A few weeks back, I watched an 8-year-old in kids’ church as she started belly laughing at the So & So Show Bible Story video. She didn’t sing the songs perfectly, answer questions, or perform in any way, but Jesus was clearly her focus.
And in that moment, I was reminded of something important:
Before we ever expect anything from the next generation, we want everything for them!
We don’t start with performance. We start with presence.
Jesus made this clear in His own ministry:
“Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” (Matthew 19:14, NLT)
He didn’t say, “Let them come once they understand everything.”
He didn’t say, “Let them come once they behave.”
He simply said, let them come.
For KidMin Leaders
This should feel like a deep breath.
You are not called to build a ministry where kids perform for approval. You’re called to create space where kids can encounter Jesus.
That means success isn’t primarily measured by how well kids:
• answer questions
• sit still
• complete activities
It’s measured by whether they are seeing Jesus clearly through your teaching, your volunteers, and the environment you create.
Now let’s be clear; structure isn’t the enemy. Performance for approval is.
We plan. We prepare. We pursue excellence.
But all of that serves a greater goal: helping kids hear the truth about Jesus, trust Him, and begin to follow Him.
“Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord.” (Psalm 34:11, NLT)
You’re not producing performers. You’re pointing to a Person.
Ask yourself:
• Are we rewarding right answers more than genuine curiosity?
• Do kids feel safer getting it wrong or staying quiet?
• Are our environments helping kids engage with Jesus or just comply with expectations?
For Parents
This changes the way we view our kids’ faith at home too.
Your child’s relationship with God isn’t about constant output; it’s about Who they are coming to know.
It’s not about having all the right answers.
It’s not about perfect behavior.
It’s about walking with Jesus over time.
“Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them… at home and on the road, when you go to bed and when you are getting up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6–7, NLT)
Faith is formed in everyday moments:
• conversations
• prayers before bed
• car rides
• questions you don’t always know how to answer
Your role is to faithfully disciple…even in imperfect, ordinary life.
Ask yourself:
• Where can I invite spiritual conversation this week?
• When can I slow down enough to listen instead of correct?
• How can I model what it looks like to follow Jesus, not just talk about Him?
The Heart of It All
At the end of the day, the goal isn’t to get something from the next generation before they’re ready.
The goal is that they would:
• know Jesus
• experience His love
• hear His truth
• understand they are known and called by Him
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1, NLT)
When kids truly encounter Jesus, everything else begins to follow:
Faith grows.
Character forms.
Obedience deepens.
Not because they were pressured to perform but because they’re learning to follow Someone they trust.
If kids leave our ministry knowing how to behave but not knowing Jesus, we’ve missed the point!
But if they meet Him, even imperfectly, we’re doing exactly what we were called to do.
So let’s not rush them.
Let’s not reduce faith to performance.
Let’s not ask for what should only come after they’ve experienced Him.
Let’s simply do what Jesus told us to do: Let the children come to Him. Don’t stop them.