Last week was my denominational Annual Conference. It’s a time of Christian community focused on worship (prayer, giving, singing, proclamation), teaching (workshops and breakouts), serving (sharing resources, hosting, helping, voting, equipping), and table life (prayer, meals, fellowship) of the Christian family business of the Global Methodist Church.

I was invited to present a Creative Intergenerational Community workshop three times. Within a limited time I hit the ground running to get as much shared as I possibly could to encourage the local church leaders of laity and clergy to intentionally engage as many generations as possible in all of the ministry opportunities we typically schedule on the local church level.

So, what do we mean by “Intergenerational Community”?

At its heart, it means people of all ages and stages connecting, building relationships, and honoring the wisdom, wonder, and gifts each generation brings. Everyone has something to give and something to receive. 

One practical expression of this at our church are the Family Tables in our worship space. These are tables set up right within the rows of chairs—not off in a corner, but right in the mix—inviting littles and their bigs to experience worship together.

The Family Tables are more than kid-friendly—they’re community-inclusive. Just like a hearing aid or a wheelchair ramp, they help make space for every member of our church family to belong.

“When we give our children (and youth) opportunities to watch and observe us engaging in the worship of God, we train our children in how to worship God themselves.” Beth Meverden, Church(ing) Kids, pg. 27. What’s good for kids is good for everybody.

All of God’s people (all ages and stages) are called by our Creator to ‘praise the Lord in His sanctuary.” Psalm 150:1

Littles and middles find plenty to see, hear, touch, and sometimes taste, all that is involved in the worship of our Great God. They pick up the language of worship, the customs of gathering as Christians, and fully join in to encourage one another, just as the Bible teacher in Hebrews 10:24-25 shares to ‘spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.’

Our Family Tables are cared for by our interns (weekly re-papering); a faithful servant-leader (weekly painted messages); and Ambassadors—4th and 5th-grade leaders—who take pride in cleaning the space each week after services. It’s not a drop-off zone, but a place where children and their adults worship together.

And they’re just one option! Littles, middles, and youth are scattered all over the worship space with their families. One of our youth sits with our beloved older adults during worship while their parents attend the Spanish-speaking service across campus. That’s what intergenerational community looks like!

In the past 15 months, we’ve seen these tables evolve—from small squares tucked in a corner to long tables woven into the heart of the worship space. This summer, we’ll be expanding them to both sides of the sanctuary. It’s been a beautiful journey, and we’re just getting started.

At the tables are buckets of markers as well as quiet building straws all maintained by the Ambassadors (4th & 5th grade leaders) during and after the services. Next to the tables is a box of clipboards which include activity sheets related to the sermon/season with a cloth zipper pouch (quiet) of alphabots and twistable crayons.

Because here’s the truth: Intentional Intergenerational Christian Community means there’s something for everyone, even if not everything is for everyone. That’s counter-cultural, especially in a world where personal preference often trumps shared purpose. But Christian community invites us to something richer.

Where can we start the conversation for intentional intergenerational Christian community? Start with something already on the calendar. Then ask:

• How can we engage and accommodate littles? – In worship? Family Tables; Ash Wednesday? Place ashes on the backs of hands rather than only on foreheads. On Good Friday? Put the tenebrae service outside at sunset rather than darkening an indoor space. Offer space to move freely.
• How can we engage and accommodate bigs? – At the Live Nativity? Provide a flat walking surface by placing it on the parking lot rather than a field. For Youth Mission Trip? Invite Saints to provide and pray over bagged lunches for the trip. Mix up seating at a dinner? Host a Senior Date Night With The Youth to ‘taco-bout’ our faith together.
• How can we coach a middle to take the lead? Invite a youth to take on new mission which has a beginning and an end, and requires recruiting and building a team to be a ‘disciple-maker’ for the team such as Operation Christmas Child, etc.

As Dave Ferguson writes in Hero Maker, “We aren’t doing anything new. It’s just our turn.

I just found out that someone who deeply hurt me during one of the hardest seasons of my ministry has died. What do I do with that?

We weren’t close. In fact, we rarely interacted or moved in the same circles. But she played a significant role in a painful episode that left a lasting scar. Years ago, I was blackballed from joining a local service organization. I found out when a professional woman from that group called me afterward—apologetic and honest—explaining what had happened once I left the room. Until that moment, the organization had never refused membership to an invited guest. But that day, they did.

I never shared what happened outside of my immediate family and the Lord, until now. I was ashamed—embarrassed that my grace and quiet accommodation were exploited. I later came to recognize that what I experienced wasn’t just rejection. It was bullying—systemic, tolerated, repeated, and even groomed within that organization’s culture. This was not an isolated incident for my time of service there. “To thrive, bullies require secrecy, shame, silent witnesses.” (The Bully At Work)

For clarity, Google defines workplace bullying as repeated, unreasonable actions of individuals (or a group) directed towards another, escalating over time, which is intended to intimidate and creates a risk to the health and safety of the target.

After much research about bullies and targets on my road to healing, I prayerfully left that organization. To tolerate bad behavior in a Christian community is not God’s plan. Hardships, yes. Fear of bodily harm and spiritual bullying, no. Not in America. I began to understand that the bullying wasn’t ultimately about me. It was spiritual warfare—an attempt to disrupt ministry, discredit my calling, and shake my faith.

“We were meant to make the road a little easier for each other. Not shove the other down on it.” Beth Moore (twitter 12/10/10)

There were several years when I didn’t attend local festivals and community events for the likelihood of running into several of those who targeted me and still active in that organization. When I did see one at a local department store several years later, I panicked.  I couldn’t catch my breath, my heart began beating out of my chest, and I had to leave the store. I left a full shopping cart in the aisle and sat in my car praying and singing praise music until the Lord calmed me down enough to drive home.

Over the years which followed, God’s healing words jumped off the pages of my Bible like “Leave her alone, Jesus replied,” (John 12:7a) and “If you can extract the precious from the worthless, then you can be my spokesman,” (Jeremiah 15:19) Partner God’s words with the very presence of amazing women of faith (children’s ministry networking group; Women in Apologetics; Emmaus Reunion group; personal Board of Directors) and I know the wonder and joy that comes from Godly repair, redemption, and restoration.

Books and studies which also led me through that season and beyond:
The Three Battlegrounds by Francis Frangipane
When Godly People Do Ungodly Things by Beth Moore
Enemies of the Heart by Andy Stanley
The Bully at Work by Namie & Namie
When Bad Christians Happen to Good People by Dave Burchett
Creating a Healthier Church by Ronald W. Richardson
Throw the First Punch: Defeating the Enemy Hell-bent on Your Destruction by Beth Guckenburger (Youtube study link)

Now, having heard of this woman’s passing, I’m flooded with complex emotions. I’ve read beautiful tributes about her generosity, her ministry, and her impact in the community. I wish I had known that woman—the one others remember so fondly—instead of the one who wounded me.

What do I do with that?

Beth Moore writes in When Godly People Do Ungodly Things, “Satan is out to destroy the testimony of the believer in Christ. The more influential the testimony, the better.” The gift I have now on the other side is that I know what spiritual warfare looks like, smells like, acts like, feels like, and sounds like.

When one of God’s own is permitted to speak ugly and plot publicly against another of His children within the family of God, this gal has had plenty of practice of not sitting in silence, nor remaining silent to keep the peace, nor pretending it doesn’t matter. I love my Christian siblings and their testimonies too much to let it slide. I’ll be praying and actively loving them to Jesus until restoration shines on us both. Loving on them in every love language to the point of being annoying. Reaching out a hand often. Starting the awkward conversation every time. Stepping into the ring to defend a target because that’s what family does for one another.

 “If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” Galatians 5:15

Originally written in the fall of 2022. Now published for the first time in summer of 2025.

Our town truly shines in the summer months with family-friendly festivals, concerts, community gatherings, and more. The city promotes these events, budgets for them, and invites everyone to come out and play. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to show up as good neighbors, practicing a simple yet powerful ministry of presence.

One of the highlights is Family to Park Movie Night, happening on five Thursdays throughout the summer. The fun kicks off at 6:30pm, with the movie beginning at dusk.

Just last Sunday, more than half our congregation stayed after worship for a quick and practical training on noticing and starting conversations. Everyone received prayer buttons, and many put their training into action right away!

When Thursday rolled around, we were ready. With a 10×10 tent featuring our church name and logo and a portable gaga ball pit, we set up in under 20 minutes. As families gathered and laid out their blankets for Moana 2, we walked around, chatted, and handed out 400 colorful plastic leis.

I had picked up two camp chairs from Walmart for under $10 each, tagged them “Prayer Chairs,” and set them up under our tent. With blessing oil rollers in hand, I was honored to pray with two beautiful women and anoint their hands.

The evening was filled with Macarena dancing, nonstop gaga ball games, laughter, conversations, and singing along with the town-provided DJ—all shared with about 400 new friends and neighbors.

As the sun began to set and families arrived only for the movie, we packed up and joyfully offered our spot on the grass to them.

I couldn’t have been prouder of our church family. Some arrived early to help set up, some came for an hour, others stayed the whole evening. Some played gaga ball for hours. Some unpacked my car at the beginning, and others loaded it back up at the end. It was truly a team effort.

One of our amazing members also serves on the city’s arts council. As soon as she receives the calendar of events, we begin praying and planning how we can partner like for the movie nights, National Day of Prayer, and the Christmas parade.

What’s happening in your town? How can you partner with your community? Where can you show up and be a good, generous neighbor? I’d love to hear your stories!

“Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.” Romans 15:2

My journey with AI (artificial intelligence) in Children’s Ministry has been gradual and consistent—but it’s made a real difference! I thought I’d share a few ways I’ve been using it lately in case it inspires you to give it a whirl, save some time, or just play around with some fresh ideas.

Fun Website Staff Bios: We fed ChatGPT a list of Q&As from our staff bios and asked it to turn them into something fun, warm, and engaging. Boom! Instant personality upgrade. You can see the results here.

Summer Theme Song: We used the Suno AI music app to create our very own driveway-party-meets-Jesus jam! Think: dance-pop, praise-filled, joy-packed, under 2.3 minutes, with both male and female vocals. It’s perfect for singing and dancing at our summer Driveway Parties!

Children’s Moment Prompts: Sometimes the sermon leans abstract—and our littles? Definitely concrete thinkers. Google’s AI tool helps jumpstart ideas when I search something like “children’s sermon + the scripture.” It’s a great way to spark creativity fast.

Themed Events for Adults: For a men’s dinner, we asked ChatGPT to blend Braves baseball, Jesus, and BBQ into a fun event title—and it delivered! For a women’s luncheon, we gave it our speaker’s blog titles, and it whipped up suggestions for activities, décor, menus, and more. Each team now has a springboard to build from.

Other Ways We’ve Used ChatGPT:

• Created a 10-question spiritual growth survey for youth—super helpful for a new staff member to learn her audience by tracking the answers in a Google Sheet.
• Crafted youth intern interview questions in language that actually sounds like, well, teens.
• Wrote a cute rhyme for an end-of-year gift to thank our amazing Wednesday night leaders—based on our Bible study theme for the school year!
• Staff reviews and evaluations were even uploaded to share this evaluation season.

Several ministry social media content creators I follow have started using AI to generate hilarious, heartwarming, and helpful images and posts for those of us in the family ministry trenches. Some are laugh-out-loud funny; others are spot-on reminders of what we’ve always known.

So, how are you starting to use AI in your ministry? Or maybe this is your nudge to give it a try. You don’t have to dive in all at once—just start where you are and see what it can do. Come on in—the water’s fine!

“The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.” Proverbs 18:15

Every year, our daughter and I take a special Mother’s Day trip—the week before the actual day, a beautiful tradition I look forward to. This year, she surprised me with a destination she knew I’d love: the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC.

Now, “library” is a bit of a misnomer. It’s really a museum—part inspiring archive, part holy ground—telling the story of Billy and Ruth Graham, their family, and the faithful friends and co-laborers who joined them in ministry over the decades.

My daughter had stopped there on a road trip to Washington, D.C. with her family and instantly knew: “Mom has to see this.” And wow, did she call it right. She knows my heart.

From the moment we arrived, it was clear: this place doesn’t just talk about the love and generosity of Jesus—they show it. Admission? Free. Parking? Free. Gifts when you arrive and when you leave? Yes, please. And the volunteers? Delightfully joyful—genuinely kind, welcoming, and crystal clear about why they’re there: to share the gospel of Christ in every possible way.

We left Canton around 6am-ish and arrived just in time for lunch. First stop: the onsite restaurant, where the chicken salad croissants were fresh and yummy.

Then came the Corrie TenBoom exhibit—“The Hiding Place” brought to life through photos, artifacts, vintage news clips, and video interviews.

Next, we took the self-guided tour—an immersive walk through tents, recreated radio stations, TVs, and the sounds of the crusades around the world; from tiny beginnings to worldwide revival. Billy’s voice followed us through it all—preaching from pulpits, on airwaves, with presidents and the powerful, and with janitors who stayed behind to clean up.

My emotions got the best of me several times. I found myself stopping more than once just to catch my breath and hold back tears. This wasn’t just his story—it was mine too. I saw my own journey reflected in those old revival tents, in the broadcasts that made it behind the Iron Curtain, and in the songs that became the soundtrack of the faith of many of my elders.

What did I take away from this pilgrimage? A few things:

• One obedient guy, saved by grace, led another to faith… who led another… and another. Obedience is powerful.
• Billy Graham used what he had—whether a Bible, a microphone, a radio tower, or a TV camera—and God multiplied it. He leveraged the resources and media available with one goal: to share the good news of Jesus. Faithfulness meets opportunity.
• He had a deep commitment to teamwork and surrounded himself with like-minded, gifted, faithful, guarded disciples who took on their clear roles. Nearby the gravesites of Billy and his beloved Ruth are the gravesites of both Cliff Barrows and his wife as well as George Beverly Shea, his committed and life-long co-laborers.
• The music from those crusades? That’s the heart music of today’s senior saints in our churches. I came of age on Amy Grant, Wayne Watson, Michael W. Smith, and Sandi Patty. Their songs saw me through diaper changes, school drop-offs, and beach walks with a Walkman while the babies napped.  But the music of the crusades and the local church chorale pieces were the foundation of our senior saints’ youth.

The takeaway? Know the good news. Share the good news. All the time. Anytime. Be clear. Be ready. Be consistent. Keep it simple and true: God loves us. Sin separates us. Jesus saves us. And now? I get to live that out every day—asking, “What can I do today with what I know about Jesus?”

I’m fired up about what this summer will hold—town movie nights, block parties in driveways, a youth retreat, local church vision trainings, denominational workshops, and divine appointments with old and brand-new friends in the Lord.

Lord, let me be found trustworthy and faithful!

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Every person in a community faces life changes—empty nesting, caring for aging parents, handling that first paycheck, and more. These moments can be tough, and we believe the local church can be the best place to find guidance, wisdom, and hope—all rooted in a Biblical worldview. After all, Jesus really is the answer for every question.

That’s why we’ve started creating spaces not just for “sages on stages,” but for “guides from the sides.” People who can say, “I’ve walked that path too—let’s do this together.” It’s a beautiful way to build trust and support in every season of life.

Last month, we hosted a one-hour Anxiety Workshop for all ages. A licensed counselor from our church family led the session with compassion and clarity. The room was welcoming, the water was cold, and the message was clear: You are not alone.

With simple promotions, a banner by the road, and clear next steps, we saw grandparents, teens, parents, teachers, and coaches all show up—and 20% participated in a follow-up opportunity. That’s a win!

From one set of grandparents, “I came because my granddaughter has been diagnosed with anxiety and we want to have the best relationship with her and need some help.”

Now our new Women’s Ministry Leadership Team is taking the lead, and next up is “Caring for Your Aging Parents,” taught by someone who’s lived it more than once and is ready to pray, teach, and walk alongside others with grace starting with a free, one-hour workshop.

Workshops on the horizon? Topics like Forgiveness, Empty Nesting, Healthy Boundaries, Self-Defense, Abiding in Community through Discipleship Bands, and more—each one designed to help us grow stronger in faith and community.

And we’re not alone—the Spirit is moving across our county! Another church nearby is offering similar teachings, and after a recent conversation, it’s clear: God is stirring hearts and equipping His people through the local church.

There is not a life struggle, moment, or milestone that Jesus can’t speak into and over. I think it’s about time we set the table for the relationships to start so that we navigate these seasons together as we point to God the Creator, Jesus our Savior, and the Holy Spirit our comforter and helper.

So… what season are you in that you’d find additional information helpful especially when you don’t even know what question to ask? And what have you been through that might just help someone else?

Let’s walk this road together—pointing to Jesus every step of the way.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1

For us, summer means June and July—and those two months are a perfect opportunity to experiment, train, and take the church on the road through meaningful partnerships. Our campus will still be open for office hours and Sunday mornings, but the rest of the week? We’re hitting the streets!

PARTNERSHIP #1: Family Movie Nights in the Park

We’re teaming up with our town’s Family Movie Nights, happening five times this summer. Each evening gives us nearly four hours to play, connect, and pray with our neighbors—right where they are.

It might be hot, but we’re coming prepared:

• Hand-fans, hula hoops, and bubbles
• A portable netted Gaga ball pit
• Mini Jesus figurines and prayer chairs for meaningful conversations
• Smiles, joy, and open hearts

Other churches and local businesses will be there too—so this is truly community in action, living up to the name we carry!

PARTNERSHIP #2: Community Driveway Parties

We’re also partnering with the neighborhoods of our own congregation! Throughout the summer, church members will host one-hour driveway parties for their neighbors—kids, families, seniors—anyone nearby.

Here’s how it works:

• The host connects with their neighbors and provides freeze pops
• Our team brings the fun: music, games, Jesus stories, crafts, and takeaways
• It’s simple, joyful, and deeply relational

We want to show up where people already are—and celebrate the good news of Jesus in ways that feel natural, neighborly, and joy-filled.

We’re Prepped and Ready

We’ve stocked up on:

• A branded tent, table cover, feather flag, and car magnet
• Portable netted Gaga ball pit, prayer chairs, and lawn games
• Sidewalk chalk, Lego bricks (thanks, senior moms!), storytelling tools, and rebus salvation bracelets
• Bluetooth speaker, custom summer t-shirts, and lots of love to give

Everything we bring is designed to spark conversation, stir curiosity, and make space for gospel moments in everyday places.

Why Are We Doing This?

Three big reasons:

1. To be a good, loving neighbor,
2. To train our littles, middles, and bigs to share the gospel clearly—and to practice doing it with confidence, kindness, hospitality, and joy,
3. After training we plan to take our kids on the road to assisted-living homes this fall during their school breaks to host a morning VBS with seniors.

We don’t need to copy what other churches are already doing well. We’re a new church with a great message, deep relationships, and a bold desire to make disciples right where we live.

Ready or not, here we come to share Jesus with neighbors and nations!

“When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.” Luke 21:30

There’s something powerful about pausing to reflect right after a big ministry moment. Whether it’s a special Sunday or a seasonal event, taking time within a day or so to debrief can lead to rich insights for the future. Think of it as a joyful experiment—an opportunity to learn from spaces, supplies, staging, and what God has already placed in our hands.

Here’s one simple tool I use: a Google Doc with three honest, hope-filled columns.

Hiccups | Wins | Discoveries

Here’s what each column means and why it matters:

Hiccups are those small snags or delays that don’t derail the event, but do interrupt the flow. 

• A misplaced TV remote
  
• Using insider language without clear signage
  
• A broken dress shoe while setting up a Storywalk with bubbles and eggs on brand-new mulch (thank you, backup flip-flops in the car!)

They’re not disasters. They’re just real-life reminders to tweak, prep, or bring extras next time.

Wins are those heart-lifting moments when things go better than you imagined:

• A youth boldly sharing the gospel with a preteen guest over Legos at lunch
  
• A dinner team noticing a need and stopping at the grocery store unprompted
  
• Spotting someone absolutely shine while leading a station—and inviting them on the spot to lead a ministry in the fall (and they say YES!)

These moments remind us that God is always doing more than we can see, and that teamwork is truly a beautiful thing.

Discoveries are the unexpected delights and insights you want to tuck away for future planning:

• Guests came because they noticed a roadside banner or a Facebook ad
  
• One building entrance worked best in daylight, another after sunset
  
• You might need to shift the date next year to get access to a better space; if the space is unavailable perhaps an alternative event is what’s called for

These are gold nuggets of information—little “a-ha” moments that shape wiser, more effective ministry down the road.

Celebrate the Good. Don’t Take the Rest Personally.

President Ronald Reagan and Coach John Wooden both famously said, “There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.”

I’d like to add: “…and if I don’t take hiccups personally.”

Hiccups aren’t the place for finger-pointing—but wins and discoveries? Celebrate those loudly and often. Name names, thank people, and give the credit where it’s due. It builds joy, trust, and a culture of celebration.

This past Sunday was a big one. And the Lenten season? Full of moments worth remembering and learning from through discoveries.

So… what would make your list? What were the hiccups, wins, and discoveries?

Open a fresh Google Doc. Take ten minutes. Jot it all down. Then, revisit it during your next planning season. It’s one of the most effective, joy-filled ways to keep growing as the innovative discipler God has called you to be—hiccups and all.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” John 14:1

While listening to episode #63 of the FamTime Podcast I was introduced to the encouraging voice and wisdom of Beth Meverden. It was such a joy! In that episode, Beth shared four Biblical, simple, and deeply practical keys for helping kids stay engaged in church. Her 74-page book, Church(ing) Kids, published in 2024, is a treasure for families and church leaders alike. This little book packs a punch.

Beth has been loving families to Jesus for over 25 years, and she brings both wisdom and warmth from her home base in Colorado. Here are the four keys she outlines—each one packed with purpose and possibility:

Key #1 – Intentional Spiritual Training at Home

We get the parental responsibility as the primary spiritual trainers of their own children, but I really liked her emphasis on conversations. She says:

“It is giving the answers before they have to ask you the questions. Because sometimes when we do not talk about spiritual things with our children, they think we do not know the answers and will seek answers somewhere else. If we are not talking about our faith with them, they will assume it is not important to us since we talk to them about other things that we think are important for them to learn.”

So simple, yet so powerful. Talk to your kids about your faith like it matters—because it does.

Key #2 – Involvement in Big Church

We get the idea that kids should be involved with multiple generations of Christians, but I really like her emphasis on modeling today for the future:

“You are modeling what it looks like to be an engaged Christian adult so they know how to become Christian adults participating in church. God will seat us next to the people He wants us to serve.”

What a beautiful reminder that our kids are watching and learning what adult faith looks like in real time.

Key #3 – Developing a Church Skill Set

We get the idea that kids can serve, but I really like her emphasis on God’s people training God’s people for life skills inside the church house to also use outside the church house. She explains:

“A ‘church skill set’ is a set of skills and gifts a believer uses to serve God and His people at church. We do our children a disservice when we train them that going to church is all about them, thus laying a foundation for a lifetime of service.”

This is apprenticeship in action—raising up faithful disciples of Jesus through meaningful service.

“The best benefit of your children serving at church is this. Upon graduation, your children will look for a church family to serve instead of a church that will serve them.”

Beth offers pages of practical ideas for involving children and youth in service at church. If your kids are bored at church, get them serving! As she puts it, serving is the ultimate boredom killer.

Key #4 – Age/Stage Group Involvement

We get the idea that most families are looking for age/stage activities, but I really like her emphasis on belonging. She says:

“Youth group is an awesome place to remind your teens they are not alone in their faith.”

And there’s more. When children and teens are involved in age/stage ministries….

“We build a team of spiritual cheerleaders in our children’s lives. These servant leaders support you as you disciple your children toward being like Christ. When your children learn alongside other children, they have built-in spiritual conversation topics to discuss with them at school or as they play together. When children invite their friends to church, they’re also inviting their friends’ families.”

How encouraging is that? Belonging leads to conversations, friendships, and kingdom invitations that can ripple out to whole families.

While each of these keys can stand strong on its own, it’s when we use all four together that they create a wholistic path for our kids and teens to engage with the whole church—the whole Body of Christ. Beth Meverden offers us a hopeful, practical vision for raising up the next generation of faithful, joyful disciples.

Let’s take the keys—and unlock a faith-filled future for our children.

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. Proverbs 20:11

This Lenten season, our church journeyed through a rich and meaningful theme inspired by the 40-day devotional Soundtrack by John David Walt of Seedbed. It’s a beautifully curated playlist through the Psalms—the ancient sounds of God’s people offered in rhythm and rhyme, through voice and instrument, lifted up in worship to the One and Only: our Creator, our Rescuer, our Redeemer, and our King.

The Psalms are more than poetry; they’re a holy playlist stretching from the time of the pop-up tabernacle in the wilderness to the majestic temple of Solomon—songs for every season of the soul.

But what is it about music that makes it so powerful?

Music adds strength to a story.
Think about it—the #10 movie soundtrack of all time is Disney’s The Lion King. Can you even picture the story without humming Hakuna Matata or hearing Rafiki’s iconic shout as he presents baby Simba? And the #1 movie soundtrack? Whitney Houston’s The Bodyguard. Unforgettable. Whose workout playlist doesn’t include Rocky’s Eye of the Tiger?

Music stirs our emotions.
Just a few notes of Garth Brooks’ Callin’ Baton Rouge and I’m transported back to LSU—friends, classes, football games on humid Saturday nights. Music has that power. Think of alma maters at national championships, songs played at memorials of loved ones, or the national anthem at the Olympics—each one stirs something deep in us.

Music helps us remember.
It shapes the soundtrack of our lives: the first dance at a wedding, a lullaby hummed by a tired mama in the middle of the night, or a family favorite like You Are My Sunshine. My high school years were set to Fleetwood Mac, Bread, and the movie soundtrack of Grease. My young mama days? Wayne Watson and Amy Grant. We even learned civics with Schoolhouse Rock (“I’m just a bill, yes I’m only a bill…”), and we remember the Fruit of the Spirit through a hand-jive rhythm.

In Scripture, as God’s people ascended to worship in Jerusalem, they sang the Songs of Ascent—15 psalms, psalm 120-135, preparing their hearts for communal worship through a shared ministry of presence, food, music, sacrifice, repentance, and their shared identity as God’s people. As one of our pastors shared last Sunday, “These are songs worth singing.” I have a Spotify Sunday Hype playlist I sing to at the top of my lungs on my drive into church every week which includes songs like Church Kids by Natalie Layne, Big God by Terrian, and That’s My King by CeCe Winans.

And now it’s baseball season.
Even little league batters have walk-on songs! So here’s a question for you: What would be your walk-on song? The one that gives you strength, stirs your soul, and tells the world something about who you are and what matters to you?

Music is sticky—it helps us hold onto truth. It brings hope. And it’s a good gift from the Lord to His people.

So go ahead—sing the song.

“Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’” Psalm 126:2