One of the sweetest parts of my week happens at the end of Sunday School. After we’ve played, studied, laughed, responded, and prayed together, we wrap things up with three simple but meaningful steps:

1. Everyone gets a fruit snack to take.
2. Each child receives a take-home resource—something from Homepoint or our Sunday morning curriculum, Brite.
3. Finally, every child receives a special hand blessing.

Years ago, Rev. Lauren Clawson introduced me to the idea of a hand blessing, and I instantly knew it was something I wanted to share with my students. It’s a beautiful way to offer a personal and individual blessing, connecting with four of the five senses—smell, touch, sight, and hearing—all in just a few seconds.

Lauren’s original idea used scented chapstick (with the label peeled off!), so with essential oils being so popular these days, it’s easy to create custom “anointing oils.” I usually go with citrus or orange for contentment and lavender for calm and peace.

Here’s how it works: when it’s time for dismissal, I meet each child at the door. I take their hand, draw the shape of a cross with the roll-on oil on the back of it, look into their eyes, and speak a blessing over them:

• “Anna, may the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and give you peace.”
• “Griffin, trust in the Lord always, and He will direct your paths.”
• “Isabella, Jesus loves you—this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

In January, we started using a new blessing inspired by Luke 2: “Cora, may you grow like Jesus, in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man.”

For kids who prefer not to be touched with oil, I give them an “air blessing,” tracing the cross in the air in front of them.

One of my favorite moments is seeing them sniff the back of their hands during worship or share their blessing with a parent by rubbing hands together in the hallway. When they start repeating the blessings back to me? That’s when I know we’ve created a lasting faith memory—one they’ll carry with them for years to come.

“May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” Psalm 141:2

I love movies! There’s nothing like a good one to hit “reset” on my brain when it’s running in fifty directions. One of my all-time favorites? The original 1984 Karate Kid.

Here’s the gist: Daniel, the new kid, wants to learn karate. Enter Mr. Miyagi, his quirky and wise mentor. But instead of sparring lessons, Mr. Miyagi puts Daniel to work—painting fences, waxing cars, sanding floors. Over and over, Daniel follows these repetitive motions, confused and frustrated. “What does this have to do with karate?” he wonders.

The magic happens when Daniel faces opposition. Wax on; wax off. Sand the floor; side to side. Paint the fence. Don’t forget to breathe. Without realizing it, all those seemingly unrelated tasks trained his body. His muscle memory kicks in, and he’s ready—defense solid, movements instinctive.

And that’s what ministry with children and families can be like! We’re building faith muscle memory, truth muscle memory, and spiritual muscle memory so they’re equipped to defend and live out their faith. And our training centers on one historic, life-changing event: the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of the one true God, creator and savior of the world.

How do we build these faith “muscles”? Here are three solid, foundational tools:

1. The Lord’s Prayer – This teaches us how to communicate directly with God. Whether it’s a simple, heartfelt “HELP!” or the words of a prayer shared by Christians for centuries, it’s a powerful reminder that our God hears us.
2. The Apostle’s Creed – This answers, “What do we believe?” It’s a backbone for our faith, keeping us rooted in the essentials while uniting us with the global Body of Christ.
3. The Ten Commandments – These guide us in how to live out our faith, shaping our relationships with God and each other. Written by God’s own hand, they set His people apart.

Yes, there are tons of Sunday school curriculums with fun videos, creative themes, and hands-on activities. But imagine if we consistently showered kids and youth with Jesus while weaving in these three timeless teachings? We’d be equipping them with the essentials of our faith, shared by millions over the past 2,000+ years.

That’s the kind of muscle memory worth building!

“Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” Psalm 144:1

Sometimes, the most profound lessons don’t come from a speaker’s slides, a workshop’s outline, or even a coach’s prayer. Instead, they’re whispered by the Holy Spirit—moving among God’s people, over lunch tables, coffee tables, Airbnb kitchen islands, and yes, even while waiting in line for Gideon Bakehouse cookies. This year, here’s what the Spirit made clear to me at CPC25:

Freedom to Follow the Spirit’s Lead

Yes, there were plenty of cool VBS themes with fantastic swag, but guess what? As a new church, we’re not tied to any of it. VBS isn’t part of our DNA, and that’s okay! Instead, we have the creative margin to lean into Spirit-led mission partnerships with a community that’s changing every day. Free from the pre-2020 programming church-world expectations, we get to explore, experiment, and innovate without competing with or copying the church down the street. That’s the gift of freedom—freedom to dream, freedom to follow, and freedom to be exactly who God has called us to be for such a time as this.

Discovery in Discipleship

Faith formation isn’t about scheduling more programs; it’s about equipping the real disciple-makers—parents, grandparents, teachers, and coaches. For us, that means less “morality entertainment” and more biblical worldview and apologetic truth. I’ve loved stepping into resource booths, skipping the “What are you looking for?” small talk, and leading with: “Let me tell you how we’re using your resources!” Watching their faces light up as they take notes or start recording my comments is a joy. We’re not just using tools; we’re tailoring them for our family of faith.

Deeply Familiar Faith

The eight-year-olds I serve today will be adults from 2034 to 2094. That’s a lifetime shaped by what they’re experiencing right now—the music, the games, the teams, and most importantly, the faith we’re helping form. The enemy’s goal is clear: disrupt God’s kids from doing God’s work in and outside of God’s house. But through relationships and multigenerational experiences, we’re building faith muscle memory that will stand the test of time. I’m leaning even more into Faith Milestones—layering holy practices that will feel as familiar as breathing when life gets tough and remarkable moments of life abound.

This year, I’m walking away from CPC25 with freedom, continued experimentation, and a renewed commitment to deeply familiar faith practices. And I can’t wait to see how the Holy Spirit will continue to move in and through our community!

“So Moses went down to the people and told them.” Exodus 19:25

Right now, it’s Sunday. I’m sitting at the gate, waiting to board my flight to the 2025 Children’s Pastors Conference in sunny Orlando! This conference is my ultimate B12 shot—energizing my spirit, sharpening my mind, and filling my heart for the mission of leading families to Jesus.

What makes CPC so special? Oh, where do I start? I love the disciple-maker workshops packed with wisdom, the treasure trove of vendor resources (and yes, the swag is top-tier!), coaching for both rookies and veterans in ministry, and the incredible speakers from all over the globe who challenge and inspire us.

This year’s conference has an added twist: INCM (International Network of Children’s Ministry) is under new leadership. I’m eager to hear their vision for this amazing organization which historically equips and empowers leaders like me. Fun fact: my crew—a couple dozen ministry colleagues from around the country—has attended through multiple leadership transitions. And we keep coming back. Why?

Because this isn’t just any teaching conference. It’s a soul-feeding, disciple-making, life-transforming experience. It’s where we swap stories, celebrate victories, and laugh (a lot) in our shared AirBnB. We know the challenges and triumphs of each other’s churches, and we create a safe space to share our hearts for the families we serve.

Flashback to last year: our new pastors had just preached their first sermon, and my church was only six weeks old. CPC24 was my lifeline. I didn’t know what God had in store or how I could support the vision unfolding before us, but the Holy Spirit showed up in power. I walked away with everything I needed—resources for family discipleship, testing curriculum that knocked it out of the park, and unforgettable encouragement from speakers like Beth Guckenberger to persevere through the messiness I’d soon be faced with that only God could redeem.

This year, I’m surrendering all over again. I’m leaning into the Holy Spirit’s whispers, the music that stirs hearts, and the connections that build His kingdom here on earth. I’m ready to support my amazing friend and colleague in the resource center and embrace every conversation, every door, every window the Lord opens. His love for the littles—and their bigs—is boundless.

Only God knows what 2025 has in store, but I’m thankful for my church’s commitment to lifelong learning, their support for my outside-the-box ideas, and their encouragement in building the relationships that make ministry joyful and enduring.

So here’s my prayer: Thank You, Lord, for calling me to this space, this moment, and this mission. Thank You for letting me learn, dream, and serve alongside some of the most creative and passionate people on the planet. Let’s do this!

“In all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:6