Texas Baptists challenged to teach children the power of worship

LEWISVILLE—Worship involves an intimate relationship with God—and children may find that concept easier to grasp than adults do, Kathleen Chapman told participants at Children’s Worship University.

Children “don’t come in with the doubts and baggage and skepticism the adult tends to have,” she said. “It’s easy for a child to wonder and be in awe and let all their inhibitions go and really show everyone how excited they are. It’s not as easy for adults to do that.”

“When you start worshipping, your life will be forever changed,” said Chapman, author of Teaching Kids Authentic Worship. She was the featured speaker at the training event for preschool and children’s choir and worship leaders, sponsored at First Baptist Church in Lewisville by the Baptist General Convention of Texas music and worship office.

Detailing facts about the human body and animals, Chapman reminded adults in the room about the intricacy of God’s work as Creator.

She took conference participants on a journey, detailing her personal experience seeking to understand the meaning and practice of worshipping God.

“If we don’t understand worship, the kids in our ministries are not going to understand worship,” Chapman said. “It’s a paralyzing effect. It was for me when I had been in ministry for so many years, and I realized I didn’t understand worship. I started at Square One—writing down ways I could worship God.”

Throughout the weekend event, participants engaged in workshops aimed at developing and maintaining strong children’s worship programs in their churches. Topics ranged from “Sing your way through the Bible” and “Praise Him with instruments” to “From rote singing to music reading” and “It’s like herding cats!”

“Our children are the future, and I can’t think of a better way to eternalize God’s truths than through worship,” said Angela Irby, planning team member for Children’s Worship University and worship associate for children’s music at The Heights Church in Richardson.

“I am thrilled to serve on the CWU planning team because I enjoy working to create and plan this special weekend event to help motivate and inspire anyone who has a love and passion to make a difference in the lives of children.”