedule or to-do list.
Between our time at camps this summer, our Revival Kids Crusade, and our Sunday morning services, God has shown up in so many ways. From first time salvations to kids being filled with the Holy Spirit to our own team members being called into ministry, He has shown how faithful He is to meet us wherever we are! And in little moments throughout the summer, I would hear Him whisper to my heart, “This is kids’ ministry.” Here are just a few of those times…
Sitting in the altar at Springville holding one of our sweet Revival Kids that was sobbing over a lost pet. Were there kids that wanted to pray for their parents who were fighting or a grandparent that was sick? Of course, but this little one was heartbroken over a pet that she hadn’t seen in weeks. So what did we do? We prayed because Psalm 37:23 says, “He delights in every detail of their lives.” How can we teach this verse to a little one and then not pray with them over the details? When she came in Revival Kids a month later with a huge smile on her face to tell me she had a new cat because God had answered her prayers, I was instantly reminded of God’s whisper in Springville, “This is kids’ ministry.”
Rocking a little one that was new to the nursery and missed his mom, and there was the whisper again, “This is kids’ ministry.”
Hearing the change in a teenager’s prayer from stumbling over words to boldly praying for God to change the hearts of kids for His glory. “This is kids’ ministry.”
Having a four year old run up to quote their Bible verse and celebrating with their parents that they are hiding God’s Word in their hearts! “This is kids’ ministry.”
Hugging a little guy that appeared at my side countless times during our week in Memphis because he was walking back into a rocky homelife after camp, “This is kids’ ministry.”
I looked at our RK Team this summer and tearfully told them that Jason and I are currently living in the answer to prayers that we prayed when we stepped into this role at VRC. We prayed for a team to serve with us, and God gave us the BEST! He gave us a team that truly gets that kids’ ministry is real ministry, and that only the tip of the iceberg happens on a stage. Ministry also happens in real life conversations, in the high fives and encouragement, in the hugs and prayers.
So, I want to encourage you to ask God to show you the ministry that He has for you! And when He answers and shows you that ministry, jump in with both feet and start to look for the God-moments! I promise they are out there waiting for you! You just have to slow down enough to see them!
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