We want Small Group Leaders to pray with kids, right? But do we take the time to teach them how?
Often the most overlooked opportunity by Small Group Leaders (SGLs) is simply praying with the kids. I’ve led my fair share of small groups so I know sometimes it can get busy, wild, and loud very quickly. Most SGLs are simply concerned with maintaining order and getting through all the steps required to get them to the end of their time together. It’s not that they don’t care about praying with kids; they simply forget. Or if they happen to remember, prayer becomes a tool to get the group to be still and quiet if only for 30 seconds.
But, what if…? What if our SGLs prayed with kids in a deliberate way? What if the SGL, or better yet the kids, spent time journaling the prayers of their group, and celebrated the answers? What if the SGL would be willing to skip other elements if a heavy prayer request was made so that ministry could happen in the small group environment?
I’ve been convicted that maybe I’m not expecting enough from those that lead our kids in small groups. Maybe I’m hindering them all by teaching them the basic elements of small group leadership but leaving out the one thing that will help transform a child’s life: the ability to help a kid hear God’s voice.
Do you have any testimonies of SGLs that are teaching prayer to kids in a real and relevant way?
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This is awesome. You are right Jonathan. Sometimes we are so busy with our small group “agenda”, that we do not leave room for God to move in our small groups. The whole point of small groups is to help kids develop their own personal relationship with God. What better way to do that than through prayer. Thanks for posting this. It was a huge reminder for me; one I will be sharing with my fellow SGLs.
Thanks for the comment Tim. It’s a great warning to not be “too busy” when leading others in a small group!