Valerie Ackermann > Why Kids Should Join the Worship Service with the Adults

Why kids should share part of the worship service with the adults, and why Children’s Pastors cannot overlook the benefit.

I can remember many times in church as a child.

Did I always sit there like an angel? No.

Did I always seem entertained? No.

Did I tune out of what the pastor was saying sometimes? Yes. A lot.

Did I see the bigger picture of people who loved God? Yes

Did I learn that church was a special place to be? Yes.

Did I feel part of something really important? Yes.

Why include kids in part of the service?

1. Children are part of the body of Christ

We are a group of believers gathered together, as much as the elderly, the disabled, the rich, the poor, the single, the married, the smart, and the slow. We all are part of one body. It is crucial for us to see Jesus through others and the through the different gifts each brings.

You see, others show us parts of Jesus we don’t see for ourselves. It takes all of us. Otherwise, where do we stop the segregation? I get it for other events, but church is all of us. We are family. Do we remove a person in a wheelchair because the chair is distracting? Do we remove overweight people because they block our view of the front? Absurd right? Do we remove children because they can sometimes be distracting? No, family doesn’t do that.

2. Part of passing down the faith is by letting kids watch us

Can you imagine your children without a memory of you in church? Without knowing who the pastor is, or seeing young and old all part of one common love? Without ever witnessing the depth of the history of our faith through seeing things that are bigger and broader than only kids activities?

So much is learned by little ones watching. They watch not only us as parents, but others. They see one example after another of people coming together to worship God. All this is missed if they aren’t allowed to be part of the bigger service.

3. Kids will grow up to duplicate what they see

My son used to love seeing the guitar player and asked when he can go do that too. Or my oldest son is now an usher because his dad was. They see people serving. They feel part of what the adults are doing and like there is something important going on.

4. It is important for all the older people, and teens, to see the children

To remember they are part of the church. To remember and see their value and need for people to serve in teaching them/ministering to them. They need to be seen, just like Jesus saw them. He saw them as important and made a way for them in the crowd. We must do the same.

We need to see them for our own good as adults. To remember the next generation we are passing down our faith to. To remember to pray for them and their parents. And to be encouraged by their sweet voices in song, and sweet smiles at us over their dad’s shoulder as we stand to sing.

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About Valerie Ackermann

Valerie Ackermann has a BA in Theology and has been a Children’s Ministry Director for 12 years. She is also a weekly Sunday school teacher, wife and busy mom of 2 boys ages 14 and 12. She has hands on experience as a children’s ministry professional, teaching and leading children of all ages. She is the author of The God Puzzle, which explains deep truths, and the seamless story of God in a colorful, no-prep resource.

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